Machinery geared for small lot production

Berstorff introduced its ZE Ultra Glide series of laboratory and high rate, small lot production machines at this year’s NPE. The series of quick changeover extruders is designed for the varying needs of color masterbatch producers who need to respond more quickly to customers. The extruder features a motorized disassembly mechanism that permits the screw to be retracted from the rear of the barrel section for quick and easy monitoring. The machine’s design allows easy process monitoring and research, facilitating the inspection and development of the melt and mix of a specific screw profile.

Draiswerke, Inc. has recently introduced a high-speed, high energy density compounder, the Gelimat Compounder, G-HVA, for extremely difficult compounding, mixing and dispersing applications. The machine is suitable for super fast processing of polymers, mastics, hot melt adhesives, sealants and highly filled cellulose fibre/plastic compounds.

Billed as the most advanced underwater pelletizing system of its size, Farrel Corporation’s new Hydron line generates clean, dry pellets from molten plastic feeds with simple, hands-free operation. The machine’s critical design feature is a combination of coil and rod heaters near the die holes that provide extremely concentrated die heating, which is enhanced by exceptional insulation of the die from the cooling water.