Matthew Naitove

New York

Executive Editor at Plastics Technology

Executive editor, Plastics Technology magazine

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Articles

Cobot Automates Label Reel Loading for High-Volume PET Beverage Bottles

3 weeks ago | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

To meet growing demand for PET water and other beverage bottles, Sidel has introduced a new automated reel loading system for PET beverage bottle labels that’s said to have three times the reel capacity of any competing system. CoboREEL holds up to 18 reels — enough for an entire shift, Sidel says — and an integrated cobot (collaborative robot) provides 100% accuracy and maximum precision.
Blow Molder’s Packing & Shipping Upgrades Save Bottle Customer Over $90,000

1 month ago | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

Two six-axis robots were added at Currier and two more at its customer to palletize and depalletize HDPE bottles. This robot at Currier takes bottles off the conveyor and places them in customized trays. At Currier Plastics, cross-functional teams in processing and logistics are always on the lookout for continuous-improvement opportunities.
Jomar Adds In-House Moldmaking Capability for Injection-Blow Molding

1 month ago | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

Jomar’s turnkey services now include in-house moldmaking and consequent cost savings. Shown here, a 40-cavity injection-blow tool. Source: JomarJomar Corp., a longtime provider in injection-blow molding machinery, now also offers its first capabilities for in-house mold design, development and production. The company has acquired a local moldmaker and has set aside a portion of Jomar’s headquarters in Belleville, New Jersey, for its new tooling operations.
Precision Concepts Buys Meredith-Springfield

2 months ago | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

Precision Concepts International announced in March that it had acquired Meredith-Springfield Associates Inc. (MSA) of Ludlow, Massachusetts. Meredith-Springfield specializes in design and blow molding of PET and HDPE bottles and containers, especially those presenting technical challenges. It was co-founded in 1983 by Mel O’Leary, president and CEO. Precision Concepts says Meredith-Springfield will continue to be led by its existing leadership team.
Uniloy Celebrates 75th Anniversary

2 months ago | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

Uniloy’s first all-electric injection-blow machine, model UIB 85-E, is an 85-tonner aimed at medical and other “clean” applications. It’s the first of a new three-machine line. Source: Uniloy Inc. Source: UniloyUniloy Inc. has hit three-quarters of a century mark this year.
Uniloy Adding 2 Shuttle Machines at US Headquarters

Mar 28, 2025 | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

A Uniloy model UCS14.ED 4+4 will be one of two all-electric shuttle machines coming to the firm’s U.S. headquarters this year. A three-layer coex UCS30.ED machine will arrive in July. Uniloy Inc. will install two all-electric stock shuttle machines in Tecumseh, Michigan, this year. A model UCS30.ED 5+5 CoEx3 with ability to run three layers and recycled resins will arrive in July, while a smaller monolayer model UCS14.ED 4+4 (pictured) is due in September.
Make PET Containers From 20 ml to 5 L on One Machine

Feb 25, 2025 | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

New Cypet PRO Series ISBM machines separate preform injection from conditioning and stretch-blowing in adjoining enclosure. Source: CypetThe latest generation of PET injection stretch-blow molding machines from Cypet Technologies of Cyprus boasts higher productivity than the firm’s existing K Series. Unlike the latter, the new PRO Series does not combine injection and blowing molds in the same clamp.
Lightweight Bottle Base for 100% rPET Still Products in High-Speed Production

Feb 13, 2025 | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

Sidel’s new StarLITE-R Still base tooling supports production of 100% rPET still-water bottles weighing as little as 7 g (0.5 L) at up to 2,700 bph per mold. Source: SidelSidel is offering tooling for a new PET bottle base, called StarLITE-R Still, which it claims is a unique answer to today’s market priorities. According to Mikael Derrien, Sidel’s manager of Packaging Innovations, “Today there are bottle bases on the market suitable for lightweight designs and high production speeds.
Simpler Electric Extruder Drive for Reciprocating-Screw Machines

Feb 4, 2025 | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

A provisional patent on a new electric drivetrain has been filed by Velocity Equipment Solutions (VES). The new drive design is intended for screw rotation on reciprocating-screw extrusion blow molders. It’s retrofittable on machines from VES or other suppliers, and VES has designed its first machine equipped with the new drivetrain. That machine is slated for completion by early in the second quarter and has already drawn interest from potential buyers, VES says.
Is There a Better Way to Heat PET Preforms for Stretch-Blow Molding?

Jan 31, 2025 | ptonline.com | Matthew Naitove

Productivity and energy efficiency are two major drivers of technical developments in stretch-blow molding (SBM) and other plastics processes. Near-infrared (NIR), a variant of standard infrared (IR) heating, is said to offer both desired benefits but may not be well known among PET container makers.