GRANULATORS | TECHNOLOGY


5,000kN clamping force. Wittmann says the G-Max 13 is suitable for in-line recycling of soft to medium-hard sprues in materials such as PP, PE, ABS or TPU, and can be used on injec- tion moulding machines with clamping forces of up to 2,300kN. Material screens are available with perforations 4 or 5 mm in diameter. The perforations have a conical shape, so that soft and sticky granulate can pass through more easily. The tiltable material hopper simplifies cleaning and servicing of the appliance enormously. For instance, a screen change can be carried out without tools, and the time required for servicing is reduced to a minimum. The granulator has an open rotor with three


knives. It is designed with openings between the knives and the rotary axis to ensure unhindered ventilation of the cutting chamber. “Thanks to this type of design, this model is ideally suited for grinding materials which are sensitive to heat or parts not yet completely cooled,” says the com- pany. Exchanging knives is extremely easy. Wittmann says the G-Max 13, which can handle


a material throughput of up to 35 kg/h, operates with a low noise level and is very energy-efficient. The basic design and functionality of Conair


Viper granulators have not changed appreciably since they were introduced at the NPE2018 show in Orlando, FL, USA, says Dave Miller, Conair General Manager – Size Reduction. “However, what does change constantly is how our customers use them and how we are able to customise the grinder for specific installations.” Miller refers to a captive moulding operation,


where five Viper Model 1220 granulators were recently installed in a central grinding room. Scrap is collected at the moulding machine and brought in for grinding. Each conveyor belt is colour-coded according to the various scrap colours. Scrap is vacuum-conveyed out of the granulator catch bins and then is “air washed” to remove the dust and fines. The regrind is discharged through a metal separator that removes any metal particulates, into a surge bin, before it is reintroduced into the process. The granulators are also equipped with optional side chutes for feeding long, thin parts that cannot be fed into the front of the unit. Other custom configurations frequently request-


www.injectionworld.com January/February 2021 | INJECTION WORLD 43


ed by customers include units with low-profile hoppers for


easy integration with a moulder’s


runner separation system, Miller adds. “In fact, almost any hopper configura- tion imaginable can be delivered.” For handling heavy, thick-walled scrap, or especially high volumes, granula- tors can be paired with shred- ders, with automatic custom conveyors and evacuation systems that are fully integrat- ed both mechanically and electrically for a seamless operation.


On the controls side, PLC


controls allow users to remotely monitor the function of the


granulator or size-reduction system


and/or tie individual granulators to a central control system for plant-wide monitoring and automatic start/stop. Also addressing diverse needs for granulators, Cumberland recently introduced a trial program for Flexfeed hoppers that fit on its FX Series beside-the-press granulators. “Equipment versatil- ity is key for plastics processors who run a variety of parts,” says Marketing Manager Whitney Rekowski. He says the modular hopper design “allows you to customise the hopper based on the varying application needs. Users can quickly swap out the infeed style as needed to optimise scrap reclaim.” A top flared chute is best suited for robot-fed parts and small scrap, while a rectangular side feed and side pipe feed are for long parts and also extru- sions. There is also a viewing window to allow operators to see part ingestion and cutting chamber loading.


Left: The new G-Max 13 granulator from Wittmann


Below: Conair says five Viper Model 1220 granulators were recently installed in the central


�


grinding room of a moulding operation


IMAGE: WITTMANN


IMAGE: CONAIR


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