Extrusion (May 01, 2009)
Canadian Plastics
Extrusion die for foam insulation boards
has developed the new wide extrusion die 600 for foam insulation boards with a width of 1,200 mm.
KraussMaffei Berstorff GmbH
The die is tailored for Schaumtandex twin-screw/single-screw extruder combinations ZE/KE featuring an output capacity of more than 1,000 kilograms per hour.
Optimum flow channel geometry inside the extrusion head ensures even melt distribution over the entire width. At the discharge from the die, the material expands to a width of 1,300 to 1,350 mm and is subsequently calibrated to the desired board thickness in a special calibrating unit. The board thickness can be freely varied within a range of 30 to 60 mm; a solution for major thickness is currently in the development phase. The corresponding downstream equipment is designed to cool, cut and mill the boards to the desired dimensions.
The Schaumtandex configuration composed of a co-rotating ZE twin-screw extruder and a KE single-screw extruder ensures optimum product quality and is suitable for processing all blowing agent systems used world-wide.
KraussMaffei Corporation (Florence, Ky.); www.kraussmaffei.com; 859-283-0200
Two new control developments from Davis-Standard‘s Extrusion Systems Group – the DS-eTPC and REACT systems – offer processors more options while improving processing efficiencies.
The DS-eTPC touch-panel control system has been improved to include co-ordinated one-line drive control and new features to support customers across all product lines, including elastomer, while maintaining pricing comparable to discrete controls.
Advantages include temperature control of up to eight barrel heating and cooling zones per extruder and a “Historian” package for viewing and storage of process variables. The expanded temperature control enables the system to be used on larger extruders, with sheet systems and for the majority of recycling/reclaim applications. Customers can name the temperature zones and drives for a more user-friendly operator interface. With the “Historian” option, the controller can be connected to any PC running Windows( Internet Explorer( so that temperature profiles, drive conditions, and pressure conditions can be saved in a report format for future analysis.
The REACT (REmote ACcess Technology) system, standard on all new EPIC III systems, is designed to reduce downtime and lost production. It enables Davis-Standard process engineers and technicians to support customers worldwide in real-time without a service call. Conditions at a customer’s plant can be viewed remotely and immediately during a production run via a secure, high-speed Internet connection without the need to stop the line. All required hardware and software for REACT is included with the new EPIC.
Davis-Standard LLC (Pawcatuck, Conn.); www.davis-standard.com; 860-599-1010
Auxiplast Inc. (Ste-Julie, Que.); 1-866-922-2894