DIE DEVELOPMENTS | MACHINERY
Recent developments in extrusion tooling include a new simulation model to reduce die swell, a profile dies takeover and the first North American application of a fast-change tool
Squeezed out: latest in pipe and profile dies
Dies for pipes and profiles are critical in the produc- tion of accurate and high-quality end products – with producers very keen to extrude their products as quickly and accurately as possible. This can be a challenge – whether the extrusion company is highly experienced, or a relative newcomer. Once recent market entrant – newly formed
Canadian pipe extruder Encoma – is using a QuickSwitch line from KraussMaffei to make various sizes of multi-layer HDPE pipe. The three- layer QuickSwitch line – the first in North America – was installed in late 2021 in a new factory in Manitoba that houses several extrusion lines. “As a newcomer in this branch of industry, it was
important to have a partner who would set up a turnkey plant and provide training and support,” said Derek Hofer, plant manager at Encoma. The company has already ordered two new lines: a second QuickSwitch line and a five-layer PE-RT line to make underfloor heating pipes. “Quality, reproducibility and production time achieved with the first QuickSwitch line for HDPE pipes were so convincing,” he added. QuickSwitch is KraussMaffei’s solution for
producing pipes of different dimensions on a single line, without the need for retooling. The core component of each line is the adjustable calibration basket, which adjusts to new pipe dimensions
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automatically, without having to stop the production line. The waste produced during the ‘quick switch’ period is limited to a cone-shaped piece of material. This boosts both efficiency and sustainability. The system also ensures fine adjustment of pipe wall thickness and pipe centring. Both are crucial in the production of high-quality pipe. Once saved, production data can be retrieved and adjusted at any time, to ensure reproducibility. With the line installed, Encoma produces pipes with diameters of 25-63mm. The second QuickS- witch line will extend the dimensional range by up to 6in (168/175 mm). “We are able to produce a wide range of
different pipes for changing customer require- ments even in small quantities,” said Hofer.
Quick change tooling Maillefer says it can eliminate time-consuming and faulty set-up adjustments in the production of multi-layer composite pipe. The company says that its quick-change tooling is applied to the compacting rollers on the alumini- um forming section of the line.
Changing pipe size in this way can typically save
around two hours, says the company, thanks to pre-sized, fixed position assemblies. At the same time, it avoids imperfect adjustments of the rollers
May/June 2022 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 35
Main image: Greiner
Extrusion says its Red PCE 3.0 system allows efficient post co-extrusion of window gaskets
IMAGE: GREINER EXTRUSION
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