Netstal is the official wreath partner of the ESAF 2025 Glarnerland+
From August 29 to 31, Glarnerland+ will be swinging and celebrating: A stone's throw from our headquarters, the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF) will take place on the grounds of Mollis Airport. As a company firmly anchored in the region, Netstal supports the organizing committee and is a proud wreath partner of the ESAF 2025 Glarnerland+.
This is Swiss tradition at its best: the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival, or ESAF for short, takes place every three years at different locations and regularly attracts over 400,000 spectators, making it the largest recurring sporting event in Switzerland. At the ESAF, the country’s best wrestlers compete in traditional Swiss wrestling, accompanied by competitions in stone put and a great festival culture with yodelers, flag-wavers and alphorn players. The winner receives the prestigious title of “Schwingerkönig” (wrestling king) as well as a live prize of a full-grown bull, the so-called “Muni”.
Pictures: ESAF 2025 Glarnerland+ / Maya Rhyner
Netstal’s support for the ESAF 2025 Glarnerland+
Holding such a large event is an organizational tour de force for which a good spatial infrastructure is indispensable. The ESAF organizing committee has been using meeting rooms at the Netstal headquarters for meetings and other presentation events since 2021.
A temporary shuttle service will be set up in the region to transport visitors between the more distant train stations, camping and parking areas and the festival grounds. The necessary bus terminal will be set up in the Netstal parking lot. In addition, our area will be used as a disposition point for the large festival parade, which traditionally takes place at the start of the ESAF.
Great sport against a magnificent mountain backdrop. The ESAF 2025 Glarnerland+ will take place on the Mollis airport site. A little further north are the Netstal factory halls (Photo: ESAF 2025 Glarnerland+ / Maya Rhyner)
As official wreath partner, we are looking forward to a fantastic ESAF 2025 Glarnerland+.
The + stands for the Zürichsee-Linth, March Höfe and Sarganserland regions bordering the canton of Glarus, which are also supporting ESAF 2025.
10.5 % energy saving with a thin-walled cup
With adaptive system pressure reduction, we presented a retrofittable option in 2023 that allows manufacturers to effectively save energy costs. The potential varies depending on the application.
Initial situation:
Using a coffee cup, we wanted to find out whether the calculated savings can be confirmed in practice. The thin-walled cup is produced in a 6-cavity mold on an Elion 2800 with a cycle time of 3.9 seconds. The shot weight is 95 g.
Solution from Netstal:
The application described was tested extensively with activated system pressure reduction. With the option activated, the injection molding machine requires around 10.5% less energy. A considerable reduction in costs and a relevant reduction in the CO2 footprint.
Calculate your individual savings potential:
With our new online tool, you can find out immediately whether you have a savings potential in your application with the adaptive system pressure reduction from Netstal and how high this is. Click on the link and enter the basic data on the machine and the current injection molding process. You will immediately receive a result.
Adaptive system pressure reduction
The hydraulic system of Netstal injection molding machines is designed for a maximum operating pressure of 250 bar in order to be able to cope with peak loads without any problems. Depending on the application, a lower value would also be sufficient. This is where Netstal comes in with the new system pressure reduction and optimizes energy efficiency. In automatic mode, the adaptive control system determines the optimum point at all times and adjusts the system pressure accordingly. With the same or even increased productivity, the energy consumption for providing the system pressure is reduced to a minimum. A lower load on the components also has a positive effect on machine availability and overall service life.
Retrofit maximum efficiency: Optimize your operating processes sustainably with Smart Operation
Greater efficiency and productivity can also be achieved with existing machines. With Smart Operation, we offer you an innovative solution for optimizing operating processes in injection moulding production. Retrofitting is possible for all Netstal machines from control system generation Axos 7.
In high-performance applications, the aim is often to keep reducing cycle times in order to be able to produce even more. However, sometimes these gains are eaten up by small efficiency losses. This means that non-technical downtimes are either not taken into account or are regarded as unavoidable. With Smart Operation, you can reliably eliminate such downtimes and increase productivity.
