PTI'S TorqTraQ® DEVICE SIMPLIFIES
TORQUE TESTING OF CLOSURES, CAPPERS
WHILE IMPROVING ACCURACY, MINIMIZING DOWNTIME

Holland, Ohio (August 25, 2009) - Plastic Technologies, Inc.'s (PTI) ergonomically-designed TorqTraQ® Device simplifies torque testing on both closures and cappers, while also improving accuracy and minimizing downtime.

Unlike traditional torque metering units that are typically heavier bench models, the lightweight, portable TorqTraQ® Device has been designed for maximum flexibility. The metal disk (with indentations to facilitate gripping) fits comfortably in the user's hand, making it easy to transport from bottle to bottle or line to line.

Approximately 4-inches in diameter, the TorqTraQ® Device works by positioning a closure-specific chuck, located on its underside, over the cap that is to be tested. (The chuck is held in place with two screws and can be changed out in less than a minute to measure a different closure's torque.) The closure-specific approach enables the device to accurately meter a broad range of metal and plastic closures-including those with irregular shapes and features, such as dispensing.

The topside of the TorqTraQ® Device has an eight-digit LED display, application and removal indicators, plus an on/next button.

"The TorqTraQ® Device works much differently from traditional bench top models. Those units actually grip the base which can distort the bottle. Further, torque is measured by applying manual force to the closure. As a result, the operator can end up squeezing the cap, which could potentially distort the torque reading. Because those traditional units are designed to hold bottles with round bases, using them with other base geometries can be more challenging," explains Ron Puvak, new business development, PTI.

In addition to measuring the closure's application and removal torque, the TorqTraQ® Device is also able to check the capper head's application torque.

"Before the TorqTraQ® Device was developed, plant personnel had to take apart the capper head in order to measure its application torque. Obviously, this resulted in significant downtime. The TorqTraQ® Device simplifies the entire process, by using a capper head chuck which is then inserted into the equipment. This enables plant personnel to make quick, easy adjustments to the capper if the removal torque doesn't meet specifications," Puvak says.

Correct torque readings are becoming even more critical as new, lighter-weight closures are being commercialized.

"Thinner, lighter-weight closures mean that the operating window just got narrower. If the closure is applied too tightly, you run a higher risk of distortion. If it's too loose, you won't get the proper seal. Either way, you run a much higher risk of putting leakers into the distribution system, so meeting your torque criteria becomes even more critical," Puvak says.

The TorqTraQ® Device also has a USB port which enables fast download of up to 250 readings, which can then be imported into a spreadsheet. This represents another significant improvement over bench top models.

The device also can measure in pounds (of force) per inch or newtons per meter, depending on geographic preference.

About Plastic Technologies

Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI) is recognized worldwide as the preferred source for preform and package design, package development, rapid prototyping, pre-production prototyping, and material evaluation engineering for the plastic packaging industry. For more info: www.plastictechnologies.com and www.torqtraq.com.

Please forward sales inquiries to:
Pam Douglas, Marketing Coordinator
Plastic Technologies, Inc.
1440 Timberwolf Drive, P.O. Box 964
Holland, OH 43528-0964
Phone: (419)725-5620
Email: info@plastictechnologies.com