Strictly-Extrusion

Water-quenched, downward-extruded bubbles are common for polypropylene, but this is probably the first system of its type for eight-layer polyethylene film. Called AquaFrost, it was developed by Brampton Engineering Inc. in Brampton, Ont. to make very high-clarity packaging films for thermoforming. Water cooling quenches the film to the same clarity, orientation, and deep-draw formability as cast films, Brampton says. The first prototype, capable of five to 10 layers, is in Brampton’s test lab.

KIEFEL Extrusion GmbH, a company belonging to Renolit AG, will acquire the winding technology area of Christian Maier GmbH & Co., Heidenheim effective as of 1st April 2002.
The MAIER, Heidenheim winder program will continue to be managed from the locations of KIEFEL in Worms and WINTECH in Lachen. Service and spare parts supply will be offered in the same way.
KIEFEL will offer the complete winder range under the KIRION® name after the acquisition, from low cost contact winders through multifunctional center/surface/gap winders to turret winders and orbital winders.

Plastic Extruders of Wickford in Essex, UK, has supplied a line to Trotter for its new plant in Cyprus. The company is the local subsidiary of the Elflite Corporation which makes an extruded flexible lighting system. The Plastex machinery comprises a single screw extruder, water batch, haul off, coiler and chiller and was specified partly because it was available from stock.

Boston Matthews will launch a number of new developments with the clear emphasis on using technology to provide the processor with accuracy and information/data about their extrusion process. These include a new range of extruders which incorporate the brand new computer control system – ExtruPro®. Additional machine launches include a new range of Precision Servo-Rotary Cutters for accurate high speed cutting. Also being demonstrated will be the All-Electric Servo-Driven Saw which eliminates the need for any secondary off-line cutting; and the Industry Standard Model ‘C’ Caterpillar Haul-Off now fitted with AC Flux Vector Drives as standard. The new extruders are fitted with an AC Vector Drive as standard giving the user such benefits as lower operating costs; lower maintenance costs; increased speed holding capabilities and improved torque characteristics.. The new extruder range is available with a new computer control system – ExtruPro. The new extruders can be linked directly to a modem for ‘Remote Customer Support’. This enables Boston Matthews technicians to trouble-shoot the machine no matter where in the world it is located.

Theysohn Maschinenbau has engineered a new TSK-PCE range of twin screw compounders including the Laboratory TSK 20 table top design, and a 5000 kg/h compounder. With the TSK 20 PCE Laboratory Compounder, a 20 mm twin screw has been developed for colour matching and formulation development. The electrics are integrated in the base of the compounder, thus the space required is minimal. The TSK 48 PCE (400-500 kg/h) has been designed as a compact mobile unit. The compounder, feeder, and premix container from the change bowl premixer are integrated inside a mobile steel platform. This completely wired and pre-tested line requires no further installation, and can be put into production within a few hours of delivery.

The Luzenac Group will be featuring its latest talc innovations at K 2001, including talcs that provide enhanced performance in anti-blocking and external automotive parts, and improved flame retardancy for cables and plastics. Luzenac will also be presenting its new Mistron range of high performance processing aids for easier extrusion and moulding, developed to reduce packaging weight and optimise formulation costs. The choice of talc depends on the functionality required in the application. Luzenac’s Polymers Business Unit specialists work directly with customers to choose the most suitable product for their needs, supported by formulation laboratories in France and the United States.

Tredegar Film Products Corp., USA, will close its Tacoma plant because of changes in hygenic-film supply and demand. Tredegar said in an Oct. 15 news release that demand is declining for Tacoma´s embossed film for diaper backsheets. Meanwhile, expanded production capacity in China will supply Asian markets when Tacoma shuts down by the end of April, cutting 45 jobs.

At K 2001 Welex will be exhibiting a 1100 kg/hr APET packaging sheet line sold to Vitembal, France. The exhibiting line will feature the new 130 mm 30D Mark III vented extruder that will run via the Welex V-PET system, which significantly minimises the need for predrying PET. This complete turnkey system is the newest member of the Welex World Standard family of complete hopper-to-winder sheet extrusion systems. This size was developed specifically to satisfy the rising demand for lines to produce one ton per hour of quality thermoforming sheet. The same line can also run HIPS at similar capacity, or PP at a lower capacity, without any changes.

Davis-Standard’s DSC-U2 heavy duty servo cutter is designed for accuracy, flexibility, and simplified programmability. A heavy duty version of an existing design, the DSC-U2 is engineered for precise on-line cutting of rubber preforms up to 50 mm in diameter. Cutter advantages include five different cutting modes, variable knife speeds from 500 to 1200 rpm, pre-settable length, and a batch counter. The five cutting modes include: Flywheel/Master mode, Flywheel/Slave mode, On-Demand/Timer mode, On-Demand/ Encoder mode, and On-Demand/External mode. The DSC-U2 operates on a centreline of 1,066 mm on tracks, and includes a heavy duty table, V-groove castors with brakes, and a spray lubrication system.

Huntsman Tioxide will officially introduce its new grade Tioxide TR28 at K 2001. Tioxide TR28 is the latest development in Huntsman Tioxide’s innovative approach to supplying products for the masterbatch industry. It has been specially designed to meet the most demanding requirements of masterbatch producers and offers an even higher performance than its predecessor Tioxide TR27. Tioxide TR28 offers a wide range of benefits for masterbatch processing techniques such as co-extrusion, extrusion coating, cast film, and blown film. Mineral and organic coatings have been specially designed to minimise the emission of the volatiles which contribute to problems such as die build-up and, in extreme cases, lacing.