PCS REF PET

Solution for in-line leak detection by measuring the total pressure in the headspace of each individual reusable plastic bottle.

Reusable bottles, otherwise known as “Refillable Bottles” or more simply “Ref PET” represent an ecological and sustainable solution to reduce the environmental impact resulting from the production and disposal of single-use plastic bottles.

Reusable bottles are designed to last over time and ensure the possibility of a significant number of reuses of the same bottle, thus helping to reduce plastic consumption.

However, using return bottles involves a series of risks that must be taken into account.

One of the main ones is the significant increase in the possibility that a bottle has defects due to previous uses and transport during the return: slight marks in the neck, neck finish or thread are major threats to the container’s seal and closing capacity of the cap, causing leaks of the gas present in the headspace or even of the liquid.

Detecting leaks in reusable bottles is therefore even more crucial than in other containers, because the risk of bringing non-compliant products to the market is even higher.

Inspecting reusable bottles to ensure there are no leaks is a crucial step in ensuring the success and effectiveness of these sustainable solutions. It not only helps preserve valuable resources and prevent environmental pollution, but also helps maintain content quality and promote an efficient and responsible usage cycle.

Antares Vision Group offers an extremely innovative solution dedicated to this need: PCS REF PET.

The inspection technology uses laser spectroscopy, which exploits a peculiar characteristic of molecules in a gaseous state: their ability to absorb light only at specific wavelengths. This approach allows for direct, precise and versatile inspection.

Laser technology makes inspection possible regardless of the type of cap and is able to monitor both the individual bottle and the average pressure level of the entire production in real time, allowing constant optimization of quality and processes.

The system is installed after the bottle capping phase and is calibrated to verify the presence of the gas molecule presumed to be present in the headspace, depending on the specific characteristics of the product.

If the target gas is not present in the expected quantity, the system will signal the presence of leaking bottles, which are eliminated from the production line.

The system offers a rapid visualization of production trends, promptly reports deviations before they cause waste and allows the causes of defects to be identified; for example, highlighting the presence of under or over deviations repeated at each filler/capper cycle and therefore identifying the filling valve or capping head on which to intervene.