Drink Asia Drink Asia March April 2019 | Page 31

Coconut Palm Sugar Conclusion There are plenty of sugar alternatives available in the market these days, but the significant thing here is how to use them in your daily diet. One critical factor that will be helpful in making your decision should be your reason for reducing sugar. E.g. if the person is diabetic, then artificial sweeteners are a better choice than sugar alcohols like xylitol, or natural sweeteners like honey, which can still increase blood sugar levels, though to a lesser extent. The better understanding of different categories of sugar alternatives can help you figure out which option is best suitable for your diet. Remember, the next time the dreaded sweet tooth strikes again, instead of opting for the zero nutrition and empty calorie filled refined sugar, give a try to one of the above natural sugar alternatives. You can cut the cake and enjoy it too! Kosme 3Bloc – Block configuration featuring three machines Franco Tomba Kosme S.r.l., Roverbella, Italy Tel. +39 335 8313429 T he trend towards combining several units to form a single machine continues unbroken, for quite a simple reason: the advantages this offers to the users far outweigh the disadvantages involved. In the shape of the 3Bloc, Krones’ subsidiary Kosme has now presented its first concept for a block configuration featuring three machines, available in two different variants: one for PET and one for HDPE containers. 3Bloc for PET containers This consists of the following three concatenated machines: - blow-moulding machine - filler - labeller (for example for applying pressure-senstive labels, or for reel-fed wrap-around labelling). This configuration is suitable both for cylindrical or square PET bottles and for special-shaped containers. The maximum output is 16,000 bottles an hour. 3Bloc for HDPE containers This consists of the following three concatenated machines: - unscrambler - filler - labeller The unscrambler is tasked with putting the already-blow- moulded HDPE containers in an upright position before they reach the filler and here takes the place of the blow-moulder Drink Asia 31 In the shape of the 3Bloc, Kosme has presented its first concept for a block configuration featuring three concatenated machines for PET and HDPE containers. needed for PET containers. This 3Bloc variant can handle up to 25,000 bottles an hour. The 3Bloc concept has been based on technically sturdy components, and when compared to a layout featuring individual machines scores highly in terms of its substantially lower energy consumption, its higher efficiency and its enhanced user-friendliness. Needless to say that the block configuration also benefits the machine’s footprint, plus the capital investment and operating costs involved. No intermediate conveyors are needed, for example, and the times required for format change-overs and maintenance routines are shorter as well. March-April 2019