The impact of COVID-19 on daily life is huge, yet one of the main messages that has been hammered home during the crisis is a simple one: thorough hand washing is essential.
That message is likely to linger even after the crisis has been weathered, thinks blow moulding manufacturer Sipa, which means demand for small bottles of hand sanitizer that fit in a pocket or a handbag is likely to increase.
The company anticipates that converters will be investing in equipment, such as its ECS SP single-stage injection-stretch-blow moulding (ISBM) units, to meet the rising need for small PET bottles that can be fitted with spray or dosing units over in the coming months.
With over 30 years of experience in building ISBM systems, and a reputation for robust and durable systems, Sipa offers ECS equipment capable of making anything from miniature bottles through to large containers holding as much as seven litres. Its two four-station (injection, conditioning, blowing, discharge) ECS SP units for small containers, are the compact and energy-efficient hybrid drive ECS SP80 and the ECS SP25, where the numbers refer to injection clamp force in tonnes.
Both are ideal for production of containers as small as 10 ml. On the ECS SP80, the ample tie-bar spacing allows the production of containers of up to 12.5 l in volume.
The integrated production of preforms and bottles ensures scratches-free surfaces on the finished products.
The machines were recently updated and now feature a redesigned, intuitive human-machine interface that makes it possible for the operator to get to where they want to be, and do what they need to do, with a minimal sequence of gestures. Mould changeovers are realised quickly and easily in both machines.
Both can accommodate Sipa-built moulds as well as - with the help of an adaption kit - moulds from other OEMs.