At K 2025, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will present its focus on all-electric technologies and how the company’s latest advances are facilitating the shift towards cleaner and more personalised branding in the fast-cycling caps and closures market.
Aligned with the company’s new theme “Today. Tomorrow. Electric.”, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag demonstrates on its main stage (Hall 15, Booth D22) its newest 420t PAC-E machine. The exhibit features a 72-cavity tool from Z-Moulds, and clean, digital inline cap printing developed by Swiss supplier CAPrint.
In addition to more than halving energy consumption, the PAC-E machine’s fast cycle time and all-electric machine reliability is supporting packaging manufacturers to address high production demands and future-proof production, affirms Arnaud Nomblot, Director Business Development Packaging.
Reliably moulding and personalising 2,100 26/22 beverage caps every minute (the equivalent of 9 million caps during the eight-day show), this production cell “symbolises the future of advanced manufacturing efficiency,” states Nomblot. “The on-going innovations happening in injection moulding are indicative of just how much sustainable value is aligned to current and future packaging trends and the interlinked dependencies on system efficiencies,” he continues.
The latest 420t PAC-E machine pushes the limits in packaging production with the fastest dry cycle time and an injection speed up to 550 mm/s. Also cleaner, its closed-loop lubrication system enables packaging processors to support applications with high hygiene requirements, such as food packaging and medical parts. This specific feature will be showcased on the company’s medical PAC-E exhibit.
Presenting caps and closures competence
In branding terms, caps and closures offer the ultimate user interaction. This year’s PAC-E demonstration puts into context the importance of collaborating with experts to create such an integrated production cell. Particularly with regard to creating tactile and visual experiences on closure surfaces for branding differentiation.
The efficiency benefits of digitally printing caps within a production cell are multiple, notes Nomblot. “This is the first time Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will present such a complete state-of-the-art packaging cell of this scale,” points out the packaging specialist.
Rather than mechanical pad, dry printing or hot foil stamping, digital printing on closures manufactured on a machine like PAC-E supports quicker production times. In addition to creating eye-catching designs “on the fly”, digital printing allows processors to switch seamlessly between variable data like serial codes, logos and company names.
Matching the PAC-E moulding closure cycle, the complete CAPrint from the Swiss company features a new high-speed kit that increases processing capacity by 46% to personalise 2,100 printed caps and closures per minute. Applying the design directly onto the caps and closures at 600 dpi, the print quality is equally high resolution.
The printer features flexible UV inkjet RedCube to support fully automated ink handling and cleaning. This means that the system can operate continuously throughout the entire production shift with minimal human intervention. Combined with Hapa low migration ink, the use of inline digital printing is especially beneficial for reducing the use of ink and chemicals, highlights Nomblot.
The material HD 6081 by TotalEnergies is a high density polyethylene with very good organoleptic properties, rigidity and processability. It is especially suited for the production of caps & closures for non-carbonated drinks by injection moulding. The cell also comprises a mould area dehumidification system from Eisbär. For final inspection, an IMD Vista vision system, featuring a single HMI, special lighting and a high-resolution colour camera, ensures that every printed closure meets the highest quality standard. As well as identifying print distortions or missing graphics, it can spot cracks in the closures and other quality issues.
An automated box packing system, also supplied by IMD Vista, closes the circularity chain from mould to print, inspect and box. “This entire cell highlights each partners respective expertise alongside the industry’s dedication to innovation and sustainable caps and closure manufacturing. Especially the tools available that can assist manufacturers to scale up production in the most efficient way,” adds Nomblot.
The PAC-E series is currently available in 350 and 420 ton clamp force. All PAC-E machines are compatible with Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s cross-platform, open-communication software.