Thermoforming of rigid shells
One-sided preheating from below to form recyclable trays with optimal wall thickness distribution using a high-speed thermoformer.
The following challenges are addressed by watttron products:
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Material savings of up to 50% in the bottom film
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Reliable processing of recyclable mono-materials
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Improved barrier properties and packaging stability
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Forming high draw depths without using a plug assist
At Bayer, targeted heating of the PP film in a tablet blister using the Matrix heater reduced the packaging’s warpage by 16%, significantly minimizing a source of errors in subsequent processes.
In a packaging study for a 1-kg meat tray, the use of the Matrix heater achieved a uniform material distribution. The result: With mono-PP/EVOH, despite halving the original film thickness, the minimum residual wall thickness increased by an impressive 59% — the ideal condition for excellent barrier properties combined with reduced film usage.
For a customer in the sliced cheese sector, the use of the Matrix heater demonstrated an annual savings potential of €300,000. The original film thickness of the mono-APET packaging was reduced by 25% while maintaining the same level of stability.
Applications
Food industry
Pharmaceuticals
Medical technology
Industrial goods
Packaging Types
Thermoformed rigid trays
Products
Matrix heating module
- Main component of a matrix heater
- Heated area size: 40 mm × 40 mm or 40 mm × 50 mm
- Each with 64 or 80 individually controlled heating pixels measuring 5 mm × 5 mm
- Temperature range: up to 200 °C
- Heating power: 22 W/cm²
- Non-stick coating or non-stick foil on the heating surface available
- Easy to replace
- Heating rate: 10 K/s
- By combining matrix heating modules, heating areas up to 800 mm × 800 mm can be realized
Complete price for matrix heater:
€64 per cm² of heating surface*
*Price for machine operators. Reduced pricing applies for machine builders.
Matrix heater standard (bottom or top heating)
- Compatible with all thermoformers for installation or retrofit
- IP65 rated
- Media supply via separate plug connectors
- Fixed position of the heating surface
Matrix top heater
- Optimized for the installation and retrofit of Multivac machines
- IP67 rated
- Fully integrated into thermoforming lids
- Adaptable to different film thicknesses with an adjustable heating surface position ranging from 0.2 to 1.7 mm behind the frame
- Media supply via connection block
Matrix preheater
- Optimized for the installation and retrofit of Multivac machines
- Compatible with drawer function
- Adaptable to various film thicknesses through adjustable heating surface position ranging from 0.2 to 1.7 mm behind the frame
- Frameless connection to the forming station for optimal use of film feed
