Thermoforming
Thermoforming on a roll The thermoforming machinery sector has been churning out new developments from WM Thermoforming; Gabler Thermoform; OMG, GN Thermforming and Kiefel.
Gabler Thermoform’s M100 is a tilt-bed machine that offers output increases of up to 50%
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SEPTEMBER 2018
New machinery launches Switzerland-based WM Thermoforming Machines, at the PlastMilan show in May, showcased its new FC 780 E IM2 continuous thermoforming machine. It has a maximum mould size of 780 × 580 mm and a maximum draw depth of 130 mm. This fully electric servo-powered unit, including the clamp frame, comes with vacuum and high-pressure forming with steel-rule cutting in the forming tool plus an additional in-line cutting press and in-line stacking. With an additional servo axis, the machine is said to be more flexible, as well as suitable for use in cleanroom applications. WM says it has done away with the more common vacuum pump to include multiple venturi stages, thereby reducing At PlastMilan, WM showcased maintenance. Further maintenance savings are achieved by the production of a square eliminating linear transducers for absolute encoders, which plate on its new FC 780 E IM2 are said to be more precise and reliable. continuous thermoforming machine At Plast, it was shown producing a 230 x 230 mm square plate in a six-cavity mould, in a production of 13,700 plates/hour. An advantage, the firm said, is that the 75-tonne IM station allows to form and cut the product in the same forming station or to make the cut in a second station in line. This machine also uses new black ceramic heaters that are said to allow for 10-12% energy savings with PET and 12-15% savings with PP. Remote service is available from Switzerland, whereby WM technicians can directly access the thermoformer control via the internet. Elsewhere, Gabler Thermoform showcased its new M100 at the Florida-held NPE show in May. It is billed as a revolutionary new tilt-bed machine, offering output increases of up to 50%, or 180,000 standard cups/hour, compared with current industry standards. It combines forming and cutting in one production step, unlike the post-trim processes with free freely suspended cup-foil rolls and rapid-punching and stacking cycles. A completely re-engineered forming station with the latest drive and guide technology provides a forming area of 1130 x 550 mm. Gabler says the M100 combines both performance and technology, while reducing energy consumption. Other features include a user-friendly touchscreen, reverse-stacker automation, Gabler’s SpeedFlow forming-air system, and improved production-monitoring and process-optimisation features. Also at the NPE show, Italy’s OMG showcased its all-inclusive servo-driven thermoformer, which was shown thermoforming 100% compostable crystallised CPLA food trays using materials supplied by Advanced Extrusion Inc (AEI). The electric OMG thermoformer produces finished parts by way of precision rule-die trimming on a heavy-duty tonnage four-post, servo-driven trim press. Parts such as food trays, lids, OMG’s latest containers, cups, and clamshells thermoformer is able to are loaded onto an auto-stackingprocess crystallised PLA and PET counting station, an integral part of the OMG thermoforming system. Parts are then mechanically discharged onto a final packing station. OMG also demonstrated the machine thermoforming AEI’s CPET, using the same single-stage tooling used for the CPLA tray. Both materials incorporate a nucleating agent to promote accelerated crystallisation during the thermoforming process.