MACHINERY | PELLETISERS
Right: A Maag Pearlo under- water pelletiser. The largest version in the range can handle throughputs of up to 36 tonnes per hour; this model is sized for up to 300 kg
The spherical option Maag, meanwhile, highlights experience gained with the Pearlo underwater pelletiser range since its launch at K 2016. The pelletiser – marketed under the Gala Automatik brand - is designed to process spherical pellets at low and high capacities and can handle throughputs of up to 36 tonnes/h. “Within compounding, we typically go up to 12 tonnes/h and have actual project going beyond that,” says Michael Eloo, Managing Director of Maag’s Gala Kunststoff- und Kautschukmaschinen subsidiary. Cited operational benefits of
the Pearlo include proven die plate designs and wear-resistant surface materials with narrow face widths, along with a turbine-style flexible cutter hub and blade design with a single-sided long blade. Models are available in top-mounted and rail-type configurations and with automated and manual blade-advance capabilities. Maag says they can be easily upgraded for automation. The Pearlo also serves as the basis for Maag’s
Below: Filtec’s flagship UW pelletiser (left in the image) is designed for high through- put applica- tions. The
company also produces a water ring design, visible in the back- ground
PearloFlex System. “This is an entire system allowing colour and material change freedom for the entire downstream part: melt pump, screen- changer, pelletiser and also the water system and drying,” says Eloo. “We limited the rate as of now to 500 kg/h as we expect the biggest interest in such an output area [but] we have similar options available for larger capacities as well.”
Investing for trials Last September, Filtec opened a new test labora- tory close to its headquarters in Badia Polesine, north-east Italy, equipped with a complete extru- sion line including extruder, screen changer, gear
pump and underwater pelletiser. The company describes the lab as a
demonstration, research and information centre where it can plan with customers all the tests necessary to find the best solution suitable for the different production needs. Filtec’s flagship product is its UW-Dep underwa- ter pelletiser, which the company says is versatile, reliable, simple to operate and facilitates produc- tion of quality pellets with a perfect shape without agglomerates. It is said to be suitable for high throughput of plastic materials with different melt flow rates. Synchronisation of molten polymer and water arrival in the granulation chamber is sup- ported by an integrated system comprising a diverter valve for the molten polymer and a by-pass piping for water. UW-Dep underwater pelletisers feature a die
plate heated electrically or by oil to support processing of difficult and thermosensitive materi- als. Some advantages highlighted by Filtec include: the ability to maintain a very low tempera- ture in the plate without the risk of cooling of molten polymer in the die holes; prevention of charring of the molten polymer in the die holes during machine stops; and reduced extrusion pressure. The latter is attributed to the design’s ability to accommodate a greater number of die holes in the plate and the avoidance of overheat- ing of the molten polymer. Lower extrusion pressure and a greater number of die holes also means that the cutter blades can rotate at a lower speed, reducing wear of both blades and die plate, according to the company. Filtec also highlights the automatic water-filter- ing and cooling employed on UW-Dep units. Water coming from the centrifugal dryer of the pelletiser pours onto the built-in device and is drained on the filtering surface of a continuous non-woven material. When build-up of impurities on the filter causes the level of the water to rise in the draining
24 COMPOUNDING WORLD | January 2018
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: FILTEC
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