Italy's Techne sees 'Advance' in blow moulding

2009-6-25 9:01:04

Long-strokes machines work by lining up a large number of mould cavities, which zip back and forth under the parisons.

The high-output Advance turns that concept on its head with a carousel-type arrangement. Two or four mould clamps shuttle beneath a single, stationary extrusion head, accept the parisons and then move away for blow moulding.

The all-electric machine outperforms long-strokes in productivity and energy efficiency, according to Moreno Minghetti, Techne’s ceo and owner. “Compared to a long-stroke machine, the output is something like 5-8 percent higher,” he says. “But the electrical consumption is 35% less — and we’re doing it with half of the parisons.”

The mould carriages are much smaller and simpler than those on long-stroke machines, Techne officials say.

The company, based in Castel Guelfo di Bologna, Italy, still makes long-stroke machines, but interest has been growing in the Advance since Techne showed a prototype at Germany’s K2007 trade show in Düsseldorf. So far in this year, the Advance accounts for 60% of quotes and about 25% of sales for the company, says Minghetti.

Techne invested about $15m to build a 100,000-square-foot factory in its home province of Bologna that opened in September 2008. The plant replaced four buildings that sprouted up as Techne grew over the years.

In addition to a machinery assembly area, the new plant has a production trial area, complete packaging test laboratory and a pilot mould development centre.

At PlastIndia 2009, officials announced that India’s Lohia Starlinger is making blow moulding machines for Techne in Kanpur, India. Minghetti says Lohia will make smaller shuttle machines. Techne has discontinued assembly of those price-sensitive shuttles in Italy. The firm plans to export the Indian machines to Russia, China and South America.

Techne generated sales of €33m ($48m) in 2008 and employs 115 members of staff. The company built 47 long-stroke machines last year. In the new Bologna plant, production capacity is about 65 long-stroke machines, Minghetti said.