STUTTGART, GERMANY -- Modular compounding system orders from Hexpol AB have allowed Coperion GmbH to offer those products to customers in China and throughout Asia.
Coperion -- an extruder maker based in Stuttgart, Germany -- added modular system assembly at its site in Shanghai in late 2011. Hexpol -- a producer of plastic and rubber materials based in Malmo, Sweden -- placed its first modular order with Coperion in January 2012. The system was installed at the firm's plant in Foshan, China. Hexpol followed up that first order with an order for a twin-screw laboratory compounder in mid-2012.
Hexpol "is using the modular plant for the production of high-quality TPE compounds that satisfy all requirements," compounding technology President Carsten Ruter said in a recent news release. "These products are also internationally competitive and therefore enable us to expand our presence in China to a decisive extent."
Coperion's decision to add local assembly of modular systems "was a clear commitment to the importance of the Far Eastern market- - and very quickly proved to be right," Shanghai machinery and systems managing director Andreas Mussle added in the release.
"We have received more orders and are confident that things will go as smooth...as experienced with the modular system for Hexpol," he said. "There is an enormous and widespread interest in modularized compounding systems, so we are sure that our new assembly facility will be fully loaded soon."
The core equipment of Coperion's modular compounding system, officials said, is a twin-screw extruder (ZSK) with 82 millimeter diameter screws capable of a maximum output of 1,800 kilograms per hour. The extruder is suitable for different TPE formulations without any need for conversion.
Officials added that one of the most important user benefits of Coperion's modular concept is the standard floor-level installation of the ZSK 82 Mc18, which permits ready access during normal operation -- especially for cleaning when changing over from one product to another - and also for maintenance and repair.
K-Tron gravimetric feeding systems are integrated into the modular compounding system. Coperion and K-Tron are both operating companies in Hillenbrand's Process Equipment Group.
The handling systems for the raw and finished products were also designed and supplied by Coperion in Shanghai. Coperion opened its Shanghai site in 1997 and has expanded the site several times in its 16-year history.
