TECHNOLOGY | MATERIALS PREPARATION


CARD G (right) and CARD S (above) with FIT control system and optional OPC UA interface from Wittmann


the appliances can be pushed into a parking or emptying position. Optional quick-change adapt- ers can save time when transferring the dryers from one machine to another. Conair’s new multi-hopper drying system consists of compact, caster-mount- ed multi-hopper carts (MHCs) that support and connect two, three or four CH Series mass-flow hoppers to a central dryer. Conair says the system enables even small amounts of different materials to be dried off-line, then easily wheeled where needed to supply production machines. The MHC drying system offers small (two-hopper) and large (three- or four-hopper) cart sizes and two configura- tion options. The first mounts hoppers only, circulating dehumidified air for material heating or drying from a central dryer through an insulated integral welded manifold system. The second option, intended for larger throughput or higher-temperature applications, links


Right: Available in two sizes, Conair


Multi-Hopper Carts can be equipped with up to four Conair CH


Series hoppers


hoppers to a Conair D Series Carousel Plus dryer with the DC-C Premium control package. This second option uses the colour touchscreen on the D Series dryer to monitor each hopper and control individual heaters that can manage different temperatures in each hopper. It also provides advanced features including “tempera- ture setback” to prevent over drying, and dewpoint monitoring and control. In addition, it integrates with Conair’s SmartServices platform to provide centralised, real-time monitoring and control of key performance indicators, setpoint and actual temperatures, and process trends. Available in stainless or carbon steel, hoppers range from 14-170 litres (0.5 to 6ft3


) in


volume and are fully insulated. They are de- signed for easy cleaning with a large clean- out door (with sight glass) and a removable air-diffuser cone. They are also equipped with an isolation valve so each can be taken off-line without affecting the other hoppers on the cart. Conair is also touting its upgraded GasTrac


process air heaters, which use natural gas as a heat source for dehumidifying dryers. It says they enable processors to save up to 70% in energy costs


42 INJECTION WORLD | March 2021 www.injectionworld.com


compared with electricity (US prices). Available in three sizes (approx. 350, 500, and 700 MJ input), the heaters can be paired with Conair’s Carousel Plus central drying systems or used as a cost-saving retrofit to existing electrically heated dryers. Users operate and monitor both burner and


process controls via a 4-inch colour touchscreen linked to an advanced control system. The new control package automatically interprets and displays all operating, alarm, and warning informa- tion in plain text, so operators don’t have to memorise or look up error codes. The GasTrac units can be integrated with Conair


Carousel Plus central dryers, enabling three modes of control: locally through the HMI on the GasTrac or the dryer, or remotely using Conair’s SmartSer- vices cloud-based monitoring and control system. Each option allows users to control drying tem- peratures, watch energy usage or trend data, set automatic starts and stops, monitor alarms, or manage equipment maintenance information. GasTrac heaters use a ceramic gas burner with a variable-frequency blower drive to regulate combustion air flow. Conair says this cuts emissions and takes fuel efficiency to over 85%.


Recycled material The increase in the use of recycled materials is introducing new variables into the processing of PET for preform production, points out Piovan: from a variable content of humidity to the presence of contaminants; from lower values of intrinsic viscosity to a different rheology or bulk density of the raw material. That makes preform production even more demanding in terms of keeping the process stable and preform quality constant, and minimising scrap. Piovan’s GenesysNext dryer family was devel- oped for use on injection moulding systems


IMAGES: WITTMANN


IMAGE: CONAIR


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