Feddem GmbH & Co. KG, a maker of parallel twin-screw extruders in Sinzig, Germany, has developed a concept for flexible compounding lines, together with its sister company, compounder Akro-Plastic GmbH.
It is based on Feddem's FED MTS twin-screw extruder technology. Akro-Plastic has used the technology for decades, but it has been continuously improved in close partnership with Feddem.
Now the line has been expanded to include extruders with screw diameters between 26-82 millimeters. FED MTS machines offer a lot of flexibility in terms of the materials that can be processed. Because the melting and homogenization process is gentle on the materials, you can process a variety of polymers without losing time retrofitting the compounding line, according to Feddem.
The extruders can run biopolymers, polyolefins, engineering plastics such as nylon or polybutylene terephthalate, and high-temperature-resistance materials such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
By using an extension unit and a side feeder, the FED MTS allows greater use of fillers and reinforcing materials. For example, an installation that had made a 50 percent glass-filled nylon compound now can produce a highly filled polyolefin.
The side feeder can be done easily by modifying an existing side vacuum degassing unit.
“Depending on the size of the plant, the retrofit can be completed in a short period of time. This results in a high degree of flexibility with a minimal investment,” said Dieter Gross, Feddem's managing director.
Feddem exhibited at K 2016 — it's third K show as an exhibitor. The company showed a scale model of its ICX technology (Innovative Compounding and Extrusion) for supplying complete compounding lines, as well as a FED 26 MTS extruder for pilot plant production, with enhanced wear reduction.
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