MACHINERY | PELLETISERS


IMAGE: MAAG


operated with a light water mist or more intensive spray if required. Combinations of air and water are also possible. Maag maintains that strand pelletising itself offers clear advantages in terms of operating costs per kg of product compared to underwater pelletising systems, especially with smaller batch operations and short production runs or when using abrasive compounds which can cause high levels of wear. In January, Maag said that it signed a deal with


Above: Maag developed its semi-automatic single-belt EBG pelletising system for compounding sensitive, highly filled, or brittle products


Right: Coperion has developed a PVC


compounding and pelletising solution using a Kombiplast KP 76 Mv PLUS 250 in tandem with an Eccentric Pelletizer EGR


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has invested in more Maag systems and says it is now likely to phase out its in-house pelletisers altogether. One of the latest additions to its range is the newly-developed semi-automatic single-belt pelletising system (EBG), specially developed for compounding sensitive, highly filled, or brittle products, which are becoming increasingly common in the current climate due to increased use of inhomogeneous recyclates as raw materials. A notable feature of the EBG system is that the polymer strands from the die plate are deposited on a short, movable water or air-flushed chute, which makes commencing production much easier. The polymer strands then run on a metal or plastic take-off belt, meaning that transport from the nozzle head of the discharge machine to the granulator takes place without interruption. A significant advantage here is that if strands break during operation, the product is automatically fed back into the granulator. Ongoing production is monitored by smart sensors in the feed area, and if there is a disruption in output from the extruder, it is automatically shut down and a message sent to the control system. Another advantage is that elastic, rubbery, and flexible polymers can be handled easily and safely with the belt feed, which is especially useful when producing small batches with frequent product changes. In terms of flexibility, both Lati and Maag


agree that the EBG system fits seamlessly into various compounding set-ups. The cooling rate directly impacts pellet quality, with faster cooling times resulting in harder and more uniform specimens. Although some compounds are only cooled with air, the EBG offers further flexibility for the cooling nozzles, as they can be


COMPOUNDING WORLD | January/February 2025 www.compoundingworld.com


Carter Day International’s petrochemical division to buy certain technology assets. The acquired drying technology will become part of Maag’s product portfolio, providing additional high-capacity solutions in the group’s pelletising systems.


PVC systems Coperion has extensive know-how in the production of pelletisers, and is another company with the capabilities to tailor its systems to meet specific requirements. For example, at Wire 2024 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the company presented what was billed as an ‘economical and reliable’ PVC compounding and pelletising solution using a Kombiplast KP Two-Stage Compounder in tandem with an Eccentric Pelletizer EGR. The Kombiplast KP combines a ZSK twin screw extruder with a single- screw discharge screw ES-A for gentle pressure build-up of shear-sensitive products, and the EGR is connected to the ES-A to ensure an even material flow through the die plate. The design allows easy integration of a screen changer and an efficient pellet transport, while the optimised knife rotor minimises the dust content of PVC pellets. The system set-up is characterised by very gentle operation and short residence time, while increased flexibility in terms of product changes and machine modifications make it particularly versatile. “Coperion is a long-standing partner of cable manufacturers and provides an ideal solution for different requirements and a variety of cable compounds,” said Matthias Link, Business Segment Manager, PVC & Cable compounds at Coperion. “Manufacturers benefit from long-term experience,


IMAGE: COPERION


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