Via dei Pioppi 3
CH-6855 Stabio
Switzerland
CH-6855 Stabio
Switzerland
We are waiting for your at NPE 2024 exhibition!
At NPE 2024 ST BlowMoulding pushes the extrusion blowmolding technology for technical items into new frontiers
ST BlowMoulding, Via dei Pioppi 3, 6855 Stabio,Switzerland - March 12th, 2024
Since the last edition of the NPE in 2018, the plastic industry went through drastic changes to face the new challenges in the world climate, economy and politics.
In this view, ST BlowMoulding commits and focus on innovation and development of new solutions addressed to sustainability,carbon footprint and climate protection. As well, ST BlowMoulding keeps investing the majority of its profits in R&D for the continuous evolution of high quality equipment able to deliver high efficiency and reliability in the world of technical blow molding.
The North American market is of capital importance for the company, where ST already experienced an enormous growth and market appreciation in the past decade.
The market development of ST BlowMoulding will benefit of the newly established subsidiary ST BlowMoulding USA in Norwalk,Ohio. The company has set in place a spacious workshop for machines repair, a full team of engineers able to provide a prompt and effective response to customers’ needs, as well as a warehouse with the most common spare parts for quick delivery.
Fig. 1: ST BlowMoulding locations and machines installed in the world.
At the NPE 2024, ST BlowMoulding is proudly announcing its new project for Dual Head machines. The company will display the innovative solutions in this machine segment, capitalizing its 40 years of experience and know-how in accumulator head technology.
New solutions have been implemented to develop a new product line for Dual Head machines: the highly automated and intelligent control panel, optimised material usage, the lowest energy consumption in the market and the highest OEE (Overall Equipment Efficiency) are taking the new Dual Head machines to the highest profit for ST’s customers.
Fig. 2: ST BlowMoulding Dual Head machine
The NPE 2024 is the perfect occasion to meet and talk about the other major activities and innovations from ST BlowMoulding.
The ST team in USA is focused on machine retrofits.This activity has already been extremely successful, with major electronic and software upgrades performed on both ST BlowMoulding’s machines and competitor’smachines (single and dual heads).
Fig. 3: The new AX model with full electric clamping unit and extruder platform roll-out
The new all electric clamping unit introduced in the market in 2022 for machines up to 130 tons is pushing ST to the heights. Together with the ST exclusive adiabatic extruders and other energy saving solutions, ST has become the benchmark in the blow molding industry when it comes to energy efficiency.
Fig. 4: All ST BlowMoulding machines are ranked in Class10 of the Euromap 46.1
ST BlowMoulding has been a pioneer of this trend:already since 2012, it became the only blow moulding machinery maker using adiabatic extruders on large scale. Their special screw and barrel design generate a gentle plasticizing with no melt overheating. Therefore, no cooling fans are needed;additionally, double-layer insulation of the extruder barrel reduces up to 10 times the heat dissipation compared with a conventional extruder.
Fig. 5: The ST exclusive adiabatic “H” extruders in the 3-layers configuration.
Nowadays the ST machines outclass the maximum energy efficiency according to Euromap 46.1 (class 10: < 0,13 kWh/lbs),even in the large extrusion-blow moulding machines for industrial applications.
Industrial Packaging is becoming a crucial business unit for the company. New concepts in continuous extrusion technology and highly productive machines have been implemented and sold for large containers, specifically L-Ring Drums and IBCs.
Fig. 6: The ECT model for L-Ring Drums 220 Lproduction with 3-layer continuous extrusion head and PWDS®.
New multilayer solutions are part of ST majorde velopments, keeping in mind the future of recycled plastics and the usage of PCR and PIR.
Multi-layer technologies are now available both in continuous extrusion or in accumulator head process.
In continuous extrusion the company keeps a strong collaboration with W. Müller. In the area of discontinuous extrusion,the new accumulator heads are equipped with two (or also three) extruders: each one of them feeds a separate melt channel. A new design of the flow channels significantly improves the balance of the layers, resulting in a viable solution for many two-layer (or even three-layer) applications.
And if a further layer is needed, the Outer Coating Technology – with a separate accumulator chamber – is also available for antistatic and antibacterial applications.
Besides saving energy and recycling plastic material,using less raw material is a key advantage both for the environment and for the customers. This is where foaming technology comes in.
Fig. 7: The successful ISIT model for the IBCproduction with ST proprietary Outer Coating Technology and PWDS®
This technology generates a foamed structure into the blown part, using a neutral gas (N2 or CO2) and anucleating agent. The density reduction results in lighter parts, raw material saving, better thermal and acoustic insulation. ST adiabatic extruders can be pre-arranged to feed the gas for the material foaming.
Fig. 8: One of the ST bestsellers: the ISIT 1320equipped with foaming technology
New frontiers are also involving the company in the development of advanced solutions for the Composite Pressure Vessels,including LPG, CNG and Hydrogen.
The future of climate protection is moving towards Hydrogen as an energy carrier. ST BlowMoulding is strongly committed to play a leading role in this challenge, by developing technologies for blow moulding hydrogen liners: a perfect match between expertise and market demands.
Fig. 9: New market and applications: PA liners forhydrogen composite pressure vessels at 700 bar
Not to mention that ST still retains its market and technology leadership in the segment of the Suction Blow Molding with new and advanced solutions designed for the automotive industry, especially in the area of Coolant Lines for electric vehicles.
Fig. 10: The ASPI model: the flagship ST suction blowmolding machine
As a final remark, ST has always been very attentive to the machine ergonomics and being user friendly for the operators. This topic also matches the need for reducing the total machine downtime. That’s why the company has developed several solutions for quick head-tooling and mould changeover systems, including the patented hands-free Automatic Head-tooling Changeover (AHC) and other innovative solutions for small and large accumulator heads.
Fig. 11: The ST proprietary AHC (Automatic HeadtoolingChangeover) is the new patented totally hands-free device
ST is also investing in technology and innovation regarding the automation and control. All ST machines are adopting IO Link sensors and actuators, they are all remotely connected and controlled, and they are all Industry 4.0 complaint. New advanced OPC UA protocols are adopted to download all the necessary SPC data.
Fig. 12: ST core competence is still in very largemachine up to 3600 kN of clamping force and 90 L accumulator heads
ST BlowMoulding HMI and software is the most advanced in the market, as well as the most intuitive and user friendly. The control panel is continuously upgraded to satisfy all the customers’ needs with the newest programming innovations. The My ST is the ST App to be installed on your mobile device to monitor the status and the production record of your machine.
Fig. 13: A screenshot of the newest ST control panel.A simulator is available for preview to all ST partners.
ST BlowMoulding is looking forward to welcoming you at the NPE 2024 to show more about the new Dual Head machines and discuss any blow molding topics of your interest!
