MACHINERY | TWIN SCREW EXTRUDERS


Right: This FED 26 MTS system from Feddem is suitable for compounding regrind with virgin polymer pellets and additives


underestimated, can be reduced. Bausano’s scheme involves paying a fixed periodic fee for renting the entire extrusion line (except for the cylinder and screws, which are custom- designed and manufactured). “We are at an unprecedented time in history, which is why we want to be closer to our customers by offering alternative solutions that do not weigh down their lines of credit,’ says Clemente Bausano, Vice President of Bausano. “We consider an operating lease to be a valuable means of encouraging companies which, for various reasons, have had to postpone investments for purchasing an entire extrusion line, thereby offering them benefits in terms of sustainability and financial stability.”


Delivering results Germany-based Feddem also points to the advantages of leasing when highlighting the increasing demand it is seeing for its twin-screw extruders at processors wanting to carry out in-house upcycling of scrap material. “This requires twin-screw technology to deliver the best results,” says Klaus Hojer, Feddem’s Business Development and Project Manager. To ease the entrance into this new area of in-house upcycling, the company says it can offer attractive leasing arrangements in cooperation with a leasing partner specialising in small to mid-sized machine investments. Hojer cites the installation of one of its lines at an injection moulder making what he describes as sophisticated parts but at the cost of having multiple sprues and related larger amounts of clean-up waste. “As an alternative to selling the scrap they decided to invest into a compounding


Right: A


compounding line for recycled polymers under test at ICMA San Giorgio


line that allows them to process the scrap and optimise melt viscosity and colour of the recycle material for use in their production,” he says. A big advantage is the space-sav- ing setup of the line. “With kneading-block-free screws, the application only requires 32 L/D processing length,” says Hojer. “There is some extra installation length required for strand pelletising, but the extruder and metering feeders have a small footprint as all the electronics are stowed away in the base frame of the extruder and the support frame of the metering feeders – so no stand-alone


control cabinet is required.” The line was specially configured for the task so,


for example, incorporates a swivel-mounted metal separator above the main feed port of the extruder to ensure that any metal fragments that could result from the grinding operation do not reach the compounding process. Other process-oriented features for recycling applications can include a high precision gravimetric metering system and vacuum degassing. Last year, Italy’s ICMA San Giorgio reported it had successfully tested a new recycling line based on one of its high-torque co-rotating twin-screw extruders prior to installation at a major Italian customer producing industrial components. This is the second line developed for the customer in two years. The extruder has two lateral feeders managing addition of various types of fillers and is equipped with special high-vacuum pump units for enhanced extraction of volatiles. Otherwise, it shares the typical high-tech characteristics of systems developed for “regular” compounding, the company says. The screw profile was optimised to process various families of polyolefin waste, following intensive software simulation, modelling and granulation tests in ICMA’s recently-built technology laboratory. “ICMA has been a pioneer in the market of


plastic recycling process technology, [which] has allowed my company over the years to accumulate a deep experience in shaping the right process in line with customer’s needs. This is also very true for green field recycling/compounding projects where ICMA’s well proven turn-key expertise and execu- tion capabilities can make a difference,” says owner Giorgio Colombo. A similar message is delivered from fellow Italian


16 COMPOUNDING WORLD | March 2021 www.compoundingworld.com


IMAGE: FEDDEM


IMAGE: ICMA SAN GIORGIO


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