More efficiency can be retrofitted: After the conversion, the Axos control unit has 4 additional Smart Buttons and a software update
(Move the slider to the left to see the controller after the conversion)
Sales increase in the six-figure range
A customer example: In the production of dental components, the injection molding machines have to be stopped at regular intervals in order to lubricate the tools. As the plant maintenance staff are unable to operate the injection molding machine, specialist personnel have to be called in each time. As the specialist has to look after several systems at the same time, there are always waiting times of several minutes. However, this adds up over the year and the negative impact on productivity is significant.
With Smart Operation, we were able to offer this customer an optimal solution. By anchoring specific production processes in the machine control system, a guided operation was created that can also be carried out error-free by maintenance personnel after a short briefing. Today, this customer has equipped several machines with Smart Operation and reports a six-figure increase in turnover. This is solely due to the elimination of the many short waiting times. Today, the plant maintenance staff independently access the machine, stop production, lubricate the tool and then restore the entire production cell, including the removal robot and packaging system, to production status.
Intuitive and safe operating concept eliminates non-technical downtime
The Smart Operation concept is based on anchoring operation-relevant scenarios and processes in the control system and changing the operating status at the touch of a button. A total of 4 of the so-called “Smart Buttons” are available. A color code on the main screen clearly indicates which buttons can be used to continue. The relevant buttons light up in the corresponding colors. For example, red for “Stop cycle mode” or green for “Start cycle mode”. If certain work steps are also required, such as ejecting the injection unit, this is displayed as an instruction. The execution must be confirmed before the next step can be continued. The principle is as intuitive as operating a coffee machine that indicates when the coffee grounds container needs to be emptied or a descaling program needs to be carried out.
Another application scenario is the rapid rectification of faults during the night shift. With Smart Operation, most faults can be rectified immediately by shift personnel. There is no need to wait until an application engineer arrives.
Users of Smart Operation benefit in several ways: the implementation of clearly defined processes protects capital goods from improper operation and reduces the risk of operating errors. Repair costs are reduced and system availability increases. Situational user interactions drastically reduce the amount of training required. Instructions printed on paper are no longer necessary. Smart Operation significantly increases overall production efficiency.
We always recommend adding Smart Operation for new machines. Smart Operation can be retrofitted to existing machines with Axos 7 and Axos 8 at any time. We will be happy to provide you with an efficiency consultation for optimum operating processes with Smart Operation and prepare a retrofit offer tailored to your needs.
Go to LinkedIn to read the Success Story with SFS from the year 2022:
Your success can be planned: We support you in project planning with innovative online tools
Is it worth replacing older injection molding machines with new models? Do you want to manufacture a new product and want to know which machine is suitable? How much energy costs could the company save with the adaptive system pressure reduction in productive use? On the Netstal homepage you will now find three new calculators that will provide you with immediate answers to these questions.
In industry, too, decisions are often made on the basis of gut instinct or assumptions. If the plan works out later, everything is fine. But in the manufacturing industry, it is always better if important investment decisions are made on the basis of concrete and reliable data. To support you as early as possible in your project planning, we are now making three new online tools available for you to use free of charge.
Use the machine finder to determine the right machine for the application
Do you want to manufacture a specific product and are looking for a suggestion for a suitable injection molding machine? Then our machine finder is ideal for you. With basic information about the product and the mold, you will receive a machine suggestion and the corresponding technical data from us.
Calculate break-even and sales increase with machine replacement
Are you already operating older Netstal machines and wondering whether replacing them with new models will pay off? Then you can use the machine replacement calculator to obtain an ROI calculation. With just a few details about the existing machines and the current production data, you will receive the break-even point and the calculated increase in turnover in the first year. A modern machine consumes less electricity: Based on the electricity mix in your country, you will therefore also see the savings in CO2 equivalents with a new machine.
