Product category:
Injection moulding
News Release from: Sandretto UK | Subject: In-mould labelling
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 December 2003
In-mould labelling is a growth industry
In-mould labelling is a growth industry and an injection moulding machine builder has developed a number of systems for the packaging industries.
Sandretto UK is increasingly being called upon to supply a variety of labelling solutions as part of its capabilities in injection moulding machinery supply The Rugby-based company has a number of standard systems that have been designed to match the diverse IML applications that are now offered through industry
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 29 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Chris Whitlam, National Sales Manager for Automation notes that 'many of our moulding clients need to win business by showing extra abilities in cosmetic finishing and in cost-effective product branding.
In-Mould Labelling (IML) - particularly when automated - is proving to be the technology of choice for doing this.
We include IML in our supply portfolio because its presence in injection moulding is significant - and set to rise over the coming years.' Sandretto UK's standard solutions for in-mould labelling include: * Static charge - a static charger is mounted on the robot and charges the label once it is in position in the mould area.
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The static-charged label is then attracted to the mould surface and is held in position while the mould closes.
Vacuum technology - vacuum cups are used to hold the label.
Once in position a vacuum circuit in the mould holds the label while the tool closes.
Most Sandretto UK labels for IML are normally stored in a floor mounted magazine.
The Sandretto magazine is designed with special features in order to prevent more than one label being picked up.
The Sandretto-supplied linear robot will grips a label using a number of small vacuum cups situated around the edge of the label and then delivers that label to the mould.
While in-mould labelling is becoming widespread through manufacturing, Sandretto UK is seeing some growth areas.
'Drinks trays and drinks packaging are a coming area and garden furniture - chairs and table tops - are another instance where IML is being used for advertising effect,' notes Whitlam.
However, the chief engine for IML technology remains the food industry and the food packaging sector - in its use of high quality packaging advertising - still dominates the majority of moulding business.
'Labels in this industry,' says Whitlam 'are most often designed to wrap around the outside of the container and base.
Very often the closure will also use an IML label.
As most of the containers are produced in very short cycle times we at Sandretto UK have to deploy robots and engineering that will place the label in sub one second times.' For other larger containers where the product requires a label around the circumference - such as those used in the paint sector- it is possible to use a special label that is a cylinder and hence has no ends to misalign.
Sandretto UK offers the benefit of using a dedicated process engineer to assist in all processing issues - including IML.
The service expertise includes tooling matters, as many IML challenges are as much about tooling and processing as automation.
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