CHICAGO (JUNE 24, 5:25p.m. ET) - The old saying may tell us that time is money, but more and more
molders are learning that power is money too -- and molds that can cut power use can add to a firm's bottom line.
Wentworth Technologies Co. Ltd. (Booth W155034) is introducing its new Eko-Mold line for strech blow molds with an
insulated carrier that cuts power consumption up to 30 percent compared to a traditional mold by insulating
the carrier. Thar retains heat where it's needed.
Those are numbers that add up to something more than a simple ecological message, said Tar Tsau, vice president
engineering and general manager for North and South America for Wentworth.
"There are tangible money savings directly from where you can see the heating costs, but a lot of intagible savings
which you don't see right away," he said.
The Eko_Mold line is one of a series of programs the mold maker has launched that can help molders compete in a
tough economic environment. Beyond the energy savings, the mold features a modular design which can help save cash
by swapping out individual parts. Wentworth has also developed a tooling management program to work with molders
to review and help streamline its tooling operations.
Wentworth also has a crated an enhanced payment terms contract which allows molders to pay for tools over a period of
time, rather than coming up with the cash up front, which will help them launch new programs.
Wentworth credits help itself as the largest independent manufacturer of PET blow molds and extrusion molds. Its
manufacturing footprint includes operations in Eastern Europe, which allows it to cuts its expenses while using its
North American operations to come up with new technologies, including the Eko-Mold.
The Eko-Mold is geared at injection strectch blow molds for hot-filled bottles, which have to be processed at hot
temperatures. Typically, the entire system is heated, including the mold carrier. Wentworth's program insulates the
carrier to focus the heat only where it's needed. As a result, molders not only cut energy use, the machine undergoes
fewer stresses since it is not subjected to as much overall heat. Tsau said. That means that many of the parts such as
bearings and connections do not wear as quickly, also saving money or maintenance, and the insulation pads also provide
some additional protection to the mold and carrier.
The Eko-Mold also features a modular design, so molders can use the same label panel area, for instance, in multiple bottles
and switch out the neck to give the bottle a different look.
"One Mold can make different bottles with product variations," Tsau said. "That is especially good when there are smaller batch
runs of specially products."
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