Laboratory compounders | machinery
Compound development has never been more important so it is little surprise to see so much innovation going in to laboratory-scale extruders. Peter Mapleston looks at the latest introductions
Mixing it up in the lab
Exhibitions are good places to see laboratory extruders because they easily fi t on the stand – some even fi t on a table. That made the Fakuma show in Germany in October an excellent opportunity to catch up on the latest laboratory compounding system innovations. This article takes a look at what suppliers were showing there and presents a round-up of lab compounding equipment news from around the globe. Several companies offer equipment in the 25-27 mm
range that can do duty as both small production units and also laboratory test-beds. Feddem, for example, illustrated its MTS range with a 26mm unit at Fakuma. This is the smallest but, the company says, the most versatile parallel twin-screw extruder in the range. It can be fi tted out for diverse process tasks from labora- tory work to production of high-performance polymers. The technology is similar to that of the larger extruders in the MTS series and thus creates optimal scale-up conditions, the company says. Depending on the area of application, production rates range from 10 to 150 kg/h. As with the larger extruders in the MTS model series, a wide selection of equipment options and accessories are available. Depending on the job, screw units are available in various grades of steel – from nitrided to special HIP (hot isostatic pressing) alloys. And thanks to its modular design, the company says the extruder can be extended in just a few steps, for example, from 32D to 52D or even higher. The entire
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electrical system is integrated into the frame and the machine stands on castors, making it relatively easy to move.
Leistritz demonstrated a ZSE 27i MAXX, which
export sales manager Walter Theiler says is suitable for small-scale production as well as lab work, especially for companies producing small batches—something that is increasingly the case, he notes. The machine is said to be good for outputs between 15 and 100 kg/h. Theiler said that the unit is suitable for developing
parameters that can be up-scaled to full production, as long as the scale-up ratio is 1:10 or less. “More than that and it becomes diffi cult,” he says. KraussMaffei Berstorff is currently introducing its
new ZE BluePower twin-screw-extruder series covering screw diameters from 42 – 80 mm. For the time being, the company continues to offer the ZE 25 and ZE 30 models from its proven UTX series for lab applications. According to twin screw extruder sales manager Gerhard Schmitt, sales of these machines is doing quite well. “We do see an increasing need for lab machines over the last 12-18 months,” he says. “Companies require them to increase product differentiation and generally keep their noses ahead of the competition.” Both of the UTX units are available in an A-version with high torque and a R-version with high volume. They run at speeds of up to 1,200 rpm and have a fl exible screw and barrel concept. The machines are very
December 2015 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 41
Above: The UltraGlide automatic
screw pulling feature on
KraussMaffei Berstorff’s ZE25 lab
compounder allows actual mixing
performance to be analysed
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