In a PET bottling line, the connecting the machines are often at the origin of a number of problems, including the impossibility of working with new types of bottles and the risk of contamination due to the movement of bottles by air blowing.
The engineering department of BBM Service has designed and developed the first universal module that allows the elimination of air conveyors in between the main machines of the PET line.
The module is called UNICOM because it unifies and combines a blow molding and filling machine of any manufacturer, even different ones.
Designed to modernize and optimize the PET bottling line, the module consists of a bench aimed at transporting bottles between the two machines in a short distance, reducing the consumption of water and energy, the risks of bottle contamination, and the problems of crushing and distortion of the bottles.
In recent years, new market and production needs have led to the increasingly common choice of lower-weight bottles, in order to reduce the raw material used and the related costs.
Because they are lighter, these green bottles are more prone to deformation in transit; the same applies to recycled plastic bottles, which are particularly prone to binding and rubbing.
Thanks to a star-shaped transfer system, UNICOM is the best solution available to overcome these problems, and guarantee the protection of the wrappers.
The innovative module, designed for a nominal production of up to 25,000 bottles per hour, can be offered with a series of cutting-edge options: a stainless steel structure, which is easier to wash and more resistant; a fan cabin, to keep the internal air clean from external particles; an automatic adjustment system with a stepper motor, to adapt the module to the different bottle formats, and a chiller to speed up the cooling of the bottles coming out of the blower.
The combiner is just one of the solutions that BBM’s technical department can offer its customers. Having an in-house engineering department allows BBM to follow the customer at every stage and create tailor-made solutions that meet their goals.
These skills, combined with flexibility and prompt assistance, have enabled us to gain the loyalty of top players in the beverage sector.
Giampiero Latassa, CEO of Fabriella Group, a company of excellence in mineral water bottling, talks about his experience with UNICOM by BBM Service. The machine was installed by BBM in the Parma plant:
“The module is fantastic and helps a lot in production, space management, and hygiene; the bottles, which previously ran on-air conveyors and were exposed to dust, now pass directly into the filler. Another advantage is the ease of format change operations; BBM’s intervention has brought old machines to top performance levels.
BBM provided a fast, turnkey service; we had a great time with the engineering department and the installation was done directly by BBM technicians. They managed every single step. It’s a product I would recommend to every – one.”