Reduce energy costs with adaptive system pressure reduction
With the optionally available and retrofittable adaptive system pressure reduction, you can achieve considerable energy savings depending on the application. Calculate the savings potential for your existing machine or a newly planned system. Enter basic production and process information and find out the potential energy and CO2 savings with activated system pressure reduction. You can also see the time to ROI and the cost savings in your currency. In most cases, the surcharge for system pressure reduction is amortized in a short time. After that, you save money with every cycle and protect the environment.
Send results to the personal contact person
Nothing is more valuable than personal contact. That’s why the same applies to all three tools: When you select your country, you will receive the contact details of the consultant responsible for you. Alternatively, you can also send the result and request to be contacted. We look forward to your inquiry and will provide you with competent support so that you can soon be producing with maximum efficiency.
You will always find direct access to our new planning offer on the Netstal website at the top right of the navigation bar under the menu item “my Netstal”.
Transparent, thin-walled and highly recyclable: Packaging made from PET
As a manufacturer of plastic packaging, do you want to make products from PET in the future or are you generally interested in possible alternatives to PP? Then you should plan a visit to Netstal at the NPE. In Orlando, we and our system partners will be demonstrating what sustainable and recyclable thin-wall packaging can look like. At our stand W223, we will be producing a thin-wall cup made of 100% PET on a hybrid Elion 3200. The transparent cup can be processed together with empty PET bottles into high-quality recyclates.
The recycling rate for thin-walled plastic packaging, such as cups for dairy products or spreads, is still low worldwide. This contrasts with PET bottles, which play a pioneering role in recycling. Across Europe, half of all PET bottles placed on the market were already recycled in 2020. The trend is also rising worldwide. However, if all types of PET packaging are considered, the rate is still 35% (source: Statista). Due to its good recyclability and the established recycling systems in several countries, the idea of using PET for thin-walled packaging and making it specifically recyclable is an obvious one. PET packaging must meet certain criteria so that it can be easily collected via the established collection systems and processed into rPET regranulate in the recycling plants together with PET bottles. This is an important prerequisite so that new bottles and packaging can be created from all PET containers.
"Clear packaging or the absence of color additives is preferred for PET packaging in order to achieve the purest possible quality of rPET. At the NPE, we will be showing such a PET cup that is optimized for recycling."
Reto Gmür, Produktmanager Packaging
The thin-walled PET cup weighs around 15 g
Sustainable PET thin-wall cup produced in a climate-friendly way
We have developed such a recycling-optimized solution for the NPE and in collaboration with our system partners. The clear cup weighs around 15 g and has a filling volume of 450 ml. We process virgin PET from the Eastman Chemical Company. We put the cups into the NPE recycling program so that the material remains in the PET cycle without loss. The labels are also made of PET and are provided by the Belgian IML specialist Verstraete. Our Canadian partner StackTeck provides the test mold with two cavities as well as the IML robot that inserts the labels into the cavities and removes and stacks the finished cups.
The PET cup is injection molded in a cycle time of around 4 seconds on our Elion 3200. With its electric toggle clamping unit and hybrid injection unit, the injection molding machine delivers the necessary speed, performance and dynamics. By recuperating kinetic energy from the clamping unit, the Elion is one of the most energy-efficient injection molding machines on the market. In high-speed applications, the Elion is in efficiency class 8 and higher of the latest Euromap 60.1 standard. The unit with RFC injection control shines with its leading shot-to-shot consistency. This is only available from Netstal in this form: The force-dependent pressure changeover is independent of the material properties and enables our customers to keep the part weight within tight tolerances at all times. You do not pay any extra for the leading Netstal precision, because the highest precision has been standard at Netstal for decades.
