MACHINERY | MELT FILTRATION
Right: Cofit’s Gorillabelt T model is claimed to offer high filtration
performance with no material losses
greater filtration efficiency of the new FlexDisc reduces the frequency of backflushing and thus the amount of specific backflush volume. As melt enters the filter stack from the upstream side it is evenly distributed among the FlexDiscs, which are rheologically optimised to provide efficient filtration with minimal shear stress. At the same time, the structural integrity of the FlexDisc design enables it to withstand pressure differentials up to 130 bar (1,900 psi) during the backflush procedure. “The substantially increased filtration efficiency
of the FlexDisc can enable the processor or recycler to save on investment cost by purchasing a smaller machine without sacrificing throughput,” says Schröder. “There are also significant operational savings possible with the reduction of specific backflush volume.”
Getting smarter Italian company Cofit International has introduced the Gorillabelt T automatic and continuous screen changer for highly contaminated plastics with a high filtration level of up to 50 microns (270 mesh). “The plastics market is currently asking for increasingly complex, faster, smarter and better quality solutions in extrusion plants,” says President Aleesandro Fabbri. “This involves optimisation of devices, materials, processes and technologies. High quality products can be obtained from cheaper raw materials as a result of refined processing and innovative solutions in filtering and in screen changer technology. With the Gorillabelt T screen changer technology and design, only dirt, impurities and plastics sticking on the filter screen surface are discarded. During cleaning, material loss is eliminated.” Cofit claims the Gorillabelt T offers a number of advantages over alternatives. These include production of good quality materials with zero or extremely low levels of impurities and the ability to
use raw materials, such as highly contaminated post-consumer plastics, with a level of contamination of up to 10%. Extrusion of most thermoplastics, including PET, is possible and the Gorillabelt T provides increased output rates and improved levels of automation by being easily programmable with user-friendly controls. No polymer is lost during the cleaning cycle. Operating costs compared with manual operation are reduced through lower energy consumption, and fewer maintenance interventions and system shutdowns. The Gorillabelt T operates at temperatures up to 300°C and pressures up to 300 bar, with an output rate of up to 3,000 kg/h. It is particularly suitable for filtering highly contaminated thermoplastics, such as agricultural or building films or post-consumer materials, and it can handle all types of contami- nants including metal, wood, paper, textile fibres, unmelted plastics, aluminium and sand. The screen changer features LAN connectivity and a remote assistance module allowing any process failure to be easily assessed and fixed, as well as ensuring control software can be quickly updated. An
PHOTO: COFIT
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