Plastics Technology - Dedicated to improving Plastics Processing.
Issue link: http://pty.epubxp.com/i/105397
starting up industry & technology news SIPA Partners with Athena Automation on PET Preform Molding Systems Athena Automation, a company founded by Robert Schad (founder and former majority owner of Husky Injection Molding Systems), has formed a partnership with SIPA of Italy to supply injection molding systems for PET preforms. Athena, based in Vaughan, Ont., has been working for three years to develop a preform system that, the company says, "will raise the bar in terms of reliability. Features that make the Athena machine stand out are fast cycles, improved accuracy, increased uptime, smaller footprint, lower power consumption, and design simplicity." Athena and SIPA have been working together for several months on fne-tuning the system. SIPA (U.S. offce in Atlanta) specializes in one- and two-stage stretchblow molding machines for PET bottles, as well as molds and preform injection molding systems. Starting last month, SIPA is handling sales, service, and integration of Athena preform machines (below, left) on an exclusive worldwide basis. Athena developed a hybrid electric/hydraulic press (100 to 400 metric tons) with an integrated high-speed, four-axis, side-entry robot. It has servo-driven hydraulic gear pumps to power plasticating, injection, clamping, mold break, nozzle pressure and opening, ejector assist, and auxiliary motions. Only a small amount of oil is used. Electric servo motors drive mold stroke and the ejector. Intended markets include packaging, medical, and technical products. Available features include a stack-mold carrier, dual injection with in-mold assembly, integrated hot-runner controller, real-time energy consumption monitoring and logging, machine remote control and remote notifcation, and one-touch auto shutdown and startup. Several prototype models have been tested for millions of cycles and have demonstrated energy consumption similar to all-electrics, but with "much better shot-toshot accuracy." Athena says 150-ton machines will be available in the second quarter and 300-ton machines (below, right) in the third quarter. Athena's PET preform system to be sold by SIPA includes post-mold cooling and reportedly offers the smallest footprint in the industry, one-hour mold change, best-in-class mold protection, and ability to accommodate legacy molds. (905) 265-0277 • athenaautomation.com; (404) 349-3966 • sipa.it new u.s. source for borealis Medical resins Nexeo Solutions (formerly Ashland Distribution), Dublin, Ohio, is now distributing Bormed medical-grade PP and PE resins from Borealis of Austria for healthcare applications in North America. Nexeo already distributes Borealis' polyolefns in Europe for healthcare, automotive, packaging, and infrastructure markets. (800) 531-7106 • nexeosolutions. com; borealisgroup.com two-shot Pc glazing/spoiler combo in new fiat car The new Fiat MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), already launched in Europe and set to debut here early in 2013, has what are said to be the frst fxed rear side windows in the U.S. to use two-shot injection-compression molding, which allows for the seamless integration of an aerodynamic spoiler. The rear side windows are molded from clear Lexan GLX PC and black Cycoloy PC/ABS, both from SABIC Innovative Plastics, Pittsfeld, Mass. These materials reportedly help reduce weight by about 35% and improve aerodynamic effciency compared with glass. 866-PLASTIC • sabic-ip.com 4 february 2013 Plastics technology