High-performance and energy-efficient injection molding machine: the Elion 3200
The Elion 3200 is equipped with the optional adaptive pressure reduction. This optional function helps you to save energy. If the pressure reduction is activated, the hydraulic system pressure is permanently adjusted to the optimum point. This option offers you enormous advantages. With a lower pressure, the axles of the machine are less heavily loaded. This has a positive effect on availability. However, the main benefit is the further reduction in power consumption. You produce particularly efficiently and at the lowest unit costs.
World record: Alltrista manufactures 128 beverage caps every 1.9 seconds
At the NPE you will experience high-performance injection molding in its purest form at Netstal. Together with our system partners and customer Alltrista®, we will be presenting the world's most powerful production system for lightweight beverage closures. The key data are impressive: 26mm water closures, 128 cavities, 1.9 second cycle time, 25 % material savings. Read the story to find out how this project came about.
At Alltrista, the production of 26mm water closures is running at full speed on two production lines. Anyone familiar with the subject quickly realizes that a very special application is in use here. You rub your eyes in amazement: is this a mold with 128 cavities that is moved here with a cycle time of 1.9 seconds? Can that be true? Yes, it is: Alltrista is the first company in the world to produce over 3 billion closures with a program like this. To be precise: 3.1 billion caps. We can announce this with a broad chest: We are proud to be part of this success story with our leading injection molding technology.
But let’s hear from our customer first.
“We wanted to be the first manufacturer to operate a system with 128 cavities in less than 2 seconds. With Netstal, z-moulds and Intravis, we have found the best system partners for this project. Each company is a leader in its field and the combination is unbeatable from our point of view. We simply thought: if this is to work, we need exactly these three partners. With the first two 128-cavity systems, we are now producing more efficiently than ever before, can deliver at any time and delight our customers. This has given us an enormous competitive advantage.”
Christopher Navratil, CTO at Alltrista’s parent company
Innovative mold-machine combination pushes physical boundaries
Let’s go into a little more detail. Water closures of the 26 mm type are produced for still water that is filled into PET bottles. Thanks to an innovative design, z-moulds was able to make its mold as small and light as a 96-cavity mold. This results in decisive advantages for the user. Compared to previous 128-cavity molds, the mold fits into a machine with a smaller tie bar distance. The compact design of the mold also means that less mass needs to be moved. An important prerequisite for the fastest possible cycle times. Consequently, running 128 cavities with a cycle time of less than 2 seconds is a world first. At Alltrista, the lines run at around 1.9 seconds. Occasionally it is also 1.85 seconds. The complete production system also requires very little floor space. Each line produces 1.55 billion closures per year on around 50 square meters. More output per square meter of production area is currently not possible.
Maximum productivity in a small space: At around 50 square meters, the Alltrista production system only requires a small footprint
Significant energy savings and 25% less plastic
More output is a great thing. Add to that savings on materials and electricity and you have efficiency at its peak. Comparative measurements have shown that the Elios 4500 with 128 cavities consumes around 12% less electricity than comparable machines from the competition. However, these were equipped with only 96 cavities. In addition, the application engineers at Alltrista were able to make the closures 25% lighter and therefore much more sustainable without compromising their function. Based on the full programm productivity of 3.1 billion closures per year, Alltrista saves over 930,000 kg of material. This corresponds to the weight of approximately 160 adult African elephants.
Intravis high-speed downstream quality control
However, the enormous number of caps is not yet ready for dispatch immediately after demolding. Before they can be filled into octabins, the closures pass through the downstream equipment of our system partner Intravis. The CapWatcher Q-Line carries out a comprehensive 360° full inspection of the closures. Today’s computing power makes it possible: up to 80 closures per second are checked for more than 40 quality criteria with an accuracy in the hundredth of a millimeter range. The cavity-related inspection is carried out with up to nine high-resolution cameras. An enormous amount of data that is processed in real time. The high performance gives Alltrista the certainty at all times that the closures are flawless immediately after production and that customers are only supplied with good parts.
