MACHINERY | PELLETISERS
edges and fewer free surfaces, provides improved cleanability,” says a company spokesperson. “Furthermore, the new quick-change cutting chamber system really impresses users. The complete cutting area is accessible without tools and the cutting unit can be exchanged quickly and easily. This quick change minimises machine servicing times and downtimes.” The intake area has been reworked, too. The
previous conical construction has been replaced by a straight intake, which Coperion says allows strands to be optimally side fed into the pelletiser. Strands are now fed directly into the pelletiser without deflection while side panels on the intake roller prevent individual strands from breaking free, so strand tears and bevel are avoided during intake. Coperion has also increased the operating width by 20mm so that higher throughputs are now possible. And it has also addressed noise. Along with the more compact interior cutting space and the resulting smaller sound chamber, all motors are now housed under the base plate, where they are noise insulated. Coperion says the revised strand pelletisers offer an optimal mix of new developments and proven technology. In the latter area, it cites the pellet outlet chute with soundproof cladding, a frequency-controlled drive, and pneumatic control for feed roll pressure. The baseplate is mounted on vibration-insulating rubber pads and the pelletiser is installed on lockable rollers for greater flexibility. The pelletisers are also equipped with a safety device (a Haake system) in place of the classic retarding spindle. Optional features available for the new
Coperion models include a high temperature- resistant upper feed roll for longer service life as well as wear-protected or corrosion-protected cutting rotors for handling highly filled or reinforced materials. Increased drive power for high processing demands is available in a dual drive option with a driven upper feed roll for improved intake. There is also optional cooling for the feed roll and the cutting head to allow cooling of the entire cutting chamber. Control cabinet climate control is available for especially demanding environmental conditions.
Underwater TPE Maag, now that it owns the Gala, Reduction Engineering Scheer and Automatik brands, is one of the biggest names in pelletising technology. Its Pearlo underwater pelletising system, which integrates features originating in Gala and Automatik designs, was shown for the first time at K2016 and Maag says that one of the first compounders to indicate an interest in the technology was Hexpol TPE. Hexpol TPE is one of the best-known producers
Above: Coperion Pelletizing Technology’s strand pelletiser cutting chamber. The company says the new quick-change cutting chamber system has impressed users
18 COMPOUNDING WORLD | January 2020
of thermoplastic elastomers globally. It strives to invest in future-proof technologies, which Maag says can be clearly seen in one of its latest production lines at its plant at Lichtenfels in Germany. A key component of that line is an underwater pelletising system from Maag, which the supplier says both works extremely efficiently and enables the flexibility required for production of new material formulations. Total capacity at the Lichtenfels site is 40,000 tonnes/yr and Maag pelletising systems are in use on this latest and six of the other lines. Hexpol TPE says it is crucial to its business that Maag be a pioneer in terms of technology. “Companies that break new ground are important to us because this is the only way we can develop innovations ourselves,” says Dominik Fehn, Head of Process Engineering at Hexpol TPE’s Lichtenfels site. Hexpol TPE’s engineers arranged for TPE trial runs to be conducted at Maag’s pilot plant very soon after first seeing the Pearlo system back at K2016. That led to the decision to deploy the pelletising system on the newly designed line that went into operation in mid 2018. “Thanks to the use of Pearlo, the new line — in combination with the other system components such as the extruder and in particular its worm gear geometry, the screen changer with special flow channel, and the mixing and metering technology — is extremely efficient and flexible,” says Maag. The Pearlo underwater pelletiser is designed to
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IMAGE: COPERION
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