machinery feature | Mixers for PVC
Batch unit from Marion Mixers uses WaveMix microwave
heating system, which is fast, thorough and
energy efficient
plants and spare parts in America. CEO Marco Marinello also says that the company will soon add “an innovative on-line service for spare parts management and technical support.” Developments that back up these initiatives include mixing tools with enhanced perfor- mance, 25% increased cooling efficiency in the CMX cooling system, and greater energy savings in all mixing equip- ment. Marinello also says Promixon has added to its range of machines to meet the “enormous variety of mixing requirements” from customers. The company has increased the coating, thickness and incidence angle of the bottom blade of its mixing tool. This permits mixing at lower speeds when necessary, reduces wear to the tool and mixing tank, and reportedly assures optimum material distribution and dispersion. Promixon has also developed wear- resistant coatings to extend mixer life. Engineers have also increased discharge diameters to raise throughput speed and batch productivity. One important development has been engineering
mixers for greater reliability. Marinello says that as a result, customers will have “minimal maintenance costs in the first five years of use.” Mixers can be used with a range of thermoplastics,
additives, masterbatches, colorants, bio-based compos- ites and recyclate. Promixon’s best-selling models are the Problend-TC dry-blending system for PVC, with throughput of 400 to 9,000 kg/hr, and the TRX container
Promixon’s TRX container mixer is designed for a range of materials including
masterbatches, additives and polymers
mixer, for colour masterbatches and additives, with output of 60 to 1,000 kg/batch. The Problend-TC is said to be efficient and
low cost to operate, while the TRX mixer affords easy cleaning and fast changeover.
Alternative heating Marion Mixers produces batch and continu- ous machines and components to improve process opera- tions. One notable technique the company promotes for
horizontal mixers processing free-flowing materials is microwave (MW) heating. Called WaveMix technology,
the process replaces conventional
jacketed heating elements, says Nick Burkle, WaveMix specialist, and is
reportedly faster and more effective than standard mixer heat systems, while consuming less energy. The company licensed the process from the
University of Northern Iowa in the US two years ago. Burkle says an installation uses a 75- to 400-kW microwave transmitter operating at 915 MHz in a stainless steel vessel specially designed by Marion for safety. The process, which is scalable, yields even heating across the material. In a test carried out earlier this year, Marion reported
that microwave-assisted drying was tested on 500 lb (230 kg) of agricultural-grade limestone powder, using a 75-kW, 915-MHz transmitter in a 10-ft3
batch mixer. The
MW heat achieved moisture content of less than 0.05% (500 ppm) at 171°F (77.2°C) in less than 30 minutes.
More information Michael Lazorchak of B&P Process Equipment and Jim Preston of Rhetech gave a presentation on “Putting the TriVolution mixer through its paces” at the Compound- ing World Forum 2014, which took place on 9-10 December in Philadelphia, PA, USA. A selection of leading mixer suppliers were also exhibiting at the event, including B&P, Farrel Pomini, Mixaco, Promixon and TPEI. For conference proceedings, contact Kelly Cressman (
kc@amiplastics-na.com).
Click on the links for more information: ❙
www.farrel-pomini.com ❙
www.tpei.com ❙
www.bpprocess.com ❙
www.promixon.com ❙
www.exline-inc.com ❙
www.marionmixers.com
28 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | March 2015
www.pipeandprofile.com
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