CHICAGO — B&P Process Equipment and Systems sold a large twin-screw extruder on display at NPE 1997 to RheTech Inc. of Whitmore Lake, Mich.
B&P sales manager Peter Giles said RheTech bought the MP 2125, a 5-inch, 700-horsepower machine capable of extruding as much as 6,500 pounds of plastic per hour. RheTech already has nine B&P extrusion lines it uses to make thermoplastic polyolefins and other compounds, Giles said in an interview at NPE 1997, held June 16-20 in Chicago.
The MP 2125 has a 35:1 length-to-diameter ratio and an XLT split-stream discharge, with two single screws at the back end, that runs about 100° F cooler than a conventional discharge. The machine's forward venting technology allows high fill levels, while the split-stream discharge provides high wet-out of glass fibers.
Saginaw, Mich.-based B&P also is displaying a 65-millimeter twin screw for color masterbatches. The co-rotating, intermeshing extruder features insert liners for the barrel, cast heaters and cast stainless-steel cooling channels. Giles said the quick opening feature allows fast clean-out, ``because people don't want to use a lot of purging compounds.'' A spring-loaded stuffing box with fluoropolymer packing helps prevent dust buildup.
Although B&P boosted the power of the 65mm extruder to 100 HP from its previous 75-HP rating, it is less expensive than the one it replaces. The new version's output is as much as 1,000 pounds an hour.