Flash News

TCS Day in Magenta (Milan, Italy) - October 2008
One year after its official presentation, the Thickness Compensation System is a worldwide success, with units installed in 5 continents. To celebrate this success - and to offer the opportunity to get acquainted with this innovative device to other blowmolders - Uniloy opened the production site of Magenta on October 29th for a "TCS Day". Partecipants from 6 countries attended and appreciated the event. The Thickness Compensation System modifies the gap between pin and die during the parison extrusion in some specific positions (namely at the parting line diameter), and reduces the parison thickness where the stretching rationis lower in the blowing process - so that to compensate in advance that difference. The improvement of the wall thickness uniformity achievable with TCS is extremely significant for jerry-cans, drums, flower pots, buckets, trash bins, and many other round-shaped and square-shaped items. Such a dramatic improvement of the wall thickness distribution results in a lighterweight of the item (between 5% and 10% - depending on the item shape), and in a shorter cycle time (up to 22%). The economical advantage in resin saving and energy saving is evident.
During the "TCS Day" these benefit are demonstrated on a 60-liter container, by comparison of samples produced with TCS and without it.
The TCS can be installed as a retrofit on all Uniloy accumulator head machine, and on most Uniloy continuos extrusion machines.

New life for old machines - November 2007
There are two things that Uniloy can recommend to its customers who have machines that have been working hard for many years. The first is the supply of spare-parts that are out of production (a common example is represented by valves). The second is retro fit enhancements. This consists on packages of solutions enabling technologically out-of-date machines not only to continue the production, but also to increase productivity, efficiency and performances.
Some examples of retrofits are the following: The innovative TCS system, patented by Uniloy, which allows dynamical regulation (no longer only axial) of the parison, with consequent savings on cycle time and raw material; replacement of obsolete PLCs (where spare-parts can’t be found anymore) with control systems much more efficient and suitable for modern production lines. Of course more than one retrofit can be installed in one machine, remarkably increasing its productivity and performance.

Blow molding large industrial parts: single-layer and multi-layer configurations with Parison Transfer Technology - October 2007
For the production of many large blow-molded parts, Uniloy Milacron proposes the parison transfer technology UMC.PT as the most cost-effective and energy efficient. Virtually indispensable whenever an excellent multi-layer distribution is demanded, the continuous extrusion process with parison transfer technology represents an excellent alternative to the more traditional accumulator head process for many single layer applications.
The UMC.PT 85-D double station has been the last machine delivered combining this technology with a multi-layer continuous extrusion process: it is designed for multi-layer extrusion of large parisons (3-layer for packaging applications like drums, up to 6-layer for the production of fuel tanks). Each clamp unit features 85 metric tons, but bigger clamps are available – already proven by many years of service in the field on accumulator heads machines: 120 tons as a standard configuration for fuel tanks or IBCs, and 170 tons for the most demanding applications.
Unlike most competitors models of the same size and for the same applications, the UMC.PT 85-D features stationary clamps units: the parison is caught from the extrusion head and transferred into the mold cavity by a robot with grippers. There is no need to shuttle a huge mass at every cycle (clamp unit + mold can easily weigh over 25 tons), when you can achieve the same condition by moving the parison with an efficient all-electric device like a 6-axis robot.
The huge reduction of the masses moved at every cycle is the reason of the small power requirement of the UMC.PT 85-D, resulting in a dramatic energy saving. Another significant benefit is the elimination of wearing due to the clamp units movements. Moreover, with stationary clamps some components are not anymore needed (cables chains, hydraulic hoses chains, etc.), resulting in better machine accessibility, easier maintenance and cleanliness.
A second 6-axis robot is located on the upper deck in a central position, to take out the blown parts alternatively from each mold and deliver them to a single finishing station. This configuration allows a significant reduction of the machine footprint, and the absence of the hindrances caused by conveyors around the machine.

All Round Service - October 2007
Uniloy Milacron definitely bets on excellent service: today there are 12 technicians on the territory available full-time for customers, supported at the plant in Magenta by a team of experts who deal entirely with spare-parts. Uniloy has available in warehouse 80% of the spare-parts for its machines, the percentage which grows significantly for machines produced and sold in the last few years. In this way the call-out is immediate (typically within 24 hours). Moreover, there is an “after hours” telephone support service, active after working hours (+393351039434) operative every day from 6 p.m. till 12 p.m, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. till 12 p.m. We also offer : assistance service (to optimise machine performance), modem diagnosis and training courses tailor-made to the Customer. Of special importance also are machine checks-up on working machines, both for eventual up-dating and for maintenance (scheduled and not).

Uniloy takes up the challenge: save resin, save energy, save money blow molding with TCS! - September 2007
TCS (Thickness Compensation System) is the new dynamic device – entirely developed and patented by Uniloy Milacron – to modify the parison thickness in specific angular positions during the extrusion process. A typical problem of uneven wall thickness of the containers is originated by the different stretching ratio of the parison in the top and bottom areas of the cavity, that can not be compensated by the standard “axial” parison thickness control. Besides the waste of resin, the extra thickness in localized positions results in a longer cycle time, because of the longer cooling time needed, just to prevent the warpage originated by these small areas. Instead of expensive and single-sized flexible die-rings, the TCS by Uniloy Milacron works on a different concept to modify dynamically the gap between core and die during the parison push-out. Net weight reductions up to 10% have been achieved maintaining the mechanical performances of the original container, as well as cycle time reductions beyond 18% without prejudice of the container quality.
Some TCS units are already in operation at customers’ site to produce jerrycans and L-ring drums. Customers are enthusiastic about the versatility and the reliability of the system: different tooling sizes can be easily swapped on the same TCS unit (no need to replace the full system), and no heat-sensitive components (electronic or hydraulic) are located in high-temperature zones. The new device is also available to retrofit existing heads, improving the production performances and reducing the cost of the parts produced: an extraordinary opportunity for our customers to stay competitive with a limited capital investment.
At the annual blow molding conference of the SPE – Society of Plastics Engineers (Toledo – Ohio, October 9-11th 2007) Uniloy Milacron will present a lecture to officially introduce the new TCS device.

