Battenfeld supplies Boehringer machines
Boehringer Ingelheim microParts GmbH is expanding to make asthma inhalers.
The German micromolder specializes in medical technologies of atomizers, microfluidics and microparts. The company has purchased 10 Battenfeld all-electric injection presses - EM 110/120 Unilog B4 machines - for its plant in Dortmund, Germany.
Battenfeld Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH of Kottingbrunn, Austria, also supplied the automation and handling equipment.
Tel. 43-2252-404-0, fax 43-2252-404-1002, e-mail [email protected]
EDI awarded patent for its Contour Die
Extrusion Dies Industries LLC, a flat-die maker in Chippewa Falls, Wis., has been granted a U.S. patent for its Contour Die for film and sheet production.
The die solves problems with deflection caused by the pressure of a molten polymer coming out of the manifold, or the flow channel between the two halves of any flat die. The die is tapered: It is thicker at the center, where the pressure is the greatest from resin coming out of the manifold, and thinner at the ends. The arrangement allows EDI to retain a triangle-shaped ``coat hanger'' manifold.
EDI said it is possible to correct the deflection problem with the lip-adjustment systems that come standard on flat dies, but those require frequent adjustments when there are many small-run jobs. The problem is more serious in coextrusion, since lip adjusters cannot correct distortions at the interface between layers, the company said.
Tel. 715-726-1201, 715-726-2205, e-mail [email protected]
Center helps firms with nanotechnology
The University of Dayton Research Institute has opened a research center that helps companies enter nanotechnology development without having to buy new equipment.
The Center for Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites and Devices allows firms to evaluate new materials without a lot of investment. If a company sees promise in the trials at the center, it can decide to spend on new technology.
The center is offering prototype development and small production runs. Equipment on hand includes a 10-foot autoclave, a 440-ton injection press and a laser profiler.
``We're giving businesses access to our facility, our technologies and our resources,'' said Richard Garozzo, plant manager for the center. ``And because we're a leading authority on nanomaterials processing, they will also benefit from our expertise.''
Tel. 937-229-3079, fax 937-229-3433, e-mail alexa[email protected]
Indicator-transmitter designed for easy use
Ascon Corp. said its gammadue J5 indicator-transmitter provides accurate measurement of melt pressure and other process variables.
A five-digit display can be configured to change color when the J5 is operating in an alarm condition. It can be configured from the front panel, or from a personal computer with available software.
Ascon is based in Batavia, Ill.
Tel. 630-482-2950, fax 630-482-2956, e-mail [email protected]
Italy's Omso touting tube printing press
Omso SpA, an Italian maker of machinery for dry-offset and screen printing onto plastics, has introduced what it calls the first tube printing press for high-speed, multicolor flexographic or silk-screen printing onto three-dimensional substrates.
The Servotube machine creates photo-quality graphics, up to 150 lines per inch, on cylindrical packaging, without the need for cleaning stops, Omso said. It uses gearless, servodriven mandrels, each one independently computer-controlled, allowing for half-tone decorations.
According to Omso, problems with dry-offset printing have caused some packaging makers to choose label over direct printing for tubes. But the flexographic Servotube process allows customers to keep the entire decorating process in-house.
The 24-mandrel machine can reach speeds of up to 150 pieces a minute, depending on ion diameter and length of the tube. The equipment can ensure tolerances of plus or minus 0.02 millimeter, so resolution is very accurate.
Omso is based in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Its U.S. headquarters is in Allendale, N.J.
Tel. 201-825-4641, fax 201 825-3547, e-mail [email protected]
Ampacet color line offers metallic look
Ampacet Corp. has introduced LiquidMetal colors that make PET packaging look like highly reflective metal.
Amapcet's new line features brass, chrome, copper, black onyx, graphite and gunmetal blue colors. LiquidMetal, suited to blow molded and extruded PET, allows packagers to replicate a polished metal look for cosmetics and health aids, and for specialty foods and car-care products, according to the Tarrytown, N.Y., company.
The new masterbatches are based on Ampacet's Formula X technology, which eliminates the need to pre-dry PET colors and allows feeding at the extruder throat. Ampacet claims its new colors provide cost savings and design flexibility compared with polished metal packaging.
Ampacet operates a masterbatch facility in Heath, Ohio.
