TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDERS | MACHINERY
Tuning up for the future
The twin screw extruder may have been the mainstay of the compounding industry for decades but Peter Mapleston finds that suppliers can still extract more from this flexible workhorse
For a technology as mature as twin-screw com- pounding extruders — which boast a history of at least 60 years — it is little surprise that development is now focused more on evolution rather than revolution. However, that evolution remains significant and technology suppliers continue to fine-tune their offerings in terms of performance, at the same time filling gaps in their ranges and expanding application possibilities. An example of these trends can be seen at
KraussMaffei (the long-standing KraussMaffei Berstorff brand was fully merged into its parent group last year and the Berstorff name dropped). It has been busy extending its ZE BluePower high- performance compounder series, which first appeared in 2013 and was supplemented with a laboratory model three years ago. At last year’s K2019 show in Germany, it added four large models with outputs over 2,500 kg/h. Like all models of this series, the new sizes – 98, 122, 142 and 166mm – feature large free volume and high specific torque and offer flexible configuration options for screws and barrels. Matthias Sieverding, President of the Extrusion
www.compoundingworld.com
Technology Segment at KraussMaffei, says the new units are designed for compounders with high production capacities “where maximum reliability in 24/7 operation is a must.” The company says the combination of large free volume and high specific torque enables the ZE BluePower to be used for compounding engineering plastics and highly filled formulations. The 1.65 OD/ID diameter ratio means that free volume is 27% higher than the previous ZE UT extruder series; torque density is 36% higher at 16 Nm/cm3
. Development emphasis has been placed on
ease-of-operation and energy efficiency in the latest generation of high performance ZSK twin screw extruders from Coperion. Models now come with one-piece insulation covers that can be detached without removing the cartridge heaters (and that also better insulate the process section). Another improvement is the use of pluggable cartridge barrel heaters that can be easily removed for maintenance very quickly. The gearbox lantern can also now be optionally equipped with an electroni- cally secured maintenance opening. This means service personnel can open it without tools as soon
Main image: More sophisti- cated control systems and improved operational and mainte- nance features are lifting productivity of twin screw compounding machinery
March 2020 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 17
IMAGE: COPERION
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