Cumberland Engineering Corp.'s newest offerings are spinning off business developments for the auxiliary equipment maker and at least one of its customers. Cumberland already has a nearly $1 million order from Nicos Polymers & Grinding Inc. that includes three of its 3263-model granulators — the largest commercially available granulator in the company's history.
Nicos Polymers, meanwhile, is making the machines a centerpiece of its expansion into a new, 180,000-square-foot facility in Easton, Pa., in September.
"We've put it through its paces with all sorts of things," said Jim Knicos, president and owner of Nicos Polymers (Booth N6285). "We're thrilled with it."
Cumberland (Booth N1714), has a 3263 granulator on display at NPE 2000. The machine weighs in at about 40,000 pounds, is 15 feet tall and has a 12-by-8-foot footprint.
"You won't miss it," said marketing manager Jeff DeNigris.
The machine can process more than 6,000 pounds per hour. Cumberland has hit 7,500 pounds per hour with a three-eighths-inch screen in testing.
The 3200 granulator series can handle a variety of materials, with rotor and chamber combinations that can cope with anything from film to the heaviest purgings.
The series includes three model sizes: 32 by 42 inch, 32 by 63 inch and 32 by 84 inch.
The 12-knife open rotor can handle heavy extruder purgings, pipes and blow-molded parts or packaging films.
"The size and breadth of the series is amazing," DeNigris said. "In our development, we worked closely with Nicos and the other processors in developing what they needed."
He lists four major aspects that set the 3200 series apart: replaceable integral rotor knife seats; discharge transition chutes that roll out on tracks with just a few hand clamps for easy access and cleaning; close-fit, taper-mounted and adjustable bearings to meet the tight tolerances of film applications; and an automated grease-delivery system.
Variety was important for Nicos, which deals with a range of material, including post-industrial flooring, roofing material and garden hose.
The company now processes 70 million pounds per year. Once the firm moves into the new facility and has more equipment operating, that figure will rise to at least 120 million pounds, Knicos said.
"I don't usually get that excited about a piece of equipment, but this I'm pretty excited about," he said.
Nicos' growth into separation technology is pushing the expansion and the demand for granulators that can keep up, Knicos said.
Last year, it took in 10 million pounds of mixed materials that typically are sent to a landfill. It reclaimed all but 1 million pounds of the product.
"And our process is a whole lot cheaper than virgin plastics," said Knicos, who claims his company is the largest privately owned custom grinder in the industry.
