Agr is committed to helping the industry efficiently produce high-quality, light weight and sustainable plastic and glass packaging. At drinktec 2025, Agr will display several new product developments within its portfolio of quality management and process control equipment for beverage containers.
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The Process Pilot+ incorporates the latest evolution in blowmolder control (all pictures: Agr) |
Processing lighter weight PET bottles using virgin material is challenging on its own. However, introducing the variability associated with rPET makes production even more difficult. Agr’s blowmolder management system and vision systems, along with automated laboratory equipment, are relied on by bottle producers and brand owners around the world to overcome the many challenges associated with producing lighter bottles with increased rPET content. Updates to these systems will be demonstrated throughout the week at drinktec.
Process Pilot+™ – reflects the latest advancements in automated process control for PET bottles and will be a focal point of Agr’s display. Recent updates and enhancements to Process Pilot+ incorporate further AI that significantly improves blowmolder efficiency and profitability by enabling operators to automatically optimize the blowmolder based on performance, energy efficiency or operating costs. As the Pilot Profiler® system continuously measures material distribution on every bottle, the Process Pilot+ works in conjunction with the blowmolder to proactively manage optimal material distribution. With its ability to manage the blowmolder to maintain quality and performance attributes in spite of environmental, blowmolder and, especially, material variations due to rPET that occur during the production process, the Process Pilot+ system is an essential tool for PET bottle manufacturers that are committed to incorporating rPET into their product mix.
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The Gawis 4D system provides fast, accurate, non-destructive measurement of thickness and dimensional attributes |
Pilot Vision+™ – Agr’s latest and most powerful in-the-blowmolder vision system. This system is uniquely positioned for the quality management of bottles with high percentages of rPET. Designed to work in conjunction with today’s high-speed reheat stretch blowmolding equipment, the Pilot Vision+ system offers a modular approach to defect detection that works within the blowmolder. The open architecture of this system allows for simultaneous management of up to six cameras, in multiple locations. As part of Agr’s Process Pilot family of products, Pilot Vision+ can be combined with Process Pilot+ for a total bottle management solution, providing the ability to detect random occurring defects as well as manage the process to maintain precise material distribution, even with the lightest and/or most difficult-to-process bottle design.
The Gawis 4D is the latest and most advanced measurement system for beverages and other types of bottles. This all-in-one laboratory measurement system streamlines laboratory measurement operations by performing a multitude of critical dimensional and thickness measurements in one simple operation with unmatched accuracy, repeatability and operational throughput. Mated with a robotic handling system, the Gawis 4D can measure up to 128 bottles or preforms in one hands-free operation. The Gawis 4D features Agr’s patent pending AutoJob™ that provides the ability to create complicated job setups in a matter of seconds.
Understanding that with the reduction in material and increased use of rPET that the industry is seeing, manufacturers also need to make certain that their bottles will perform during the filling process and while filled. At their drinktec booth, Agr will demonstrate to you their Plastic Pressure Tester, with the latest advancements in burst, expansion and shelf-life testing.
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The PPT3000 offers high-resolution, servo-controlled pressure and volume expansion testing for plastic and related containers |
In addition, Agr will display its ThicknessPen® handheld thickness measurement device which offers an innovative approach to portable thickness measurement with its dual-mode design. Developed to address the multiple and diverse thickness measurement applications of the production environment, the ThicknessPen can be used anywhere, from the laboratory, the plant floor or even in a wet environment at a job site in the field.
Experts from Agr will be available to discuss these products as well as the complete line of process monitoring and quality control equipment available from Agr for the beverage industry. Agr products are designed to assist container producers, converters and fillers stay competitive while meeting the increased quality demands of today’s changing world. As an industry leader for nearly 100 years, Agr is committed to providing the beverage container industry with the most technologically advanced products available for quality control and productivity improvement.
