Sidel says its new Combi Eurotronica FM-C combines its blowing technology with the volumetric flow meter fillingtechnology developed by Simonazzi. Sidel is part of the Tetra Laval group, which also includes theTetra Pak and DeLaval units. The group purchased Simonazzi last year.
The design departments from both companies devised the new Combi machine, which uses SBO Universal blowingtechnology and volumetric flow meter filling technology to achieve output rates up to 61,200 bottles per hour.
Each flow meter in the system has its own printed circuit board that controls filling valve opening andclosing and remains in constant communication, through infrared technology, with the machine's centralcontroller.
"This results in precision filling, quick and continuous data transmission as well as speed incarrying out setpoints sent to the filling valves," Sidel stated.
The machine also allows manufacturers to make lighter plastic bottles through a new petaloid base design.Pressure during the preform blowing process in the mold has also been reduced to 28 bars, whichdecreases energy consumption.
"In another technical advance, format changeover times are very short to better meet bottlers' needs for increasedversatility," Sidel stated.
Sidel has also designed the filling part of the Combi Eurotronica FM-C with the Combi enclosure nowseparate from the machine frame. This improves accessibility and maintenance, the company claimed.