MACHINERY | PROCESS CONTROL
Right: ColorAdjust from Krauss- Maffei inte- grates colour- measurement into the machine control system to ensure precise colour control
developments, machine learning and AI will play a vital role in our strategic development. This will enable us to keep supplying state-of-the art machine technology, as well as design and build extruders and extrusion lines for a wide range of applications.”
Auxiliary developments Control innovations are also a priority for compounding ancillary equipment maker Maag Group, which is offering a range of new control solutions including the maax PC standard- ised pump controller. The company says that the most important benefit of the cost-effective maax PC control system is the Inlet Pressure Control (PID), which lowers the pressure during the start-up phase by 40% compared to previous control systems. In addition, the PID control is capable of handling 50% greater pressure fluctuations. The controller is built using proven Siemens hardware and is suitable for use with a wide variety of pumps, ranging from Maag’s Extrex 20 up to Extrex 160 models. The maax FC is designed to control the com-
pany’s DSC/CSC and CSC Backflush screenchang- ers (melt filters). Based on the same technical platform as the maax PC, the unit’s key feature is precisely controlled piston movements to vent the piston and avoid pressure fluctuations during operation. The maax FC also enables micro-move- ment to avoid the piston getting stuck at start-up due to minimal use. Like the Maax PC, the control is based on Siemens hardware and is designed to support up to six heating controllers. The company says it provides a feature set suited for most industrial applications. A further addition to Maag’s digital portfolio is the Maag Integration Platform, which is a newly- designed Industry 4.0 platform developed to support the increasing OEE and energy efficiency demands of customers. It provides an easy-to-use interface for storage and ad-hoc analysis of data while the platform allows connection of IIoT sources with business IT systems to bring production insights into planning and operational processes. German machinery maker KraussMaffei has developed the ColorAdjust colour measuring and control system, which it demonstrated at last year’s K show in Germany on a twin-screw compounding extruder converting shredded medical caps into a fibre-reinforced recompound with precise colouring. “With ColorAdjust, KraussMaffei is providing the
market with a spectrally operating measuring system for compounding applications,” says Xiaojun Cui, Executive Vice President New Ma- chines at KraussMaffei. “This system is designed
54 COMPOUNDING WORLD | August 2023
not only for contactless monitoring of colour variations, but it also detects even the slightest deviations, in which case it triggers instant correc- tions to restore the colour setpoint.” The company says that the system enables
processors to achieve a high level of reproducibil- ity even when processing input materials of varying colour spectrum. The colour setpoint is rapidly restored when starting the compounding process after a stop, as well as in the event of colour changes. ColorAdjust also supports sustainable and highly efficient production of reclaim materials, where base colour specs can vary considerably. Start-up scrap and rejects are minimised, which the company says eliminates disposal requirements to save time and money, and raw materials. The system is also operator-independent, so it can provide consistently high productivity and quality. Other KraussMaffei control developments focus
on elevating skillsets. “The shortage of skilled personnel is also affecting the plastics processing sector and companies are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit qualified specialists,” says Xiaojun Cui. “That is why KraussMaffei’s pioneer process- Control focuses on simple and clear operation.” The core feature of the new user interface is its
‘wizards’ that provide the operator with step-by-step instructions for certain procedures, such as starting the production line or shutting it down.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.oden.io �
www.entek.com �
www.busscorp.com �
www.feddem.com �
www.farrel-pomini.com �
www.cpmextrusiongroup.com �
www.leistritz.com �
www.maag.com �
www.kraussmaffei.com
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: KRAUSSMAFFEI
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