Sidel expands its range of hot fillers

In addition to the existing Veloce filler based on mechanical filling valve technology, Sidel is rounding out its offering with the Veloce FM, a filler with an electronic flow meter filling valve.

Sidel’ s Veloce FM guarantees accurate filling thanks to electronic flow meters that measure the precise amount of product to be filled. Because the Veloce FM does not recirculate the product through the bottle, the system eliminates cross contamination from the bottle into the filling valve. This feature guarantees higher product quality.

The hot fill portfolio includes three different machine configurations: wet (with water rinser), dry (without water rinser) and ultra clean (with chemical bottle decontamination and an isolator-style hygienic chamber). This range has been designed specifically for filling sensitive beverages packaged in PET or glass and sold at ambient temperature. This includes products such as fruit juices and nectars, teas, isotonic drinks, flavored waters, and dairy-based beverages (in the ultra clean configuration).

Hot filling on the line

Sidel also offers special package solutions, molds and blow molding machines to build a complete hot fill line.

Sidel’ s range of SBO Universal HR (Heat Resistant) blow molding machines produces heat set bottles at rates up to 1,800 bottles/hour/mold – the same rate for cold filled bottles.

The panels normally required to guarantee HR bottle strength are no longer necessary. Sidel offers customers two package alternatives: a panel-less HR bottle – smooth or with ribs (in which case the bottle dome absorbs stress) or a special bottle shape design with features that absorb stress.

Finally, Sidel has developed the F300 mold, an alternative to traditional stainless steel molds normally used in HR blow molding. The new mold is made of aluminum and can withstand temperatures as high as 180°C, making it suitable for hot fill PET bottle production. Three times lighter than stainless steel molds, the F300 mold promises gains in productivity. A lighter mold means less weight loaded onto the blow molding machine, making it mechanically possible to increase output. Finally, because an aluminum mold conducts heat more efficiently than a stainless steel mold, the F300 heats up and cools down rapidly, keeping waiting times to a minimum.