TECHNOLOGY | MACHINERY SURFACE TREATMENT Ionising bar wins safety certification
Meech International says its Hyperion 314IPS hygienic ionising bar has achieved UL 62368-1 certification. This confirms that the product
meets recognised product safety standards, helping to simplify approv- als and satisfy insurers. “Manufacturers are under increas-
ing pressure to demonstrate cleaner, more controlled processes,” said Richard Walker, product manager at Meech. “Even in facilities with exten- sive cleaning protocols, static charge can undermine hygiene by drawing dust and debris onto product, packag-
BLENDING
Loss-in-weight blender has fast-response control
Movacolor has launched its MCS continuous loss-in-weight blender, which delivers fast-re- sponse control in extru- sion processes where throughput can change quickly over short periods. In some applications, melt pump interruptions can cause sudden and frequent output fluctua- tions. This can lead to unstable material flow, inconsistent blend ratios, increased scrap and rising material costs. While traditional continuous loss-in-weight systems offer high accuracy, many react slowly when extruder demand changes rapidly. Unlike traditional in-line
systems, where dosing units feed directly into the machine inlet, the MCS continuous loss-in-weight
34 IMAGE: MOVACOLOR
and monitored, the system can rapidly adjust dosing speeds to maintain a stable level in the hopper. This enables stable feeding behaviour and consistent blending performance, says the company.
Benefits include: fast
blender is designed with a weighing hopper posi- tioned underneath the dosing machines. In this configuration, all dosing units feed into a weighing hopper with a hopper level sensor.
Because the exact hopper capacity and target material level are known
FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | April 2026
response to throughput fluctuations; rapid dosing corrections to maintain a stable hopper level; reduced scrap and material waste; fewer off-spec products during pump interruptions and ramp-ups; and lower material costs – and higher ROI. “Even at very low
extruder capacities of 20–30 kg/h and masterbatch additions of just 1%, the system remains stable and accurate, said Klaas Talsma, product manager at Movacolor. �
www.movacolor.com
ing or components.” An example is seen in vertical form filling – where high static charges are generated when packaging film is fed from a wind off roll. This attracts powders and dust into the seal area, which can cause downtime. Positioning an ionising bar before the forming tube – and another just before the sealing jaws – eliminates these charges. By neutralising static at
short range (20-150mm), the Hyperion 314IPS prevents dust attraction, misalignment, sealing failures and
SENSING
Infrared sensors for
film lines Optris has added two infrared sensors to its CTi range, for thin-film plastic extrusion. The sensors have optimised spectral ranges, fast response times and interface options such as built-in USB interfaces – for precise, reliable non-contact temperature measurement across a variety of applications, says the company. The P3 sensor operates
at a narrow spectral wavelength of 3.43 microns and measures temperatures from 35°C to 600°C with response times of 15 ms, making it ideal for high-speed film production lines. The P7 sensor has a 7.9 micron spectral range and is designed for material- specific absorption bands. �
www.optris.com
www.filmandsheet.com
handling issues that can compromise product quality and line efficiency. UL certification can help manufac-
turers that specify static control equipment in multiple regions. “Customers can specify the Hyperion 314IPS ionising bar for use across all global locations, with confidence it meets international safety expectations,” said Walker. �
www.meech.com
IMAGE: MEECH
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