As the official Coca-Cola bottler of Sicily (Italy), ACMI was in charge of the projection, installation and commissioning of a high-tech flexible bottling line with a filling speed of 60,000 cans per hour. The term flexibility refers to the capability of the line of adapting to the numerous formats along with the possibility of inserting future formats without the need of carrying out any mechanic modifications: the line is already predisposed for handling a series of future formats which will lead to a total number of 35 formats. At the present moment in time, the line can handle nine formats with four different types of cans: 330ml, 500ml, 330ml "sleek" and 150ml "slim".

Pack configuration

The line is equipped with two shrink wrappers Fenix model, single and double lane, and is capable of forming packs of 3x2, 4x3, 4x2 and 6x4. Thanks to a specific system of conveyors, the two machines can cover all of the desired formats: packs with cans only, cans on trays and over packing.

Automatic film changeover

The two Fenix shrink wrappers are equipped with an automatic film change over mechanism which, in a time lapse of approximately ten seconds, allows the machine to pass from the terminated spool reel to the new reel in a completely automatic manner. This implies great functioning autonomy, as the operator has all the time necessary to substitute the terminated spool with a new spool reel without interfering with the productivity of the machine.

Energy saving

The engineers in ACMI's shrink wrapping department have orientated their efforts in:

• optimising the resistances of the oven,
• individuating new material to be used on the pack conveying belt,
• improving the air flow inside the oven
• and applying automatic rolling shutters which allow the oven to reach the desired heat in less time maintaining a constant level of heat.

All of these features lead to a saving in functioning costs along with further improvement of the quality of the shrink wrapped pack.

Twisterbox

The palletisation phase is guaranteed by the Twisterbox layer formation system along with the high level model Faster palletiser that can reach a production speed of 13.000 packs per hour with the 3x2 configuration of 330ml "sleek". The palletisation group is positioned alongside the Faster D200 depalletiser, making it a very compact installation, occupying a reduced amount of space.

The Twisterbox installed at Sibeg is a two module system with new concentric closing carbon pliers that guarantee speed and agility, flexibility and maximum delicacy in handling the product. All of the format changeover operations are commanded by means of a touch screen operators panel and do not require any type of mechanic intervention.

Pallet stretchwrapper

Another interesting innovation presented by ACMI is the rotating ring pallet stretch wrapper Vortex model which mounts an electronic pre-stretching device capable of a pre-stretching ratio upto 400%. Thanks to the electronic commanding of all of the parameters, this system may adapt the pre-stretching value at each phase of wrapping, optimising the film consumption and assuring perfect stability of the pallet. The Vortex pallet stretch wrapper can be equipped with an anti-dust top cover device or a "waterproof" device and can mount spools with a height of 500, 750 and 1000 mm.