Through a licensing agreement with Japan’s Tahara Machinery, Graham Packaging is manufacturing ESM series all-electric extrusion blowmolding machines at its affiliate in Poland. The second machine manufactured by Graham Packaging Poland is on show at K at The Japan Steel Works (JSW) booth (Stand 14C37-1). JSW is the parent company of Tahara.

In November 2009, Tahara concluded a technical license agreement with Graham Packaging Co. for its technologies pertaining to electrically driven blowmolding machines in order to make inroads into the European market. Machines are sold exclusively through Polish trading company Muehsam-Elektromech in the EU zone. “We can’t serve the European market from Japan and this is what prompted us to work with Graham Packaging and Muehsam,” says Hidemi Shimizu, manager of the overseas business team at Tahara.

The first European-spec machine was delivered to a Polish processor in April 2010. “The redesign entailed addition of safety features to conform to European standards.”

ESM-series machines include single- and double-extruder options, with screw diameters ranging between 55 and 90 mm. Dry cycle times range between 2.5 and 3.5 seconds. Shimizu says energy savings of 53.5%-60% are possible, as well as cycle reductions of 2-3 seconds compared with a hydraulic machine cycle.