- Email: [email protected]
A round-up of dosing, mixing & other equipment innovations from K 2019
EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT A round-up of dosing, mixing & other equipment innovations from K 2019
A
t October’s giant plastics trade fair K 2019, a number of equipment makers highlighted their latest offerings appropriate for the preparation, dosing and handling of polymer additives, colorants and masterbatches. Swiss compounding systems specialist Buss (www. busscorp.com) extended the application scope for its latest generation of kneader extruders with the introduction of the Compeo 88 and 110 compounders, joining the smaller Compeo 55, which was launched in 2018. All three models can be supplied with process lengths from 13 to 25 L/D. When configured with a 25 L/D screw, the Compeo 88 (which has an approximate throughput rate of 600–1200 kg/hour) is recommended by the company for compounding black or coloured masterbatches. For such applications, the machine can be fitted with one or two additional side feeders, Buss says. According to the company, its Compeo compounders provide high-intensity mixing and can handle high filler contents with precise control of the temperature of the compound. German peripherals specialist Werner Koch Maschinentechnik GmbH (Koch-Technik; www.kochtechnik.com) presented its extensive product range, including tamper-proof visualization systems, direct colouring devices for particularly high throughputs, gravimetric dosing systems with special vibration dampers, energysaving dry-air dryers and fully automatic material control systems for safe and residue-free material distribution. The Ispringen-based company used the K show to launch its latest EKON dryer, which combines the advantages of its existing CKT and EKO drying concepts. The company also highlighted its new mobile and flexible SLT- and MCT-type control units for upstream volumetric mixers and dosing stations, which bring connectivity, user-friend-
November 2019
liness and easy handling to its production machines, KochTechnik says. Italy’s Moretto (www.moretto.com), a leading producer of automated systems for plastics processing, showcased examples from its range of materials conveying and dosing equipment, including a new line of equipment for microlevel dosing as well as its latest gravimetric systems. The company highlighted its pulsed dosing technology for the handling of low-level additions of masterbatch or additives. Available on Moretto’s DPM units, pulsed dosing means the equipment is not affected by vibration, which allows direct mounting on the processing machine, while a mixer is not required in multi-component configurations, the company explains. The DPK precision, loss-in-weight feeder unit is also suitable for dosing small quantities of colour or additives into a flow of base material. It uses load cells and an optimized control algorithm to maintain dosing accuracies of ±0.03%, according to Moretto. It features a transparent hopper that can be easily removed without the need for tools. Fellow Italian firm Plasmec (www.plasmec. it) exhibited two of its latest mixing systems: a CombimixHC-800/2500 and a TRR-1500/FV container mixer. The latter is reported to provide an alternative to conventional turbomixers for masterbatch, pigment and technical compound preparation. Measuring and process technologies specialist Schenck Process (www.schenckprocess.com) has extended its ProFlex C line of feeders for the compounding and masterbatch industry with a new, smaller model. The ProFlex C100 model is designed for continuous feeding of bulk materials such as powders, pellets, granule and fibres into smaller compounding and masterbatch extruders. Up to five C100 units can be grouped around a single feed inlet on a lab- or small-size extruder, according to the company. It features a flexible wall liner that is massaged at eight points to ensure consistent and accurate filling of the screw feed element, while its asymmetric design prevents bridging and plugging of sticky powders, Schenck claims. A quick-change option also allows feed hoppers to be exchanged without the need to disassemble the feed screw, it says.
Additives for Polymers
11
EQUIPMENT A round-up of dosing, mixing & other equipment innovations from K 2019
A
t October’s giant plastics trade fair K 2019, a number of equipment makers highlighted their latest offerings appropriate for the preparation, dosing and handling of polymer additives, colorants and masterbatches. Swiss compounding systems specialist Buss (www. busscorp.com) extended the application scope for its latest generation of kneader extruders with the introduction of the Compeo 88 and 110 compounders, joining the smaller Compeo 55, which was launched in 2018. All three models can be supplied with process lengths from 13 to 25 L/D. When configured with a 25 L/D screw, the Compeo 88 (which has an approximate throughput rate of 600–1200 kg/hour) is recommended by the company for compounding black or coloured masterbatches. For such applications, the machine can be fitted with one or two additional side feeders, Buss says. According to the company, its Compeo compounders provide high-intensity mixing and can handle high filler contents with precise control of the temperature of the compound. German peripherals specialist Werner Koch Maschinentechnik GmbH (Koch-Technik; www.kochtechnik.com) presented its extensive product range, including tamper-proof visualization systems, direct colouring devices for particularly high throughputs, gravimetric dosing systems with special vibration dampers, energysaving dry-air dryers and fully automatic material control systems for safe and residue-free material distribution. The Ispringen-based company used the K show to launch its latest EKON dryer, which combines the advantages of its existing CKT and EKO drying concepts. The company also highlighted its new mobile and flexible SLT- and MCT-type control units for upstream volumetric mixers and dosing stations, which bring connectivity, user-friend-
November 2019
liness and easy handling to its production machines, KochTechnik says. Italy’s Moretto (www.moretto.com), a leading producer of automated systems for plastics processing, showcased examples from its range of materials conveying and dosing equipment, including a new line of equipment for microlevel dosing as well as its latest gravimetric systems. The company highlighted its pulsed dosing technology for the handling of low-level additions of masterbatch or additives. Available on Moretto’s DPM units, pulsed dosing means the equipment is not affected by vibration, which allows direct mounting on the processing machine, while a mixer is not required in multi-component configurations, the company explains. The DPK precision, loss-in-weight feeder unit is also suitable for dosing small quantities of colour or additives into a flow of base material. It uses load cells and an optimized control algorithm to maintain dosing accuracies of ±0.03%, according to Moretto. It features a transparent hopper that can be easily removed without the need for tools. Fellow Italian firm Plasmec (www.plasmec. it) exhibited two of its latest mixing systems: a CombimixHC-800/2500 and a TRR-1500/FV container mixer. The latter is reported to provide an alternative to conventional turbomixers for masterbatch, pigment and technical compound preparation. Measuring and process technologies specialist Schenck Process (www.schenckprocess.com) has extended its ProFlex C line of feeders for the compounding and masterbatch industry with a new, smaller model. The ProFlex C100 model is designed for continuous feeding of bulk materials such as powders, pellets, granule and fibres into smaller compounding and masterbatch extruders. Up to five C100 units can be grouped around a single feed inlet on a lab- or small-size extruder, according to the company. It features a flexible wall liner that is massaged at eight points to ensure consistent and accurate filling of the screw feed element, while its asymmetric design prevents bridging and plugging of sticky powders, Schenck claims. A quick-change option also allows feed hoppers to be exchanged without the need to disassemble the feed screw, it says.
Additives for Polymers
11