Extrusion International 1-2016

High Productivity, Product

Quality and Operational

Reliability

ILLIG’s current generation of automatic forming machines of

the RDKP series is equipped with a separate forming and

punching station. The efficiency of this machine working

from a roll stock is demonstrated by model IC-RDKP 72

(forming area max. 756 mm x 535 mm) and a sophisticated

hinged food pack made of polyethylene terephthalate

(APET) produced on this machine. The production line is ad-

ditionally equipped with a hole punch press (punching force

600 kN) positioned between forming station and steel rule

punch press. It is employed to apply frequently required

venting openings to the packs. The line works at a speed of

up to 50 cycles per minute with 6-up mold.

Trays and hinged packs used for protection of food during

transport and for presentation of food articles on super-

market shelves are manufactured on thermoformers of the

RDKP series from thermoplastic materials such as PS, PP and

PET through to bioplastics such as PLA: The flexible produc-

tion of medium and even small batch sizes with frequent

material, format and mold changes is part of everyday prac-

tice. The high productivity of today’s machine generation

achieved by consistent use of servo drives and process-con-

trolled machine sequencing is effectively supported by the

new ILLIG IC control concept (Intelligent Control Concept).

This lets the machine operator get the most out of the en-

tire thermoforming line in terms of productivity and quality

in an efficient manner. By using the IC module “accelerated

mold change”, for example, not only time can be saved,

moreover, the whole mold change can be carried out more

reliably. The operator receives targeted information on the

screen for all tasks required in conjunction with a mold

change along the whole thermoforming line. This helps to

prevent errors right from the beginning which otherwise

might cause machine malfunction or even production stand-

still.

IC-RDKP 72 automatic roll-fed thermoforming machine equipped with ILLIG IC control concept:

The production of a sophisticated hinged pack made of APET demonstrates the efficiency of this machine

Picture: ILLIG

Extrusion International 1/2016