The company will be highlighting the launch of the new TF-02, which will have its European premiere at the show. Engineered in the second half of 2004, this new machine is said to have a production output of 2 -3 times higher than its smaller sister model, giving it an output of up to 24.000 units/h. One big advantage forthe customer is the fact that tooling will be interchangeable from the small TF-01 to thefast model TF-02, which is particularly interesting for co-packers.
But the company says that the development will not stop there as it is already preparing for the next generation of high-speed machinery, named TF-03 that will be shown in virtual realityat the Interpack show and will be commercially be available by end 2005.
Another new product on display will be a recent bottle development calledSmartBottle. This is a new type of plastic bottle with volumes up to 500 ml andproduced on a thermoform-fill-seal machine from a single reel of plastic material.Owing to a new and patented system, the bottles will be produced withoutany outer seal edge, but with a smooth outer surface, making them competitive toblow-moulded bottles.
Unifill will also display an upgraded version of the TF-01 model, a compact machine for filling liquid and viscous products into peelable or squeezable plasticmonodoses with volumes ranging from 1 to 100 ml. With the new TF-01, thesemonodoses can now be offered as stand-up versions - a requirement of the industry.
In addition to competitive prices of machine and tooling, the company says that the TF-01 offers quick changeovers due to ease of operation and simple tooling access for size change. Users of the TF 01 system also profit from the low packaging material costsmade possible by low material waste.
As the TF-01 model is geared for low to medium output up to 9.000 units/h the company says that there hasbeen a demand from worldwide customers to develop a thermoforming machine withhigher outputs - on the same principles and platform, which the company says it is currently following up on.
. Currently Unifill says that more than 200 of its systems are in everyday operation around the world. Most recently the company has been focusing on the China market, which is now the company's fastest growing region.