By Bill Bregar
SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
Published: July 2, 2014 12:55 pm ET
Updated: July 2, 2014 12:57 pm ET
Velocity Equipment Solutions, a New Castle, Pa.-based company that supplies packaging machinery, has announced two new technologies for extrusion blow molding high density polyethylene containers.
Velocity worked with its client Nampak Plastics Europe Ltd., a producer of dairy bottles in the United Kingdom.
“The reciprocating [screw] blow molding mold technology was introduced in the 1960s and has seen only incremental change since them” said Tom Blaszkow, Velocity Equipment president. “The new advances in technology we are announcing today not only provide an owner a platform with a lower operating cost, but the quick change capabilities can eliminate the need for multiple production lines to produce multiple containers, lowering the owner’s capital outlay.”
Blaszkow said the company’s clamping technology can boost cavitation so output can rival wheel machines.
One of the new technologies is called the All Electric Quick Change Reciprocating Blow Mold Machine. It uses electro-mechanical actuators to replace the hydraulic cylinders, pumps and actuators used on traditional reciprocating machines. Velocity Equipment Solutions also has eliminated wear components such as ball splines, thrust assemblies and all hydraulic components.
The all-electric machine was designed for Nampak Plastics. You can do complete changeovers including molds within eight hours. Other benefits include lower energy and maintenance costs, faster motions, improved mold trimming especially on lightweight containers, quieter operation and longer mold life.
The second new technology is called the Quick Change High Speed Rotary Impact Trimmer, which can change from one container to another within an eight-hour shift. It can trim up to 160 bottles per minute. Drive mechanics are located above the spindles, so the underside is complete open for the scrap handling funnel. | 