Tel. 513-247-5412, fax 513-247-5415, e-mail [email protected]
Matereality, Moldflow team up on interface
Matereality LLC, which makes in Internet-based systems for material selection, has worked with Moldflow Corp. to create an interface that sends material properties from Matereality into Moldflow's software for computer- aided engineering for injection molding.
Matereality of Ithaca, N.Y., also has released Miro for Moldflow, a search wizard that extracts material data specific to Moldflow.
Moldflow is based in Framingham, Mass.
Tel. 607-257-1784, e-mail [email protected]
Predis dry process cleans PET preforms
Groupe Sidel has introduced Predis, a dry decontamination system for PET preforms, designed for products that need extended shelf life, such as dairy beverages and fruit juices.
The patented Predis uses hydrogen peroxide vapor on Sidel's Combi system, an integrated blowing, filling and capping machine. Calibrated nozzles deposit the heated hydrogen peroxide vapor, which condenses onto the inside walls of the preform. The preforms are heated in an oven - a conditioning process that guarantees activation of the vapor in the preform.
Dry decontamination uses no water and very little chemicals. It consumes very little energy, according to Sidel.
Applications include all types of preforms used in bi-orientation, such as PET, polypropylene and polylactic acid. Outputs range from 10,000-36,000 bottles an hour.
Sidel is based in Le Havre, France. Its U.S. headquarters, Sidel Inc., is in Norcross, Ga.
Tel. 678-221-3000, fax 678-221-3518.
L. Bandera outlines upgrades to extruders
Luigi Bandera SpA of Busto Arsizio, Italy, has sold its 30th sheet extruder for PET thermoforming sheet, since entering that market in 1999.
Bandera has averaged five PET sheet lines a year during the past four years.
The company has made several improvements to the machines, which use twin-screw co-rotating extruders:
* Multilayer films lamination with an innovative system of unwinding and coating.
* Eventual extrusion coating of composite barrier materials.
* Fully automatic winders to guarantee safety and high speed.
Bandera said its machines allow the use of virgin and recycled PET without the steps of crystallization and dehumidification.
Tel. 39-331-398-152, e-mail [email protected]
Dual spider heads aid PVC pipe making
American Maplan Corp.'s dual spider heads result in higher production rates and PVC pipe with improved physical properties, in diameters of 16-1,300 millimeters.
One of Maplan's most recent designs, the RD 1-7 head, produces pipe from 15-175 millimeters at a maximum rate of 2,200 pounds an hour. Using a single spider die, it would take three different heads to accomplish that rate. The RD 1-7 has five heating zones, while a typical die set has three zones.
The head design creates less back pressure, allowing for better throughput rates and wall-thickness control, reduction in overweight pipe, improved physical properties of the pipe and lower screw and barrel wear, Maplan said. Each RD head can make a wider range of pipe sizes.
American Maplan is based in McPherson, Kan.
Tel. 620-798-2304, fax 620-241-2142, e-mail [email protected]
Briefly ...
Ann Arbor, Mich.-based MGV Enterprises LLC said Montel Plastics Ltd., a testing facility for injection molds in Oldcastle, Ontario, has been registered and trained in MGV's Intellimold melt-pressure control technologies (tel. 734-477-9344). ... El Paso Community College in Texas now offers training from RJG Inc. of Traverse City, Mich. (tel. 231-947-3111). ... American Maplan Corp. of McPherson, Kan., has upgraded its control technology with the BMCtouch system, which includes a 15-inch touch screen, push buttons, an integrated modem and two USB ports. It runs on Windows XP (tel. 620-798-2304). ... Cognex Corp. of Natick, Mass., has added new color capabilities for its VisionPro vision systems. The color offerings now include dedicated tools for color sorting, color identification and color monitoring (tel. 508-650-3000). ... Peabody, Mass.-based hot-runner supplier Synventive Molding Solutions Inc. has established a subsidiary in Shin-Yokohama, Japan, near Tokyo, called Synv
entive Molding Solutions K.K., to focus initially on Tier 1 molders and original equipment manufacturers (tel. 978-750-8065). ... Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik GmbH of Bad Oeyhausen, Germany, recently installed an extrusion line to make large-diameter, polyurethane-insulated pipe at ZAO MosFlowline in Moscow (tel. 49-5731-242-0).