LABORATORY EXTRUDERS | MACHINERY
Lab-scale testing is critical for the development of film and sheet products – and can range from the extrusion process itself to other issues such as foaming, coating and recycling
Scale practice: latest in laboratory extrusion
Running new formulations at a laboratory scale helps film and sheet extruders to perfect line conditions before they scale up to full production. As well as focusing on extrusion conditions such as line speed, laboratory lines can help converters understand more about processes such as coating and foaming – and even chemical recycling. Collin Lab & Pilot Solutions recently delivered
a laboratory-scale film line to German film produc- er Bischof + Klein. The 400mm-wide line has been installed in the company’s new innovation centre in Lengerich. The combined five-layer blown & flat film line will help in the development of new films, as well for customer demonstrations and sample production runs. The line combines a blown film line – including
platform and turning bar – with a flat film line. In blown film mode, a Collin quintuplicate radial spiral mandrel distributor die is used. Flat films are made using a Collin five-layer feedblock, connected with a flat film die at a chill roll. In addition, the combi-line is equipped with two winding stations – a central and a gap winder, with different winding modes. The whole line is controlled by Collin’s Fecon
software, which collects and evaluates process parameters in real time. “Bischof + Klein is in a position to produce films with a width of up to 400 mm and five layers,” said
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Andreas Vogt, head of sales at Collin. Fast material changes and low raw material input during film development were the two main reasons for choosing this line. Also, it will allow the company to develop new concepts without affecting normal production – meaning there will be no extra downtime due to production stops. Stephan Mund, development engineer at B+K,
added: “This line allows us to develop new recipes, test materials or produce samples independently of the production. We also use it for presentations and customer demonstrations – and it provides an excellent test and development environment for IoT projects.”
Pilot line boost Machinery manufacturer SAM North America has used an EDI feedblock from Nordson to boost speed – and reduce coat weight – on a pilot extrusion coating line. The combination of technologies has made it possible to cut coat weight by 40% while increas- ing throughput, thanks to ‘edge encapsulation’. SAM North America’s co-extrusion coating and laminating laboratory handles web widths up to 36in (914 mm). The encapsulating inserts – added to Nordson’s co-extrusion feedblock – allows extra material to be
September 2021 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 55
Main image: Coperion says its ZSK twin screw extruder is well suited to chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste
IMAGE: COPERION
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