StackTeck Systems Ltd., a global manufacturer of high volume injection molds, has successfully delivered a new series of plastic can molds for KW Container with the use of a revised and improved 5 piece collapsing core technology. The new design features improvement of the core collapsing mechanism, allowing for the first ever one-piece paint can molded using StackTeck’s collapsing core technology including all water-cooled components.
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Fig. 1: Three sizes of plastic paint cans molded with recycled PP. |
Darren Scholl, COO of KW Container, stated: “This single piece can replaces a 2-piece design which had many manufacturing steps. The new approach simplifies production to a single step of molding, cutting down several steps in the way we used to produce these cans. By molding it all in one piece, we are producing a better part with reduced costs in floor space, energy, and there is a carbon footprint reduction. Because the process of bonding two parts has been eliminated, the overall production yield has improved as well.”
An added benefit of this new approach is that the plastic cans can be molded in one step in one injection machine, instead of having to be molded in 2 separate parts in 2 different machines.
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Fig. 2: 1×8 – 5 Piece Collapsing Core Mold |
David Bacon, General Manager KW Containers commented: “We are using this technology to produce cans in sizes of 0.5 Liter, 1 Liter, and 1 Quart round cans. We are very pleased to have found a more sustainable option to produce our cans that use recycled PP material supplied by our sister company, KW Plastics. StackTeck has impressed us with the advanced cooling in these molds, which allows us to maintain a fast cycle time.”
The 5-piece collapsing core is a technology that StackTeck offers to customers looking for plastic part design freedom in certain applications that require large undercuts with dramatic thin-walling capability and cycle time improvements, as compared to single piece core mold designs.
Jordan Robertson, VP Business Development and Marketing commented, “StackTeck has been delighted to work with KW as a leader in the industry. The wide range of sustainable benefits associated with this new method of manufacturing is a natural complement to their environmentally friendly approach offering an entire product line made from recycled materials.”
