MACHINERY | PELLETISERS
IPS breaks new territory
German consultant and solution provider IPS Intelligent Pelletizing Solutions, which celebrated its 25th
anniversary in
2023, has reinforced its growth strategy in Europe by acquiring Kotraco to act as a representative in the Benelux countries. The sales partner, based in Houten, the Netherlands, will now become the central point of contact for customers and partners in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. “After new agencies in Scandinavia, Spain, Poland and South
Korea, we are taking the next step in our expansion strategy with the additional agency in the Benelux countries,” said IPS Managing Director and owner Gerald Weis. “We are looking forward to working with Kotraco and being represented locally with our solutions for an even broader market.”
removal. The DFP has a compact and robust design, is easy to operate, and can be integrated into Farrel Pomini’s Synergy Control System, says the company. The entire line can be completely automated with minimal operator involvement, and the system is already commercially available.
Digital automation Another company incorporating the latest digital technology is Bay Plastics Machinery (BPM) whose new Industry 4.0 smart pelletising system has the ability to store end-to-end process parameters including line and rotor speed, pellet length, activity logs, and maintenance training videos. Users can input material recipes, and the machinery adapts automatically. “The biggest benefit to user recipes is rapid changeovers for customers who run various materials,” said Jim Forgash, Vice President of Sales for BPM. “The ability to save process data back into the production line allows for repeatability and ensures the production process is not changed. Our Data Trending page is a historical viewer of process data [which] allows the customer to look back at history to fine-tune the process. Machine settings are used to automatically adjust the user interface to display the appropriate machine limits.” The company is also working on a Preventative Maintenance Log Book which can be used to schedule tasks, mark when maintenance has been completed, and when reoccurring maintenance is due. “This is extremely helpful information for troubleshooting and when looking at the expectancy of wear items such as the feedrolls or rotor blades,” Forgash said. One of BPM’s latest innovations is a camera caliper tool to measure diameter. Along with strand count, ovality, pellet length, and line speed, this data
46 COMPOUNDING WORLD | January/February 2025
allows BPM to estimate throughput by understanding the physical dimensions of the strand. “In most cases, throughput is determined in pounds per hour, [but] we have the ability to measure the poundage throughput by the minute,” Forgash added. “The second control we gain by measuring strand diameter is the ability to maintain a consistent strand width. Using the diameter, we can adjust the line speed on the pelletiser to compensate for variations in the extruder throughput.” Another noteworthy aspect of the new system is its ability to provide access to information through a tablet or computer linked to the control screen where all relevant documentation referring to maintenance and troubleshooting can be found. “Training videos and parts drawings are quickly and easily accessible,” said Forgash. “This control system also helps us support customers in non- English speaking countries.” The Smart Control is an option for all BPM strand pelletisers and pelletising systems, and can also be retrofitted onto existing BPM equipment providing it fulfils certain criteria. In addition, the company offers a Smart System that incorporates downstream equipment so that it operates as a whole. “Our newest option is a different take on a manual strand line which we call ‘Smart with Auxiliary control.’ This system utilises the pelletiser as the main controller, but allows integration with auxiliary equipment such as a water bath or an airknife,” said Forgash.
Pellet quality According to Israeli instrument manufacturer
Inspec.tech, which offers monitoring and sorting solutions tailored to the needs of various industry players, the pellet industry is currently experiencing a major surge. Statistics seem to back up the claim, with one recent market report (by Maximize Market Research) stating the plastic pellets sector was valued at $8.04bn in 2023 and is expected to reach $11.47bn by 2030.
Inspec.tech says its expansion into key markets such as the US, China and South Korea, as well as various countries across Europe, underscores the growing demand for its advanced Quality Assurance (QA) solutions. A recent LinkedIn post by
Inspec.tech founder and CEO Nadav Leshem suggested that maintaining consistent quality throughout the pellet supply chain is paramount, yet poses significant challenges for each player in the chain. “For resin producers, ensuring consistent pellet quality and identifying contaminations early in the production process is crucial,” he said. “
Inspec.tech’s real-time defect detection capabilities help identify and
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