Canada-based Mold-Masters (Europe: Baden-Baden / Germany; www.moldmasters.com), the global market leader in hot runners, is teaming up with ABBA Systems (Brantford, Ontario / Canada; www.abbasystems.com) to market PET preform tool solutions under the “iPET” brand name (www.iPETsystems.com). “The market is looking for another global supplier of PET moulds and we believe that iPET will fill this need and provide the industry with new levels of performance,” reports Patrick Bennet, Mold-Masters’ executive vice president.

The portfolio comprises new PET tools, conversions, retrofits, refurbishments, spare parts and service at five global production sites and 40 sales and service locations worldwide. Mold-Masters says that iPET moulds and tools are interchangeable with existing PET mould platforms and fit all types of injection moulding machines.

The new systems feature between 2 and 192 cavities and are designed for equipment with up to four post-mould cooling positions. The manufacturers say the technical advances, especially in cooling, offer preform producers a range of benefits, including the fact that the proprietary design of the iFlow manifold reduces pressure loss and facilitates uniform filling. Moreover, shear stress is lower than on conventional gun-drilled manifolds.

The hot runner technology has been developed specifically for use with PET since it reduces PET dust, the manufacturers say. Other benefits are lower crystallinity in the gate and easier servicing. The recently patented "iCool" technology allows for more even and efficient cooling of moulds. Together, these technologies produce energy-saving preform tools that run faster and have optimized colour change times, Mold-Masters says, adding that the new systems also minimise acetaldehyde content and guarantee longer run times and simpler servicing.