A look inside the CapWatcher Q-Line. The system uses 9 high-resolution cameras to check up to 80 caps per second for more than 40 quality features
Alltrista: Innovative contract manufacturer from South Carolina
All in all, the Alltrista production system for 26 mm closures is the new benchmark in terms of speed, productivity, efficiency and sustainability. Two identical system solutions for closure production are currently in production at Alltrista. Alltrista Plastics LLC specializes in innovative, high-volume precision manufacturing. From rigid packaging and custom molded solutions to assembly, filling and kitting, Alltrista supports customers in the medical, healthcare and consumer goods industries with a wide range of products and services. The company’s ability to assemble strong teams on a project-by-project basis allows it to be flexible on even the most challenging orders.
Christopher Navratil confirms: “This closure application is proof of our innovative strength and our unbridled desire to keep pushing the technological boundaries. We are proud that, together with the experts from Netstal, z-moulds and Intravis, we were able to increase productivity by at least 30 percent in this project. For us, this is a prime example of how companies from the USA can work successfully with partners from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.”
Alltrista attaches great importance to the continuous improvement of its own sustainability. The company was audited by Ecovadis in 2023 and received the silver medal for its sustainability performance to date. Alltrista ranks in the 88th percentile of all companies assessed by Ecovadis and among the top 7% of peer companies.
Witness the Alltrista production system live at the NPE in Orlando
As mentioned at the beginning, we will be presenting an identical production system for 26 mm closures at our NPE stand. Alltrista will have its own staff on our booth to provide information from the customer’s perspective. For detailed information on all the company’s services, we also recommend a visit to booth S22065 in the South Hall, where Alltrista will be showcasing its full range of contract manufacturing and injection molding products and services.
Visit our NPE exhibitor profile and plan your visit:
CAP-Line
At the NPE you will see a Netstal machine labeled CAP-Line for the first time.
With the CAP-Line, we offer specifically pre-configured injection molding machines for closure applications. The CAP-Line 4500 on our stand is based on the high-performance Elios platform and is equipped with various features for the efficient production of beverage closures.
The CAP-Line 4500’s all-electric toggle-type closing unit with a drying time of 1.4 seconds enables cycle times of less than 2 seconds. Thanks to the optimized barrier screw, we can use a smaller injection unit. The new screw design ensures a higher plasticizing performance and a better degree of homogenization. Further options are available for individual optimizations, such as our four-button Smart Operation or the adaptive system pressure reduction, with which you can achieve additional energy savings.
With the new concept for the CAP-Line, we are aligning our portfolio even more closely with our customers’ applications. As a closure manufacturer, you benefit from a system that is individually tailored to your application. However, pre-configuration speeds up the consultation and quotation process so that delivery times for the machine are as short as possible.
Netstal becomes a member of the Krones Group
Netstal will have a new owner: Krones acquires 100 percent of the Netstal Group from KraussMaffei. The takeover agreement was officially signed on February 6. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of the year. Our customers in all application areas will benefit from the opportunities arising from this change.
We will not have to introduce Krones to our customers in the beverage industry. This may be different for Netstal users and our partners from the thin-wall packaging and medical technology sectors. That is why we are pleased to offer a brief overview of the Krones Group: Krones is the market leader in lines and machines for the production, filling and packaging of beverages and liquid foodstuffs in PET and glass bottles as well as beverage cans. With its products, the German company covers the entire production, filling and packaging process as well as the material flow in the manufacturing plant and integrates the corresponding IT systems. It also carries out complete factory planning projects for the beverage industry. Headquartered in Neutraubling, Bavaria, the company employs around 18,000 people worldwide. Consolidated revenue in 2022 amounted to 4.209 billion euros. Krones AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is currently included in the MDAX share index.
Looking forward to a successful collaboration (from left): Danijela Karelse (CFO Netstal), Renzo Davatz (CEO Netstal), Christoph Klenk (CEO Krones) and Uta Anders (CFO Krones)
The Krones Group stands on an extremely solid economic and technological foundation and can look back on a very successful development over the past decades. We are convinced that Netstal can only benefit from this new foundation in order to achieve the targeted growth in all areas.
