Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH, the sister company of Maag Group, is using Moscow's Interplastika show to launch its Primo 200E strand pelletizer.

The single side-mounted, dry-cut pelletizer has an extra-wide cutting width of up to 8 inches.

A unique cutting geometry provides the shortest unguided length between the fed rolls and treh cut ol the feed rolls and the cut. That enables straight cutting of both hard and very soft plastic strands.

Primo 200E is especially suited for compounding thermoplastics, for masterbatch production and to produce color concentrates.

Cutting tool sets are for hard abrasive and soft flexible plastics. Pellet dimensions can be adjusted quickly using an option al automatic pellet-length adjuster, and a second drive motor for the fed mechanism, with an integrated speed control.

When running abrasive materials at high temperatures, the cantilevered pelletizer can be equipped with an optional, separately driven metal feed roll instead of the standard elastomer roll.

Automatik Plastics Machinery officials said the Primo 200E's design makes it a good choice for making micro-quantities of color masterbatches and concentrates, since it is easy to clean, has short retooling times and features a low-deposit cutting chamber.

Another feature: a feed geometry without major deflections, so the strands are not subjected to pre-tensioning before cutting. That cuts down on longs or dust when running highly fragile polymers like polystyrene or highly filled masterbatches.

In other news, the equipment maker in Grossostheim, Germany, also has joined the Blue Competence energy efficiency program by VDMA, the German Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association.

The company's U.S. operation, Maag Automatik Inc., is in Charlotte, N.C.

Tel. 704-716-9000.