Extrusion International 2-2021

33 Extrusion International 2/2021 by its machines to obtain the suit- able conditions for a reduction in weight and waste. Highly reliable electric co-extrusion blow molding machines Plastiblow machines offer repeat- ability of results thanks to the re- liability of the servo drive move- ments and the precision of the controls. The design and construction of the machines, characterized by the quality of the technical so- lutions applied, some of which covered by patents, also includes lower maintenance costs for the use of particularly reliable and precise mechatronic systems, as well as control systems for remote diagnosis of processes from an In- dustry 4.0 perspective. Multilayer co-extrusion as a plastic saving solution The scenario involving the ratio- nal and responsible use of plastic, recycled materials, the possibility of reusing “post-consumer” resin within the production process, for Plastiblow it is already a reality, because it offers solutions for the production of single-layer or multi- layer containers with the use of a traditional aesthetic appearance. Furthermore, an adequate thick- ness of the internal layer allows to maintain high welding characteris- tics and prevents the elements pres- ent in the layer of recycled material from contaminating the product. A series of tests carried out in collaboration with GCR Group, a leader in Europe and the global reference for the development of eco-sustainable compounds for the plastics sector, performed on Plastiblow electric machines, con- firmed that the versatility in the use of recycled materials is opti- mal. Even with the use of alter- native raw materials, Plastiblow machines maintain cycle times, speed and final result of the final products unchanged. Increase in productivity, reduction in energy consumption, increase in the percentage of recycled ma- terial: Plastiblow’s contribution to the circular economy in sus- tainable packaging production has been largely achieved. PLASTIBLOW SRL Via Salvemini, 20, 20094 Corsico (MI), Italy plastiblow@plastiblow.it , www.plastiblow.it post-con- sumer recycled plastic (PCR). Thanks to Plastiblow technology it is possible to obtain a final prod- uct where the recycled material does not interact with the content because it is enclosed between two layers of virgin material and where the external appearance remains aesthetically unchanged. The thick- ness of the central layer, approx. 60 to 70% regardless of the total thick- ness of the container, is made of re- cycled plastic. Inner and outer layers are made of virgin ma- terials, normally high densitypolyethylene, with a thickness of 10 to 20%, therefore extremely low. The thickness of the lay- ers of virgin material is fundamental for the optimization of two opposite needs: on the one hand, the desire to reduce the amount of virgin material used, on the other hand, the ne- cessity to guarantee a good and homo- geneous coverage to give the final product PB12ES-480 Coex3 Plastiblow equipped with one E60/25 and two E50/25 extruders, Triple parison head, 70 mmdie diameter and center distance 120 mm for the production of 3-layer containers Recycled plastic material enclosed between two layers of virgin material. No interaction with the content; unchanged external aesthetic appearance Outside Middle Inside Coloured=15-20% PCR=60-70% PE=10-15%