Faster, More Automated Changeover for PET Bottles

Bottle Switch is a quick format changeover system for PET bottles that was introduced by Sidel in 2010 and has now been updated with a higher degree of automation and adaptation to the company’s latest stretch-blow molders such as the EvoBlow series. Bottle Switch can be applied to gravimetric preform feeders, ovens and blowing wheels to support a quick switch of preform neck finishes and bottle shapes. Software allows users to select and apply the right equipment process and configuration for every container SKU.

The new changeover procedures minimize human intervention. As shown in a Sidel video, the new version of Bottle Switch employs a six-axis robot to change molds, which were replaced manually in the earlier semiautomated version of Bottle Switch. In addition, dedicated motors support the automatic, mechanical element positioning for the preform feeder’s infeed rails while also assisting horizontal adjustment of the oven’s heating modules and cooling shields. Digital clocks enable toolless manual positioning, instantly validating these new settings for the preform-feeder roller adjustments and vertical adjustments of the oven’s heating modules and cooling shields.

Overall changeover time with Bottle Switch reportedly can be reduced by 75% compared with a standard manual changeover, which could enable production of up to 13.2 million additional bottles/yr for an SBO 24 machine. When applied on the preform feeder and oven, Bottle Switch enables changeovers in just 17 min, vs. 65 min manually. Mold changes can be cut to just 30 sec from 2 min manually.