CHICAGO — Berstorff Corp. (Booth S2932) wants to be known for more than its twin-screw extruders.
The Florence, Ky., company offers an impressive array of extruders, but most people are not familiar with its broader product line, said Peter Hunziker, Berstorff vice president of sales and marketing.
"We have single-screw extruders for specialty uses and very large single-screws," Hunziker said in an interview at Berstorff's NPE booth. The company also offers sheet extrusion systems, foam extrusion equipment and calendering machinery. It is diversified into rubber processing, for which it offers extruders, calenders, profile production lines, rotary presses and V-belt production machinery.
Berstorff, a division of Krauss-Maffei Corp., benefits from engineering crossover with the parent company, Hunziker said. One example is the support Krauss-Maffei provides for Berstorff's new wood flour/polymer compounding system. While Berstorff provides the compounding expertise, Krauss-Maffei brings its downstream equipment technology to the system.
"Being part of a large company has its advantages," Hunziker said. It spurs innovation and provides the obvious benefit of bigger purchasing clout. Krauss-Maffei bought Berstorff in 1994.
Twin-screw extruders are Berstorff's core business, and its NPE exhibit underlines that fact. Its booth features the ZE Ultra Torque twin-screw machine designed for complex resins, high output and easy maintenance. The ZE Ultra Glide series includes laboratory and high-output models that provide quick changeover, especially useful to color compounders who need to respond quickly to customer needs. The Compex multiprocess compounder is designed for low-torque applications for sensitive materials.
