Next Generation of Cap Closing at Currier
Auburn, NY Currier Plastics has been designing high cavitation cap molds for decades and like many other custom molders, have used the most popular mold closing technologies in the industry. Each custom program however presents new challenges.
“As our cap/lid mold cavitation increased in size, we had to consider expanding our closing systems. Because of the physical size of the molds-there wasn’t enough room for the payload. We also had to be able to close the caps in a specific amount of time to exercise the living hinge,” says Gary Kieffer, VP of New Product Development. Historically Currier has been using methods that include in-mold closing and robotics.
The combination of the physical size and the output volume of these higher cavitation cap molds made them consider different closing automation than say a traditional robot. The project team at Currier Plastics investigated and approved an investment in vibratory bowl feeder systems to sort and orient the caps into a rotary turret closing stations, all performed within process and very consistent.
Currier has enhanced the speed of their throughput capacity. “The molding cycle time is not interrupted because the closing system is external, unlike a robot which removes the caps directly from the mold while in the open position. Though this technology has been around for awhile it didn’t make sense financially to invest in this closing style until we had the programs to feed it,” said Kieffer. The investments made by Currier Plastics for the bowl feeders and the rotary turret closing stations is approximately $ 300,000.
The bowl feeder and rotary turret closing stations are tied to a previous investment of (2) 500 Ton Mitsubishi’s from June 2010. “We knew when we made the purchase of the Mitsubishi’s, we’d open more doors for high cavitation programs,” adds Gary, “and we’ve done it.”
Currier Plastics is located in the heart of the finger lakes region and has been a custom molder for thirty years. They specialize in Custom Product Design, Injection Molding (IM), Extrusion Blow Molding (EBM), and Injection Stretch Blow Molding (ISBM). Currier Plastics is an Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) award winner and is a recipient of the Economic Champion by the Center State Corporation for Economic Opportunity. Currier Plastics was recently featured on the January 2012 cover of Plastics Technology with their new proprietary product, The Perfect Sit®.
