GRANULATORS | TECHNOLOGY
Granulators adapt as recycling needs grow
Granulator groups are developing larger
machines, combination technologies and
energy-efficient models in response to the changing recycling
environment. Chris Saunders reports on new trends and products
Manufacturers are giving ever more consideration to energy efficiency and recycled content and so granulators are proving increasingly important to injection moulding operations. In line with this rise in prominence, improvements to granulator technology have been made with regards to soundproofing and output quality. The latest equipment is also safer and easier to operate, and there is increased demand for more durable parts and materials, all of which feeds into an over-reach- ing commitment to boost profitability by cutting costs wherever possible. Energy consumption has come to the fore in
recent times, especially in Europe, and manufactur- ers are keen to minimise electricity usage to make their machinery more appealing to customers who can then factor the savings in to their bottom line. To this end,CMG Granulators says all its units with capacities from 800 kg/h to over 5,000 kg/h are equipped with the Adaptive Motor Power (AMP) function, which the company says is unique in the size reduction industry. (CMG’s granulators are also supplied by Piovan Group.) In essence, AMP means the granulator can independently determine which power level is most applicable to the job at hand, depending on the amount, shape, weight, thickness, type of plastic and temperature of the material to be ground. The AMP not only reduces the amount of
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electricity being used, but improves the quality of the regrind material, guaranteeing dimensional and physical homogeneity of the particles. By way of comparison, a CMG granulator uses only 20 to 25 Wh/kg, compared to around 50 Wh/kg consumed by a conventional unit, says the company. The return on investment is said to be less than 12 months. CMG has developed the new G26 granulator
line, for use with injection moulding, blow moulding and extrusion processes. There are three models: G26-30, G26-45 and G26-60. The standard configu- rations cover capacities from 50 kg/h up to 300 kg/h. The line features integral sound enclosure and an innovative feed hopper design to accommodate the widest variety of shapes and dimensions of the parts to be gound. CMG says all models operate in high-efficiency conditions, are equipped with EISA premium-efficiency motors and can have AMP controls. Energy utilisation is 20 Wh/kg. On the topic of energy conservation, Jürgen
Schnitzer, Sales and Marketing Manager at Neue Herbold based in Sinsheim-Reihen, Germany, says: “Higher output can be achieved using a so-called forced feed, whereby material will be positively fed into the grinding chamber via force screws and not only by gravity. This has another positive effect. Due to the forced feed of the material, the grinding chamber is always full of material to be ground and therefore spike of the amperage is avoided. This
January/February 2023 | INJECTION WORLD 25
Main image: CMG launched the new G26 granulator line at the K 2022 exhibition
IMAGE: CMG
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