Aoki holds NPE2018 machine preview

Checking out one of the AL units at Aoki’s machine preview.

Japanese injection stretch-blow molding machine maker Aoki Technical Laboratory Inc. kicked off its NPE2018 season earlier than most exhibiting companies by holding an exhibition machine preview at its manufacturing headquarters in Sakaki, Japan on Jan. 30-31. The event drew almost 200 customers from North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and the main focus was on the company’s new AL series of injection stretch blow molding machines.

The AL machines are designed to reduce production costs and save space and energy through machine and mold downsizing and – depending on the model – can handle mass production of different types of containers from narrow neck to wide mouth. The new series features Direct Heatcon, a proprietary Aoki molding technology that eliminates the need for reheating by enabling preforms to be injection molded and heat conditioned at the same time, and a high-speed mold release recently developed by Aoki to shorten injection, cooling, and blow time.

“The AL units could cut the cycle time by up to 60 per cent from Aoki’s earlier SBIII series, so customers can dramatically increase production volumes per cavity,” Jose Penaloza told Canadian Plastics, which attended the preview. Penaloza is the head of Mississauga, Ont.-based Penzola Solutions, which represents Aoki in Canada. “The new machines also offer stable molding at lower processing temperatures in PET, and can use other materials such as Tritan, HDPE and PP,” he said.

NPE2108 runs from May 7-11 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.; Aoki will be exhibiting at S11085 in the South Hall.