TECHNOLOGY | SIZE REDUCTION
motor drives, seeking additional improvements in power consumption and efficiency, and evaluating improvements in cutting hardware, cutting angles, and other incremental equipment improvements.” He continues: “It is the perceptions and needs
of these more knowledgeable customers whom I believe will keep the industry on its toes, demand- ing the continued development of new features that incrementally improve size-reduction equip- ment performance, energy efficiency, safety and control. I believe that areas for further progress are in the development and use of preventive mainte- nance programs and strategies, including software and systems that better track size-reduction equipment usage, efficiency, and wear, as well as how it integrates with other auxiliary equipment.”
Right: The Evolution 10 from Exact
Cold systems Italian granulator manufacturer Exact has seen growing interest in its products, in particular because its machines serve the TNT non-woven market where production of this material has increased significantly during the global pandemic for the production of medical face masks. Its granulators are also widely used for medical and food films, such as film for blood bags and fruits and meat wrapping, where demand has also increased recently. Film granulators for bioplastics
are also an area of interest at present, where the company believes that its products are of particular relevance. “The growth in the production of bioplastics requires a new approach from the sector,” says Massimo Mapelli, Brand and Communica- tion Officer, “This type of plastic is more sensitive, in terms of degradation, to the ap- plication of heat or fusion in the transformation phase for recovery. Since 1974 Exact has special- ised in the construction of cold system granulators that work without stressing the material, which is the perfect solution for these materials.” He says: “Bioplastics and technical materials, such
as EVA for solar panels, PFA and TNT, are currently the ones we are most focused on. Fortunately, we have been working with these materials for many years and are not finding any problems. However, we must keep pace with these increasingly sophisti- cated films. Continuous testing and studies allow us to propose suitable solutions for any emerging
20 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | November/December 2020
material. The world of plastics is progressing quickly. However, as a result of collaboration with major OEM manufacturers it is possible for us to study the materials in advance and be ready with solutions at the right time.” For the recovery of bioplastics, TNT and technical materials, Exact says that it has devel- oped its Cold System series that can provide a higher quality of granules. The company adds that its granulators are built to last and are more effective with new plastic formulations. Exact’s latest development is the E120, an extruder equipped with a shredder for the simultaneous recovery of in-line and off-line reels, ensuring a yield up to 120 kg/h. The E120 can process films with high thicknesses of more than 1.5 mm and extreme input speeds in excess of 400 m/min. This machine was developed in response to specific customer requests. “Research and development are fundamental for Exact,” adds Mapelli. “We work to make our granulators more long-lasting and ready to operate with new technical films, which are usually modified with the latest additives. Our base technology does not need to change, but we introduce accesso- ries that can be added to our granulators and auxiliaries that allow our customers to be always up-to-date and ready to operate in this fast-paced market.” Herbold Meckesheim USA, a subsidiary of Herbold Meckesheim Germany, has developed the SMS series, which are heavy-duty knife granulators designed for challenging applications that
require high throughput capacities. Eight models are available with throughputs
from 200-8,000 kg/h (440-17,600 lbs/h). The company says that a removable deflection wedge is a standard feature on all SMS models. It introduces a third bed knife that improves the granulator’s ability to process heavy lumps, thick-walled pipes, thick sheets and other dense items efficiently. When the deflection wedge is removed there is more space in the feed opening and destruction chamber which facilitates the size reduction of large, bulky items. SMS series granulators feature rotor and bed knives mounted at opposing angles. This configura- tion ensures a uniform cutting gap across the entire
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IMAGE: EXACT
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