8 March 2016
For Immediate Release
Company Contact: Latricia Fry
Amcor Rigid Plastics
(734) 302-2516
latricia.fry@amcor.com
Media Contact:
Joe Grande
Group 55 Marketing
(313) 875-1155
jgrande@group55.com
Amcor and Sacmi Announce Commercialization
of Breakthrough Process Technology for
Production of Rigid Pharmaceutical Containers
Industry’s First Compression Blow Forming System Brings
Major Benefits over Conventional Injection Blow Molding
NEW YORK, N.Y., May 1, 2012 – Amcor Rigid Plastics, the world’s leading producer
of rigid plastic packaging, and Italy’s Sacmi Imola S.C., the industry’s leading manufacturer of
compression molding equipment for closures, announced today the commercialization of the
industry’s first Compression Blow Forming (CBF) machine for the production of rigid HDPE
pharmaceutical bottles. The breakthrough process, which combines compression molding and
blow molding, delivers significant advantages over conventional processes, providing enhanced
quality, higher productivity, sustainability benefits, and the potential for lightweighting.
Amcor and Sacmi made the announcement at a May 1 press conference during the
Amcor Rigid Plastics
935 Technology Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 T +1-734-302-2516 F +734-302-2296 www.amcor.com
Interphex 2012 Exhibition and Conference at the Javitts Center May 1-3 in New York City. “By
adding CBF into our technology platform suite, we continue to offer our customers enhanced
technology capabilities which deliver on the high level of quality our customers demand, quicker
production that supports the growth needs of our customers, and renewed support for our
sustainability efforts,” stated Latricia Fry, market development manager, for Amcor Rigid
Plastics.
Amcor collaborated with Sacmi – the original developer of the process – in a 14-month
development project to adapt the unique technology for pharmaceutical packaging. The two
companies primarily focused on optimization and implementation of process control
enhancements to ensure the new technology platform met the demanding requirements of
pharmaceutical manufacturers. Amcor has an exclusive arrangement with Sacmi to utilize the
technology in select market segments and global regions. The company has already
commissioned a 12-cavity platform (CBF-12), and is producing HDPE packer (over-the-counter
and prescription) bottles at its Youngsville, N.C., facility. Three additional machines are on order
and will be in production by the end of the year.
“For the pharmaceutical industry, compression blow forming is one of the most
significant technological developments for rigid packaging in decades - it’s a game-changer for
an industry that demands risk-free performance,” said Tod Eberle, vice president, quality and
Amcor Rigid Plastics
935 Technology Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 T +1-734-302-2516 F +734-302-2296 www.amcor.com
engineering, for Amcor Rigid Plastics. “Compression blow forming is the most advanced
processing system for the production of pharmaceutical containers, delivering high-quality,
reliable, and defect-free parts,” according to Bob Israni, Amcor’s technical manager for the
pharmaceutical market.
The CBF process expands and modernizes Amcor’s pharmaceutical bottle manufacturing
platform and represents a major improvement over conventional technologies. “Our adoption of
this technology reaffirms our commitment to quality and continued focus on delivering nextgeneration process solutions that enhance sustainability,” said Eberle.
The commercialization of the new technology gives Sacmi entry into a new market
segment and increases brand awareness, according to Luca Nanetti, sales and marketing manager
for closures and containers for Sacmi. “We’re thrilled about the ground-breaking work we’ve
done through our partnership with Amcor,” said Nanetti. “It is consistent with our strategy of
collaborating with industry leaders like Amcor who possess the know-how to deliver real-world
applications and market acceptance.”
In compression blow forming, material is extruded, cut, and precisely transferred into the
compression cavity. A preform is produced and a pre-blow and full-blow process is completed in
the same mold station with no transfer of the preform. Compression blow forming has no
manifold for melt distribution to individual separate cavities, which results in better quality parts
because there are no temperature differences and less chance of resin burn and degradation. The
Amcor Rigid Plastics
935 Technology Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 T +1-734-302-2516 F +734-302-2296 www.amcor.com
process delivers less particulate contamination and due to the continuous extrusion process with
simple melt channel, resin and color changes are also quicker.
The pre-blow process allows for effective separation of plastic from the compression
core. This reduces the chance of plastic sticking to the metal core rod, resulting in more uniform
wall thickness distribution.
Weight distribution is also better controlled with compression blow forming. The weight
of the resin shot is controlled for all cavities with a servo-controlled melt pump, resulting in
more accurate part weight distribution across all mold cavities. The process also operates at
lower temperatures, which results in lower residual stress in the end product and cycle times
which are reduced.
Compression blow forming’s continuous rotary motion eliminates station-to-station
indexing time, thus optimizing idle (non-process) time. Secondary cooling on the exit conveyors
allows bottles to be removed hotter from the machine.
Key sustainability advantages include a significant energy reduction through lower
process temperatures and application of updated machine process improvements. The process
achieves thermodynamic stability quicker and makes production bottles within 10 minutes from
machine start-up.
Unique to the CBF process is a highly sophisticated inline quality inspection system
which is fully integrated into the machine control. An infrared vision system detects dimensional
Amcor Rigid Plastics
935 Technology Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 T +1-734-302-2516 F +734-302-2296 www.amcor.com
variations and contamination (including any embedded opaque or metal particles). Additionally,
a fully integrated plasma surface treatment system is available for full wrap label and finish
induction seal application and is more effective and environmentally friendly. And with CBF,
leak testing validated to 0.3-mm minimum hole diameter is performed before the bottle leaves
the machine immediately after each bottle is blown.
“The company sees a ‘range of applicability’ for CBF and will selectively invest with
customers in high-volume, long-term projects,” according to Eberle. In addition to the 12-cavity
unit already in production, Amcor has committed to additional CBF systems, including a 20
cavity unit which will be in production by the end of 2012. New-generation equipment will have
capability for production of HDPE, PP, and PET pharmaceutical containers.
Along with pharmaceutical packaging, Amcor and Sacmi envision strong potential for
CBF in other markets, including single-serve dairy packaging made of HDPE for applications
such as liquid yogurt and probiotics.
About Sacmi Imola
SACMI Group, headquartered in Imola, Italy, is an international group founded in 1919 and
recognized as a world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of machines and systems
for the ceramics, plastics, beverage and packaging, and food processing industries. The group
consists of a network of over 60 companies worldwide with sales of over $1.5 billion. The
SACMI Group’s leadership position has been achieved through the company’s commitment to
research and the application of innovative technology as well as high standards of quality both in
terms of products and customer service. For more information, visit www.sacmi.it.
Amcor Rigid Plastics
935 Technology Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 T +1-734-302-2516 F +734-302-2296 www.amcor.com
About Amcor
Amcor Rigid Plastics is among the world’s largest manufacturers of plastic packaging for the
beverage, food, spirits, personal and home care, and pharmaceuticals industries with 66 facilities
in 12 countries. Amcor Limited is a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, employing
more than 35,000 people worldwide, operating in 43 countries across 300 sites. Amcor supplies a
broad range of plastic (rigid and flexible), fibre, metal, and glass packaging solutions to enhance
the products consumers use in everyday life. Amcor also provides packaging-related services
that help customers succeed through collaboration and innovation driven by art and science.
Amcor is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and is listed on the Australian Securities
Exchange. For more information, visit www.amcor.com.
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Amcor Rigid Plastics
935 Technology Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 T +1-734-302-2516 F +734-302-2296 www.amcor.com