Extrusion Technology at K2019 (Review) • a 1,600 mm diameter chill roll with a 5,500 mm width • a double turret winder, W4000 4S 2T, with four shafts per turret As well, SML’s newly introduced "hands-free" operation of the extrusion die makes product changes on the new PowerCast XL line fast and straightforward. Less manpower is required, waste is reduced and overall line effectiveness is raised significantly. With the new ReflexTM die in combination with the in-house developed Booster regulation, the line operator does not need to manually interfere in crossprofile adjustment at product changes any more. Using a conventional system, it takes sometimes 30-45 minutes until the required product quality is reached. The available “hands-free” and Booster regulation can do this in around 10 minutes completely automatically. The automatic mapping of the die bolts is another innovation from SML to minimise both personnel costs and waste production. With conventional equipment, the operator needs to do a manual die mapping at every product change to ensure the good regulation of the thickness gauge. With the new automatic version developed by SML, a special software constantly regulates the expanding and contracting of the die bolt at a defined position to the film. The thickness measuring unit recognises the position of the bolt and automatically readjusts the mapping. All of SML’s stretch film lines can measure the real temperature of the extruded film directly on the chill roll. This gives manufacturers the possibility to predict the quality of the film with regard to its elongation already inline during production. The operator then knows immediately if he needs to modify or readjust anything to achieve the right film.
The basis for the new cups is a three-layer PET (or PP) sheet with a physically foamed central layer that can be easily recycled. It says that the first outcome is “promising” with cups boasting a heat resistance of up to 100°C created form standard APET. The sheet for such cups can have an overall density of about 0.65 kg/ dm³, which saves material and increases the insulating properties, so that it is possible to hand-hold these cups filled with hot liquids. Unlike PS, mono-material foamed sheet, especially from PET, is also straight-forward to recycle. Indian processor first to take delivery of Brampton line US extrusion machinery maker Davis-Standard had all its companies under one roof as well as with the newest members of its global brands: Maillefer, Brampton Engineering and TSL. This was probably one of the reasons it managed to clinch sales of over US$17 million at the show. The new orders represent the full spectrum of DavisStandard’s product lines, including orders for pipe and tube systems, blown film systems and coating and lamination systems. In addition to complete lines, there are several developing projects for equipment and technology upgrades to existing product lines. And with India’s packaging sector having grown exponentially, it is no surprise that multilayer film processor Vishakha Polyfab was one of the latest orders. The processor has become the first in India to add Brampton’s AquaFrost water-quenched blown film technology. Vishakha has been a long-time Brampton customer, installing India’s first seven and nine-layer barrier blown film lines. With the addition of the water-quenching system, the company will be able to improve film clarity and thermoformability, balance orientation, and increase processing versatility with fewer resins, says Brampton. Besides the AquaFrost, it provides the multilayer AeroFrost air blown system, film winding and other film production solutions.
SML is working with Kiefel on mono-material hot fill cups made from foamed PET
Meanwhile, jumping on the circular economy bandwagon, over the last six months, SML has developed an extrusion method to make high quality stretch film from 80% post-consumer LLDPE/LDPE recycled materials. SML is also developing foamed sheet for hot fill applications, with new features in terms of heat resistance, insulation and recyclability, in a joint R&D programme with German thermoforming machinery maker Kiefel.
Vishakha Polyfab has become India’s first with AquaFrost technology from Brampton NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019
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