“This transaction is a milestone in the long history of Netstal. Krones opens up strategic perspectives that were previously not possible. The potential for more customer benefits and growth in the beverage sector is obvious. The opportunities in the medical and thin-wall packaging applications are equally exciting. It is a pleasure for me to continue the strategic direction we have taken together with Krones to an even greater extent.”
Renzo Davatz, CEO Netstal
Leading solutions for the beverage and packaging industry as well as medical technology
However, major changes can also lead to questions. We would therefore like to emphasize at this point: With Netstal, we will continue to focus on you and your needs. Your personal contacts in sales and service will continue to be available at the headquarters in Näfels and in the subsidiaries. The processing of orders and projects will also not be affected. You will always receive leading technology from us in proven Netstal quality.
Our market orientation will not change. Krones would like to work with us to further develop the Netstal strategy and lead it to success. This applies to all strategic application areas. Netstal will continue to offer leading solutions for the efficient production of PET preforms, beverage closures and thin-wall packaging. In medical technology, Netstal is excellently positioned in high-speed mass applications for laboratory and consumable materials. This market position is to be further strengthened in the future. With its leading injection molding technology for medical applications and thin-wall packaging, Netstal supports Krones’ strategy of diversifying into the medical/pharmaceutical market as well as the food and personal care sectors. Netstal will continue to manage its business independently, benefiting from Krones’ international footprint and economies of scale.
Injection Molding Competence Center Näfels
Despite a challenging environment, we believe we are well equipped for the future. With Netstal, we have a competitive product portfolio and are constantly working on further innovations. Always with the aim of further increasing your added value. Under the umbrella of Krones, we will continue to expand our leading position in the top performance segment. Our headquarters in Näfels will be further developed into an injection molding competence center. This will ensure your supply of innovative injection molding technology and associated services as well as digital enhancements for applications in the top performance segment.
We will be happy to answer any questions you may have on this and other topics.
You can find more information on our leading solutions on the industry pages for preforms, closures, packaging and medical technology.
All information about Krones can be found at www.krones.com.
A story about quality: pipette tips from Hamilton
Hamilton has been producing liquid handling consumables for the global market at its new site in Domat/Ems since 2018. Hamilton relies on Netstal for the efficient production of its precise CO-RE II pipette tips. Satisfaction is not only ensured by the high-precision injection molding machines, but also by the reliable service and partnership-based cooperation.
The new Hamilton building in Domat/Ems makes an impressive impression with its glass facade. Even from the highway, you can see that this is not just an office complex like many others – it is also a production facility. And it is high-tech. Directly behind the glass facade, the Netstal machines are lined up lengthwise on the first floor. A beautiful and high-quality presentation.
Hamilton in Domat/Ems, Canton Graubünden, Switzerland
Hamilton manufactures pipette tips from its CO-RE II range using the all-electric machines in the Elion series. The innovative technology offers maximum precision when picking up and positioning tips. With an extremely robust and airtight lock-and-key mechanism, Hamilton tips are attached to the independent pipetting channels with virtually no effort. The optimum seal enables highly precise and uniform liquid transfer steps. Hamilton’s CO-RE II tips have a fine, thin tip that facilitates the dispensing of micro volumes.
An employee checks the cavities in the injection mold
However, it is not just the tips themselves that have been continuously developed. Hamilton also considers the entire underlying process technology, which is fully automated from the provision of the granulate through to packaging and storage, to be innovative.
"We are absolutely convinced of the high performance and precision of the Netstal injection molding machines. At the same time, we are very satisfied with the partnership-based cooperation and the services provided. If we have a problem, we can always rely on Netstal to work on a quick and optimal solution for us."
