Sacmi’s New System produces Tethered Bottle Caps that comply with new EU environment rules

SACMI based in Imola, Italy have produced a new compact high-speed solution for wide variety of tethered caps designed to meet EU regulations to be implemented in 2024.

EU Directive 2019/904 requires that in 2024, caps on single-use beverage bottles will remain attached, or “tethered,” to the bottle, as a means of preventing the caps’ dispersing into the environment.

SACMI’s new line consists of four modules for feeding, scoring, folding and inspecting both tethered and traditional caps. While traditional caps have horizontal-cut tamper-evident bands, SACMI’s system can produce eight types of tethered caps with hinges or single or dual tether strips, some with ability to “lock” the cap away from the bottle neck for ease of drinking. All these types of caps can be molded either on SACMI’s continuous compression molding (CCM) machines or by injection molding.

The first module is the newly designed ORGRS (at left in the photo), described as sturdy and “extremely compact” waterfall feeder that orients and feeds the caps. A deionizer is an available option.

Caps emerge on a fast-moving narrow belt, which transports them through the CVS video inspection devices. The CVS154 and CVS 360-3D multi-camera devices inspect the cap body, interior and sidewall for key dimensions, structural defects, colour variation or contamination (black specks). It can also recognize the cavity number to maintain quality statics by mold cavity.

Finally, the PFMC unit inspects the cut of the tamper-evident band and measures its breaking force. This unit performs destructive tests on selected cap samples. It can work as a standalone unit or integrated in a production line. It can also test traditional tamper-evident caps. This unit integrates a CVS CUT camera device to inspect the tamper-evident band before the destructive test, and it records quality statistics associated with individual spindles of the SFM module. Quick format changeovers allow testing of caps of different diameters. It also provides feedback control of cutting-tool temperature to counteract any drift in cutting performance.

The compact line is designed for up to 1000 caps/min (60,000/hr), though it can be modified for up 120,000/hr output with a 12-station folding/scoring module.