Hot-fill bottles without vacuum absorption panels

SIPA, a manufacturer of stretch blow-moulding machines for the production of PET bottles, can now produce hot-fill bottles that do not have vacuum absorption panels.

SIPA has created bottles, production and hot-fill systems for cylindrical containers of various shapes which have a petaloid base, are panel free and can be labelled with a regular, wraparound label. The application was designed to help reduce the cost of primary packaging (bottle - cap - label ); while still using hot-fill technology that ensures that the products are of the highest standards, without the need for preservatives.

Liquid is filled at 85-87°C and a dose of liquid nitrogen is injected immediately prior to the capping, which results in 1.5 bars of internal pressure. After the beverage has cooled and its volume contracted, the internal pressure remains at 0.2- 0.3 bars, ensuring rigid packaging and ease of labelling.

Cost savings are achieved as the new bottles can use a wraparound label, which costs approximately 30% less than the typical shrink labels that are used in traditional hot-fill bottling. Lighter-weight containers are also possible due to the elimination of the side panels, which are no longer necessary because a vacuum is no longer created.