Simon Freitag, Plastics Specialist Hamilton Bonaduz AG
Hamilton CO-RE Tip Production in Switzerland, Domat/Ems
Safety and quality go hand in hand
Hamilton manufactures its consumables in an ISO Class 8 clean room that complies with ISO 14644, ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 standards. Hamilton does not rely solely on statistical quality analysis to ensure the highest product quality. Each pipette tip is monitored in the manufacturing process for the concentricity of its opening and the absence of burrs from the casting process. The medically equipped injection molding machines are adjacent to the centrally located clean room. The pipette tips enter the clean room via the removal systems. There, the tips are further processed separately by cavity and their quality is checked in-line. The next step is the packaging process. 96-well tip trays are loaded, packed in blister frame racks and sealed with a paper lid.
96-Well-Tip-Tray mit 300 μL CO-RE® II tips
The sealed blister frame racks are then transported to the fully automated packaging system above the clean room. Blisters and outer cartons are “married” by means of unique coding, so that complete traceability is always guaranteed. The packaging units are then transported on a conveyor belt to the high-bay warehouse, which is 40 meters high and has a capacity of 12,000 pallets.
300 % increase in capacity within 2 years
With the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the global demand for consumables exploded to cope with the increased volume of PCR tests performed. At this time, the Hamilton team in Domat/Ems was also under great pressure. Within 2 years, the production capacity for pipette tips was tripled. This was achieved by doubling the number of injection molding lines and production personnel. Netstal was able to contribute to this success. Even in normal times, specially equipped injection molding machines are almost impossible to procure at short notice. At that time, the situation was becoming increasingly difficult due to interrupted supply chains. This is where Netstal’s used machine program came into play. To bridge the delivery time for the new machine ordered, a used rental machine was put into operation in Domat/Ems at short notice. Subsequently, further new machines were sent to Domat/Ems and the USA to produce pipette tips.
At its peak, production in Domat/Ems ran day and night in four shifts, 365 days a year. As demand has now fallen again somewhat, there is a break at weekends. An interruption that would not be necessary from the injection molding machines’ point of view.
About Hamilton
Hamilton Bonaduz AG develops automated pipetting robots for handling a wide variety of liquids. With our sensors, we are also an innovation leader in the field of process analytics. Hamilton Storage GmbH, which belongs to Hamilton Bonaduz AG, is a leading provider of automated sample storage systems for research laboratories, pharmaceutical and clinical diagnostic companies and government institutions.
Hamilton’s products are known for advancing the life science, clinical diagnostics, forensics, biotechnology and biopharma industries, offering reliability, performance and flexibility.
Hamilton utilizes state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Reno, Nevada, and Bonaduz, Switzerland, as part of its ongoing commitment to quality and has achieved global ISO 9001 certification. Hamilton is privately held with headquarters in Reno, Nevada, Franklin, Massachusetts, and Bonaduz, Switzerland, and offices around the world.
Images: Hamilton Company
PET preform production: into the future with side removal
In September 2020, we presented the new PET line with side removal. Over the past three years, we have been able to convince existing and new customers of the benefits of the state-of-the-art preform system and successfully placed many systems on the market. We are now expanding the series with the PET-Line 5000.
“If you walk through our PET assembly hall, you mainly see our new side-entry PET Line. The predecessor model, which is based on the top-entry principle, can only be seen occasionally, reports PET Product Manager Stefan Kleinfeld. The market is opting for the most advanced technology. “With the higher productivity, lower power consumption, optimum processing of PET recyclates and excellent compatibility with existing molds and post-mold cooling stations, we offer our customers convincing arguments. We are very satisfied with the development of sales figures to date,” emphasizes Stefan Kleinfeld.
Our new video gives you an overview of the many advantages of the PET-Line:
PET-Line with 5000 kN clamping force extends the series
The future clearly belongs to the PET-Line with side discharge. In order to meet market requirements even better, we are expanding the series. In addition to the existing models with 3000 kN and 4000 kN clamping force, production of the 5000 kN clamping force variant will start at the end of 2023. Thanks to the greater plasticizing unit, preform manufacturers can fill large molds safely and precisely. To optimally meet different market requirements, our customers can combine the three clamping force sizes with different units. There are currently seven combinations to choose from.
