Technology Showcase (April 01, 2006)
Canadian Plastics
MATERIALS...
MATERIALS
Flame retardant for PP also UV-resistant
Ciba has a new stabilizer that permits polypropylene (PP) to be both UV-resistant and flame-retardant for designers of stadium seating and other outdoor applications.
TINUVIN FR demonstrated immediate self-extinguishing properties when a heat source is removed, and outdoor exposure testing showed no colour change or surface degradation after 300 kLy.
The system can be combined in different ratios to meet light stability requirements and international standards and classifications for the flammability of plastic materials.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Canada (Mississauga, Ont.)
www.cdibasc.com; 905-812-4280
INJECTION MOLDING
Arburg marks golden anniversary with new line of Allrounder I/M machines
Arburg is marking its 50th year as maker of injection molding machines with its new Allrounder C Golden Edition series, which can process molded part weights from 2 to 434 gPS.
The five machine versions, each with fixed clamping force/injection unit combinations, cover a range of clamping forces from 400 to 2,000 kN, with injection units sizes of 70, 170, 290, 400 and 800 respectively. The units’ screw diameters range from 18 and 55 mm.
Additionally, all models feature 15-inch flat screens with a touch-screen user interface and Selogica direct control alternatives. The tie bars are treated using the Arnox nitriding process for a longer service life and reduced maintenance.
Plus, the safety guards open at the top, allowing for free vertical access to each machine.
Arburg Inc. (Newington, Conn.)
www.arburg.com; 860-667-6500
EXTRUSION
Die system integrates extrusion components, increases throughput
Extrusion Dies Industries LLC (EDI) is offering a new custom-engineered die system that integrates all aspects of a flat-die polymer extrusion or coating operation.
The system is placed between the extruders and the equipment downstream of the die lip exit, and benefits users by reducing scrap and downtime, and increasing line throughput.
Options include flat die or slot die coating heads, gauge profilers, co-extrusion feedblocks, die subsystems, melt feedpipes, vacuum boxes, exhaust hoods, as well as die stands and splitters.
Extrusion Dies Industries (Chippewa Falls, Wis.)
www.extrusiondies.com; 715-726-1201
AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT
Gravimetric blender sized for high-volume operations
Maguire’s new MaxiBatch HT gravimetric blender can dose pelletized material at rates as high as 10,000 lb./hr., offering savings to compounders and resin processors with high-volume operations.
A companion to Maguire’s original MaxiBatch systems, the throughput rating of the HT is double that of the next-largest Maguire blender — the 1800 series — and has a batch that is 67 per cent greater, at 66 lb.
Additionally, the HT model can dispense as many as 12 ingredients.
To achieve high throughput, the HT has a new corner valve that dispenses pellets at rates as high as 11,000 grams per second through a large opening into a weigh chamber. Overall batch accuracy is held to within +/-0.1 per cent.
Maguire Products Inc. (Aston, Pa.)
www.maguire.com; 888-459-4300
Nucon Wittmann Inc. (Markham, Ont.) www.nucon-wittmann.com; 888-466-8266
Plastics Machinery Inc. (Newmarket, Ont.)
www.pmiplastics.com; 905-895-5054
Instron TouchPanel controller offers two testing modes
Instron’s new TouchPanel controller for its 3300 Series Electromechanical Instruments can perform a ‘Quick Test’ for simple, one-time tests, or a ‘Method-Based Testing’ for structured pre-configured test applications.
Customers can also select from 11 different 3300 Series frame capacities used for testing fibres ranging from less than one pound force to metals at over 56,000 lb.
For quality control testing, users can display results in three result formats: An immediate ‘Pass/Fail’ display, a table of results data or a live graph.
Options include USB interfaces to hook up printers, memory sticks and keyboards.
Instron Canada Inc. (Burlington, Ont.)
www.instron.com; 905-333-9123
Shop Floor Data Collection automates inline bag-making
PlastiSoft’s new all-in-one Shop Floor Data Collection Workstation offers users a real-time, fully automated control of their inline bag-making process.
This means operators can man their machines without needing to manually keep track of information about production, scrap and quality.
The Shop Floor Data Collection System integrates seamlessly with Plastisoft’s TORI-FLEX enterprise resource planning software (ERP).
The new system has a mini computer that allows the operator to post inline jobs and schedule other machines as attachments.
Other features include an industrial-strength touch-screen monitor, a cut-through barcode label printer, a feeding system for large rolls of label stock, a hand-held barcode scanner and a custom barcode label tray.
PlastiSoft Corp. (Toronto, Ont.)
www.plastisoft.com; 905-760-0100