EXHIBITION REVIEW | K2022
Right: Battenfeld- Cincinnati’s Helix five-layer pipe die boasts easy handling and short
flushing times
Below: Ferrous metal can be captured on Bunting’s FF Drawer Filter Magnet
A highlight of the Battenfeld-Cincinnati stand was its Helix II 32-5 VSI five-layer pipe die – which boasts easy handling and short flushing times. It was presented in combination with the company’s new SolEx 45NG single screw extruder – in a way that allowed visitors to see the design of the flow channels and melt distribution system. Easy handling and minimal material losses were the main goals when developing the new product line. Another focus was in optimising the flow channels. The objective was to minimise flushing times, to make changeover more efficient. A simultaneous target was to ensure high precision in layer distribution across the entire circumference of the pipe. All of this could be achieved by combining the melt distributors of several different designs. In this way, the average residence time – a good indicator of expected flushing time – was reduced by more than 50%. The die shown at K2022 was designed for PE pipes with external diameters ranging from 6 to 32 mm with an output of 350 kg/h. The entire pipe die series with spiral mandrel – a spiral distributor combined with a lattice basket – comes in 15 different sizes. It covers pipe dimensions ranging from 4 to 3,000mm and possible outputs from 300 to 3,000 kg/h. In addition, the company showcased its TwinEx 93-34 parallel twin screw extruder to make highly filled PVC pipe. The extruder was fitted with a gravimetric dosing unit for processing up to 100 parts of chalk without premixing. High proportions of filler chalk can make PVC pipes cheaper, by reducing the need for polymer. A basic PVC formulation and filler material were fed separately to the production line. Individual components were then put together in a collection hopper and blended in a cold mixer. After mixing, the finished formulation was passed to the feed opening of the extruder via a vertical dosing unit.
The extruder served as processing unit for the
PVC formulation. The processing unit has a specially adapted screw geometry with anti-wear protection to transport and plasticise the blend evenly. The varying chalk content – ranging from 30 to 100 parts – can easily be adjusted to the correct formulation needed for the product. A further benefit of direct gravimetric chalk dosing is process stability, which ensures a high-quality end product. Finally, the process eliminates the need for premixing of PVC and chalk in a heating/cooling mixer. The arrangement seen at the show allows solid
PVC pipes with filler content to be produced using a mono-layer pipe die. For three-layer pipes with a filled middle layer and external layers without filler content, the company offers appropriate pipe dies and conical co-extruders. In this way, pipes up to 400mm in diameter can be produced economically. �
www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com
Bunting displayed several metal separation technologies at K2022 – including magnetic separators, metal detectors and an eddy current separator. Plastics extrusion relies on the feed material – whether it is virgin or recyclate – being metal-free. Metal contamination can be costly in terms of equipment damage and production downtime. Increasing use of recycled material has raised the need for metal separation, says Bunting. Bunting’s equipment at K2022 was designed for
each stage of the plastics manufacturing process. Typically used in a cleaning station configuration, the magnetic separators attract and remove ferrous metals leaving the metal detectors to focus on non-ferrous metals. Contamination can take many forms – from nuts and bolts to fine particulates of steel, stainless steel and aluminium foil. The range of magnetic separators on show included FF Drawer Filter Magnets, which are widely used in plastic manufacturing plants. They
26 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | November/December 2022
www.pipeandprofile.com
IMAGE: BATTENFELD-CINCINNATI
IMAGE: BUNTING
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