Variants:
We provide you with expert support in configuring a PET-Line that optimally fulfills your tasks. Find the right contact person in your region:
Production of the predecessor model (PET-Line top-entry) will be discontinued as planned at the end of 2024.
A trusting and lasting cooperation
Manfred Schägner GmbH has relied on Netstal injection molding machines to produce food packaging and medical products for many years. In addition to the technological advantages of Swiss technology, the company values the trusting cooperation and good customer service.
“We have always felt that we are in good hands with Netstal. The machines are powerful and reliable. And if there is ever a problem, Netstal is always there for us and organizes a solution as quickly as possible,” say Christian and Manfred Schägner in unison. In Steinmauern, Baden-Württemberg, the family business with 70 employees produces food packaging, drinking vessels and various plastic articles for the pharmaceutical and medical industries. The company’s own mold construction facility to produce injection molds completes the portfolio. The company serves customers in Germany and abroad. Almost half of production is exported.
"We have been working with Netstal machines for many years. With Netstal, we consistently produce with maximum efficiency. In addition to the quality of the machines, we appreciate the excellent customer service."
Manfred and Christian Schägner
Sustainable food packaging produced efficiently
The machine park currently includes 28 Netstal injection molding machines with clamping forces between 600 kN and 4200 kN. “Our Netstal machines are linked to fully automatic removal systems and packaging systems. This is how we ensure a high standard of quality and hygiene in the production of food packaging and beverage containers,” explains Christian Schägner. The products should become ever more sustainable. That’s why, in addition to production, Schägner also places a strong focus on new developments, trials and research into recycling and the use of alternative materials and reusable items. All raw materials used are already fully recyclable.
Schägner products can be recognized by the familiar MS logo on the bottom. Items for multiple use are becoming increasingly important. Depending on the product, the beverage containers, plates and cutlery are designed for up to 125 wash cycles. Afterwards, the products made from mono-materials can be recycled.
Drinking cups from Schägner
Hygienic injection molding production with direct transport to the clean room
Schägner has been assembling some of its pharmaceutical products in a cleanroom since 1991. In 2021, a state-of-the-art class 8 cleanroom in accordance with DIN 14644 with approx. 500 square meters was put into operation to expand capacity. Due to the location of the cleanroom, it is now possible to transport the products manufactured in production to the cleanroom via encapsulated conveyor belts.
All-electric Elion 2200 in medical configuration
The product enter the clean room via encapsulated conveyor belts
“Modern and precise injection molding machines are a basic requirement for reliable production with stable production parameters. We recently invested in two new Elion 2200 machines in a medical version,” reports Manfred Schägner. The two all-electric machines are positioned directly next to the clean room. The finished products are transported directly to the clean room for further processing via an encapsulated conveyor belt. In order to meet the high standards, both machines are equipped with a laminar flow hood above the closing unit.
The assembly and packaging systems used meet the highest pharmaceutical standards and are a prerequisite for high-quality products. Schägner is certified to ISO 13485:2016 for the design and development, production and distribution of medical application aids for tablets, ointments and liquids.
Further processing in cleanroom class ISO 8
Schägner offers its customers in the pharmaceutical industry everything from a single source. From the initial exchange of ideas, through the planning, development and manufacture of the production tool, to the production and packaging of the product, everything is done in-house. Standard products are supplied to well-known companies in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. These include applicators for creams, tablets and rectal cannulas. Customized special products have also been part of the range of services for decades. These include special applicators for capsules and tablets, tubes for liquid medicines in the field of veterinary medicine, dosing spoons and infusion bottle holders.
When you talk to Christian and Manfred Schägner, you can tell that Schägner and Netstal are simply a good match. We would like to thank them for their trust in Netstal and look forward to many more years of successful collaboration.
Photos: Manfred Schägner GmbH