Parison Suction Process: major European companies prefer Uniloy technology. - August 2007
Introduced at the last Plast Exhibition in Milan (February 2006), the new parison suction technologies by Uniloy Milacron are more and more appreciated by the major players in the automotive sectors, as proven by two new orders in few weeks by leading European companies.
Both machines to be delivered integrate specific characteristics as a result of the close partnership between the Uniloy technical team and the customer’s production personnel.
The first machine features single resin process based on accumulator head technology, and it is designed to withstand temperatures beyond 300 °C: it has to process – besides most kinds of PA – also PPS, a new material recently developed for blow molding applications, and already tested last year by Uniloy on the lab machine. Two independent extruders and heads allow a very quick production change, saving the purging time when switching from one resin to the other one.
The second machine is for the production of under-the-hood airducts made with 2 different resins. Two injectors are coupled to an innovative sequential coextrusion head, designed to minimize the resin path length and streamline the overall process.
The advantages of the parison suction process are well known: simpler and less expensive than the parison manipulator technology, the parison suction process is used to produce 3-D ducts without seam line, with minimum flashes generation and high energy efficiency, and it is suitable for sequential coextrusion.

High temperatures in the Italian facility - November 2006
Suction technology has been extensively tested in Uniloy plant with engineering resins and PA at over 300 °C (570 °F). The new UMA 20.SH, developed to produce blow molded ducts with parison suction (also in PA 66 with glass fibres), was tested with various types of resins. Tests were carried out at the Uniloy Italian site, together with the resin producers. The new Uniloy technology, which focuses the attention on the blow molding of high temperature resins, has proved to be winning and with astonishing results!

Massive, award-winning molded parts demonstrate versatility of Uniloy Springfield structural foam molding presses - October 2006
Uniloy Milacron at NPE demonstrated the versatility of multi-nozzle structural foam molding for creating extremely large plastic parts by featuring three innovative, award-winning products created on Uniloy Springfield1000-ton wide-platen presses. "These products demonstrate the unique capabilities of structural foam molding for creating both very large flat structures and massive, deep structures," said Ed Hunerberg, executive director of Uniloy Milacron's structural foam and industrial blow molding machinery businesses.

Milk in 6 Seconds? Simple! Password: UMR - September 2006
Designed by Uniloy in the U.S., reciprocating screw technology enables extremely high production volumes with extremely limited cycle times and low energy consumption in the fresh food packaging industry for milk and dairy products. Today, the numbers in this market are on the rise because in addition to milk, there is a multitude of derived products — yogurt, vitamin-enriched single-serving foods, “flavored” dairy products with the taste of fruit or cocoa, etc. — all with the same requirements for freshness.

A promotion for the Uniloy site in Italy - August 2006
Today Uniloy can count on an ambitious expansion project that will, on the one hand, increase the production capacity to manufacture the twin conical counter-rotating screw extruders of Cincinnati Milacron and the twin parallel screw in the future, on the other to obtain an improvement of the "Help Line" technical assistance service and a highly efficient spare parts management system that will be centralized in Magenta (Milan, Italy).

Industrias Uniplasticas continues growth - July 2006
Venezuela's largest structural foam molder, Industrias Uniplasticas C.A, has ordered an advanced, high-output Uniloy Milacron press to continue 100% per year sales growth for plastic pallets. Uniplasticas, which promotes the plastic pallets as the "intelligent solution," found the solution to capacity constraints by ordering a new 750-ton, wide-platen structural foam molding press at NPE.

Success at NPE - July 2006
FGH Systems, Inc. booked its biggest sale ever at an NPE, taking an order from Berry Setco Plastics, Cranberry, NJ, for three Uniloy Milacron UMS 16.D shuttle blow-molding machines. Frank Hohmann, president of FGH Systems, said the machines will be used for a specialized, proprietary packaging application.

Cheaper 3-layer milk bottles - June 2006
Uniloy Milacron is meeting consumer and dairy producer preference for HDPE milk bottles by introducing the first reciprocating blow molding machine capable of producing three-layer extended-shelf-life (ESL) bottles. It surpasses wheel and shuttle machines with 10-20% higher output in a smaller footprint, with 10-25% less energy use. The first UMR2000-3L was demonstrated at NPE making Euro-standard one-liter, non-handled bottles.

Clean is better - May 2006
Milk, juice and water bottling gets fresher and faster with a new air-tight, controlled-atmosphere model of Uniloy Milacron's proven UMR2000 reciprocating screw blow molding machines. A vast range of head, clamp and extruder selections allows Uniloy Milacron to configure a UMR2000 blow molding machine to desired production volumes and container specifications.

Between innovation and knowledge - April 2006
The 2006 edition of Plast was held in Milan from 13 to 18 February; Uniloy, demonstrated the suction parison process which was presented for the first time during the last Open House in Magenta (Milan, Italy). Ferromatik Milacron presented a completely new electric machine , while Cincinnati Milacron displayed the twin-screw extruders

Managing the Service - March 2006
Mark Jenkins has been promoted to Director, Uniloy Service, UMNA. In this position, Mark shall assume direct responsibility  for the administration of all UMNA aftermarket parts, retrofit and rebuild sales, UMNA mold engineering, UMNA mold, manufacturing and UMNA mold manufacturing services