The system, comprising a 4+4 stack mold for 500g Eurotubs has been up and running successfully for over four months now in the Coveris Center of Excellence for IM-IML in Ravensburg, Germany.
As the compression technology is integrated in the mold, it runs independent on hydraulic or fully electric injection presses.
Yves Caunègre, group development manager, Coveris Global Rigid, told DairyReporter it is a great achievement in the improvement of the established injection molding IML technology.
“I am confident it will become a success story for all parties involved in this technology development for thin wall packaging,” he said.
Coveris has now started joint developments of further lightweight packaging for the consumer good industry.
The development of the injection compression technology started in 2011 as joint development project between Coveris, Unilever and Plastisud.
The Ravensburg plant also processes materials from Coveris divisions in other countries, for example, 40μm in-mold labels from Coveris' EU Food & Consumer Business Unit in Angoulème, France.