NEWS | NPE REVIEW
Buss steps up with Compeo co-kneader
Buss unveiled its brand new Compeo co-kneader extruder at NPE. Company President and CEO Philip Nising said the striking-look- ing machine is the first major upgrade of its co-kneader technology for a decade and is intended to confirm its place as a premium compounding option. “We wanted to make a machine that is better than any other on the market,” Nising said. “There are some genuine differences between the old and new designs.” Aside from the visual styling – for the first time Buss took on an industrial design company to assist in the project – one key difference is Compeo’s flexibility. Nising said the last machine update of its
The Compeo is the first major Buss upgrade in a decade
four-flight; we can even go further and go for a two-flight or a six-flight,” he said. “The two-flight section can be used to replace the restrictor ring to build up pressures hydromechanically.” Nising said the barrel can
Buss CEO Philip Nising: market will see this as a huge leap
previous model was the introduction of the four- flight screw, which improves dispersion but at the price of some additional shearing. The Compeo allows process elements to be combined to suit the application. “We can make each
processing part to suit. We can combine three and
also be easily extended using new standardised modules – which are now fully symmetrical - on the standard machine base. The Compeo design also features fully integrated electrical cabling, improved thermal and acoustic insulation, a vibration-damp- ening concrete filled chassis, standard conical twin screw discharge, heating capability to 400°C, and a switch back from top to side feeding (to better handle higher filler loadings). The high temperature
capability and side feeding are key additions, according to Nising, who sees growing demand from compounders to be able to handle highly filled PA and PC formula- tions. Highly filled com- pounds remain the forte of co-kneader technology. “We hope the market will see this as a huge leap in general compounding; I don’t think it will be hard to win customers back from twin screws,” Nising said. The model on the Buss stand in Orlando was a 55mm prototype, with an 88mm model already in late development. The company will be taking orders for both from spring 2019. 110, 137 and 176mm models will become available during the remainder of the year. �
www.busscorp.com
Lighter and tougher approach from RTP
RTP Company introduced its LT (Light and Tough) series of PP, PA and PBT compounds that use glass sphere technology to achieve “drop-in” part weight savings of 5-10% with minimal loss of mechanicals compared to traditional glass reinforced grades. Senior Product Development Engineer
Structural Products Karl Hoppe said the new grades have resulted from developments in the strength of the glass spheres and optimisation of the compounding process, which has minimised their breakage. “Previously with spheres we focused on maximising the weight saving but you lost the
26 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2018
properties,” Hoppe said. “The LT compounds are targeting the same properties that customers want with 30% glass filled PP or PA.” The LT materials provide similar weight savings to that possible by using chemical foaming additives but there are no issues with developing an even cell structure and the surface finish is much more consistent, Hoppe said. Shrinkage of the new com- pounds is also broadly similar to current 30% glass reinforced grades, so a drop-in substitution is possible in many cases. �
www.rtpcompany.com
Power tools are a potential application area for RTP’s new reduced density LT Series compounds
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: AMI
PHOTO: RTP COMPANY
PHOTO: BUSS
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