Van Dorn expands Caliber press line Van Dorn Demag Corp. has added two new sizes to its two-platen Caliber line of injection presses, machines with clamping forces of 1,430 tons and 3,300 tons.
The new models join three existing Calibers of 1,100, 1,760 and 2,200 tons. The company in Strongsville, Ohio, plans to introduce a 2,750-ton model by the end of 2000.
Scott Kroeger, director of marketing, said the new 1,430-tonner will open new markets for the series, such as exterior and interior automotive trim, housewares and appliances.
Guardian Automotive Trim Inc. bought the first 1,430-ton Caliber for its plant in LaGrange, Ga. Last November, it began molding thermoplastic polyolefin body side moldings and other types of exterior trim.
Van Dorn Demag also is targeting automotive molders with the 3,300-ton press, which offers space savings. The big machine measures just under 49 feet long, vs. more than 65 feet for the preceding, 3,000-ton machine, according to the company.
Tel. (440) 876-8960, fax (440) 876-4383.
Colortronic offers dosing unit, feeder
Colortronic Inc.'s Colorblend S digital dosing machine accurately controls free-flowing additives in low-rate feeder lines, on injection molding presses and extruders.
Colorblend S is designed to deliver precise dosing even at very low rates. The unit offers a wide range of configurations and dosing discs. It easily integrates with vacuum conveying systems, according to the company in Runnemede, N.J.
Colortronic also introduced its Smart Feed hopper, for use with gravimetric blending systems. The hopper unit offers accurate feeding in low-throughput applications such as medical tubing, wire and cable and fibers. It also boasts an easy-to-use electronic control panel.
Tel. (865) 312-9600, fax (856) 312-9696.
Netstal injection unit is guided by frame
SynErgy injection presses from Netstal-Machinery Ltd. now have a new injection unit, the 3600.
Netstal, of Nafels, Switzerland, said the injection unit is guided on the machine frame, which gives it high precision with minimum clearance relative to the base. Accumulator tanks are mounted on the front of the injection unit's frame.
Netstal is targeting thin-walled parts, such as compact-disc boxes, closures and tubs, that can take advantage of the injection unit's high rates of plasticizing and injection pressure.
The company's U.S. unit, Netstal Machinery Inc., is based in Devens, Mass.
Tel. (978) 772-5100.
RJG Inc. introduces mold-pressure module
RJG Inc. of Traverse City, Mich., has introduced a mold-cavity pressure module, called the SLC Dart.
The Dart accepts mold pressure, screw position or hydraulic pressure transducer through either an interface located on the module, or by digital signal over the SLC processor's back plane.
Tel. (231) 947-3111, fax (231) 947-6403.
Davis-Standard offers StatPak side-fed die
Davis-Standard Corp. has developed a side-fed die for blown film producers.
The StatPak die is designed for processing small-diameter tubes used for making seamless bags, such as trash can liners and shipping sacks, according to the company in Pawcatuck, Conn.
StatPak features a coat-hanger design that uniformly spreads the polymer around the circumference of the die. A spiral mandrel section improves the overall distribution thickness and eliminates weld lines. Another advantage of the side-fed layout: A large internal hold through the center of the die allows the film maker to increase air flow while maintaining film quality.
Tel. (860) 599-1010, fax (860) 599-6258.
Thermal Care debuts programmable chiller
Thermal Care Inc. of Niles, Ill., introduced its TSW 90/100 central chiller, a six-compressor, two-circuit unit with scroll compressors.
Sizes range from 20-100 tons. Features include an Allen-Bradley programmable logic controller with a touch screen and stainless- steel evaporators.
Tel. (847) 966-2260, fax (847) 966-9358, e-mail [email protected] care.com.
Uniloy develops `pour friendly' jug
Uniloy Milacron doesn't want you to cry over spilled milk.
The Manchester, Mich., unit of Milacron Inc. has developed a new "pour friendly" high density polyethylene milk jug with an off-center neck and handle.
The jug can be produced on standard Uniloy reciprocating-screw blow molding machines and with dairy-industry standard neck finishes.
Typically, off-center necks require a ram-down neck finish, which is not compatible with standard dairy capping technology. The Uniloy Milacron process uses a proprietary blow pin and a one-time offset for the die block.
Tel. (734) 428-2472, fax (734) 428-7095.