Sheet developments | process feature
As sheet producers continue to develop new and improved products, they are looking to both new regions and new end markets for business. Lou Reade reports
Flat structure
Sheet manufacturers are looking further afi eld for business, with many recognising the potential of the Asian market as a profi table opportunity. US sheet extrusion machinery manufacturer
Processing Technologies International (PTI) sees Southeast Asia and India as key growth markets for its machinery – and has appointed a representative to serve each of these regions. Kenda Technologies, based in Singapore, will sell PTI
sheet extrusion systems in Southeast Asia, while Mumbai-based Shruti International will handle sales in India. Both will sell PTI’s range of monolayer and coextrusion barrier sheet line systems for packaging. “We’re excited about joining forces with two of the
region’s leading machine sales representatives,” said Christopher Curtin, vice president of international sales at PTI.
Shruti International, led by owner Bharat Muchhala,
represents US and European manufacturers and sells machinery and support equipment to Indian packaging companies. Kenda Technologies will sell PTI extrusion equip- ment in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It has focused heavily on sheet extrusion, particularly online gauging systems, for the last 20 years. Both companies will sell PTI’s full range of sheet
extrusion machinery and provide full support, including technical service. “We have an ambitious program underway to expand
globally and introduce our innovative technologies to new customers,” said Curtin.
Melt advantage Oman-based Octal has also become a leading producer of sheet products – and says that PET sheet made using its direct-to-sheet (DPET) process offers a number of benefi ts. Firstly, the production process eliminates fi ve
energy-intensive stages of the conventional sheet production process (pelletiser, SSP, compactor, dryer
www.fi lmandsheet.com
and extruder). The PET melt arrives at the calendar stack heated to the proper temperature, so does not have to be dried and re-melted from granules. At the same time, says Octal, this means there is no chance for contamination to enter the system. The company adds that gauge consistency in
conventional PET sheeting is 3-8%, with 5% as an average. DPET, it says, is manufactured to a typical caliper variation of 1% – allowing thermoformers to specify a thinner sheet and still achieve package performance in fi nished trays. DPET can also be run at a 10% faster cycle time, and temperatures up to 5[degrees]C lower than conven-
December 2012/January 2013 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 19
Starlinger Viscotec
showcased the Viscosheet line at its recent open house
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52