Smart Molding International 2-2024

30 smart_molding international 2/2024 molding technologies StackTeck displayed sustainability technologies and intelligent automation at NPE2024 StackTeck team is constantly pushing the envelope to add more to the portfolio of mold technologies, which are driven by the desire to offer more sustainable options and real advantages for the customers. S tackTeck Systems Ltd., a global manufac- turer of high volume injection molding solutions for thinwall packaging, closures, PET preforms, personal care and medical prod- ucts, was showcasing their latest innovations in tech - nology at the show that was taking place from May 6 th to 10 th in Orlando, Florida. Static displays in StackTeck’s booth in the West Building were featuring the latest technologies with plastic parts and steel components. Some of these included PET Preform applications highlighting cooling and post mold cooling technologies, co-injection, multi- material, specialty coatings, KoolTrack™, TRIM™ (Thin Recess Injection Molding), IML and closures technologies. Show attendees were able to learn about the latest patent pending 5 piece collapsing core technology which was developed recently to for parts that require large undercuts. An active display in the StackTeck booth was a Cobot-based plastic part inspection system that uses intelligent vision capability to recognize randomly placed plastic parts in a bin. It will identify, choose, and pick up a part to transfer it to a vision inspection station that will measure external dimensions and develop a real time visual image of the part profile. This technology is one example of the custom automation capabilities that the StackTeck Automation team offers as part of their complete automation systems up to stacking and boxing. StackTeck had two show molds and one IML automation system running at NPE2024. These two show molds included TRIM and sequential multi-gating features, stack mold technology, and optimized cooling for maximum productivity. StackTeck Demonstrated Ultra-Thin PET Round IML Container Capab StackTeck exhibited a new approach to molding ultra-thin 450 ml PET food tubs that were running with a StackTeck Automation IML system in the NETSTAL MACHINERY booth. The mold technology delivers an unprecedented level of thinwalling technology that combines StackTeck’s Thin Recess InjectionMolding (TRIM™) with a set of 7 sequentially controlled valve gates to yield the lightest part of this type ever molded. According to StackTeck’s CEO, Vincent Travaglini, “We set out to establish a new standard in molding PET containers using at least 30% content of hard-to-fill PET with a high IV level mixed with a high volume, easier filling low IV PET resin with the intention that customers would be able to run the same part using 30% rPET. Some of our customers on the PET preform side of the business are running 100% rPET for beverage applications, and so we’re pointing the way towards being able to add PCR capability for thinwall containers, while adding advantages in material strength and clarity.” The hot runner used for this mold incorporates YUDO’s ISO™ technology to enable tightly spaced valve gated drops on the bottom of the container, while incorporating independent control of valve gate timing to suit optimal filling of this ultra- thin part. The hot runner is custom designed to be suitable A new approach to molding ultra-thin 450 ml PET food tubs with a StackTeck Automation IML system