At NPE, Cypet to Show Latest Achievements in Large PET Containers

At the upcoming NPE2024 show in Orlando, Florida, Cypet Technologies of Cyprus will display PET containers made on its one-stage injection stretch-blow molding (ISBM) machines, including several new applications with unusual and even unique shapes. As reported in a February 2022 Close-Up article, Cypet builds machines for PET bottles, jars, jerrycans, drums and pressure vessels. Its equipment can mold containers from 20 ml up to 120 L or more, but it tends to specialize in systems for larger containers. In 2022, Cypet announced its largest machine yet, capable of making 1,000 L intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) from PET. It is now building its first commercial machine for molding these large cubes, expected to begin prototype production in June.

Multifunctional Tooling

As previously described, Cypet’s one-stage ISBM machines are based on an injection molding machine frame (Figure 1), to which special tooling and automation have been added. Preform injection and container stretch-blowing cavities are contained in the same mold. The preforms are molded horizontally, then the cavities rotate to a vertical position, where a robot extracts the preforms and places them in the blowing cavities located above injection cavities (Figure 2). Among recent modifications of the system is a means of rotating the preform before blowing to orient the injection-molded handles in a particular position. Business development leader Michalis Sideris says Cypet now has three machines installed in the U.S. (one started up in February) and two in Mexico.
 

New Capabilities

According to Sideris, Cypet produced several “firsts” in 2023. One was its first machine producing 5-gallon returnable water bottles with a new version of an integrated ring handle (injection molded with the neck finish) in four cavities (Figure 3). Sideris says this is the first one-stage ISBM machine capable of such a large PET product in four cavities. Other ISBM systems can handle at most two cavities and require two extruders. Cypet’s system uses one extruder. The water bottle (18.9 L) has a 55-mm neck diameter and weighs 600 to 720 g. It can accommodate up to 50% rPET.

A second new achievement is a novel PET product developed for an agricultural application in Mexico. The finished product is a 424-mm long tube, 40 mm wide with a 40.5-mm neck (Figure 4). Internal volume is only 0.3 L; weight is 62 g. The most unusual feature is a pointed tip in the unstretched base, which enables it to be driven into the soil to serve as a support for plants to grow up around it. Tight tolerances are required in the injection molded base so that it interlocks with the neck of an identical part. In use, five of these parts will be connected end to end, enabling the combined structure to extend 2 meters above the ground. It’s molded in 16 cavities.

Also new in 2023 was Cypet’s first 60-L stackable industrial container with twin integral handles (Figure 5). Up to now, 20 L has been a more typical size in the market for such a container, Sideris says. This container has a 137-mm neck and weighs 1,250 g. It’s stackable two-high.

Other new developments last year were not so much new to the industry as the first time they had been made on Cypet’s machines:

 •  A PET jar with a blown neck, made by molding a dome above the neck and then removing it with a spin trimmer. Stretch-blowing the neck reportedly saves considerable weight compared with an injection molded neck. This product can use up to 100% rPET.

 •  Cypet’s first 20-L stackable container with four-high stackability, aimed at edible oil and chemicals. Before, Cypet had made such containers for stacking three high. The new version has thicker walls and comes in model with or without a recess for a funnel. It’s molded in four cavities.

 •  Cypet’s first family of PET jars with a deep groove grip, available in sizes from 1.3 L to 2.2 L (Figure 6).