PROCESSING | SMALL BATCH COMPOUNDING
Quick change-over feeder options
Coperion K-Tron says its “Quick Change” feeder line is well suited for compounders running small batches with varying formulations and frequent product changes. Specially designed for applications requiring the maximum possible material handling and changeover flexibil- ity and cleaning capability, Quick Change feeders are said to allow a change from single screw feeding bowl and screws to twin screw feeding bowl and screws in just minutes, allowing one feeding station to handle a wide variety of materials.
T35/S60 Quick Change
Feeders are available in volumetric or loss-in-weight configurations. The feeder bowl can be quickly
Thinking smaller Kneader producer X-Compound says it is address- ing the growing demand for small batch produc- tion with a range of small and medium-capacity lines. These complement the larger X-Compound Continuous Kneader lines and include the same main features. This ensures easy and safe scaling of a process in both directions — from small to large scale as demand increases as well as the other direction if demand decreases — while maintaining the same level of final product quality. The smallest line, the CK45, has a process section
Right: X-Compound’s CK45 kneader is designed for small batch and development applications
that is all liquid tempered, including kneader and discharge screw. “This is exactly the same ap- proach as in the currently largest Continuous CK Kneader, the CK240,” says Karsten Kretschmer, Head of Machinery Sales. “Although the line was developed as a lab compounding line for formulation and process development, a signifi- cant number of machines are today used for small scale production of various compounds, from com- modity cable compounds to specialty compounds
24 COMPOUNDING WORLD | April 2020
Left: Coperion K-Tron’s Quick Change feeders are said to offer simple changeover from single screw to twin screw configuration in minutes
produced using reactive extrusion.” The reason for increasing use of the CK45 is its
combination of flexibility and efficiency, Kretschmer claims. “Numerous formulations can be processed with no or only minor adjustments of the configuration. If required, changes can be performed in a very short period of time,” he says. Kretschmer also highlights the value of the unit’s specially designed restriction rings, which can be replaced without changing the barrel liners, among the machine’s time saving features. “Continuous kneaders are well known for their excellent self- cleaning,” he says. “If ever manual cleaning is necessary, the barrel clamp shell design allows a quick access to all process parts. Thus, batches of a few to some hundred kilos can be produced very efficiently.”
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.entek.com
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www.centuryextrusion.com �
www.feddem.com
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www.steerworld.com
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www.busscorp.com �
www.x-compound.ch
www.compoundingworld.com
decoupled from the feeder drive, enabling simple and fast product changes, while all twin and single screw feeder models can be inter- changed on the same base to reduce cost and increase flexibility. The modular design of the Quick Change feeders also provides the flexibility to reconfigure or expand a production line at a future date, Coperion K-Tron says.
The company says that the single-
screw feeding elements are typically better for handling free flowing powders, granules, pellets and other non-flooding materials, while the twin screw elements control floodable powders and more difficult, sticky or hard-to-flow materials. In addition, all Quick Change feeder parts in contact with the material being fed are manufactured in durable stainless steel while the absence of flexible liners is said to result in reduced maintenance. �
www.coperion.com
IMAGE: COPERION
IMAGE: X-COMPOUND
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