Competek launches universal mould for blow moulding

Competek has introduced Flex Mould, a universal blow mould designed to simplify mould management in production facilities using different blow moulding platforms. The solution is compatible with most leading blow moulding machines and uses a dedicated interface system, allowing the same mould to be transferred between compatible platforms. This approach reduces the need for machine-specific tooling and gives manufacturers more options for allocating mould assets across their equipment. Flex Mould builds on Competek's more than 25 years of experience in PET packaging, including the development of custom moulds for different production lines and brands. The company's work also covers mechanical and laboratory testing to assess the feasibility and performance of packaging solutions. The technology addresses operating conditions in which PET packaging producers must manage more product variants, shorter production runs and more frequent changeovers. Industry reports identify SKU proliferation, lightweighting, recycled-content requirements and cost pressure as factors reshaping packaging operations and increasing the value of adaptable production assets.

Transfer between compatible machines

"Flex Mould was developed around a simple concept: one mould that can be used across multiple compatible machines," said Olivier Dacquignie, Manufacturing Director at Competek. "By combining the mould with a dedicated interface system, manufacturers can reduce reliance on machine-specific tooling while retaining the flexibility to respond quickly to production needs."

According to Dacquignie, transferring a mould between compatible machines can also provide a backup option during planned maintenance or unexpected downtime. "The ability to transfer a mould between compatible machines also provides an effective backup solution during maintenance operations or unexpected downtime, helping to support operational continuity."

Tool-free format changeovers

Flex Mould supports faster format changeovers through a tool-free replacement system. Eliminating tools from the mould replacement procedure is intended to reduce setup times and facilitate the transfer of production between compatible machines when required.

Using one mould across multiple machines can also reduce the number of moulds that a manufacturer needs to purchase, manage and store. Competek states that this can lower initial investment and ongoing operating costs, while releasing space in production and warehouse areas. The system is designed to give manufacturers greater choice in deploying mould assets across compatible blow moulding platforms.