Wittmann Battenfeld Inc. features the Aton H-Series beside-the-press dryer as part of its Wittmann 4.0 technology display in Booth W3742 at NPE2018.
The dryer was developed to link with the Wittmann 4.0 communication protocol.
The dryer has a 5.7-inch color touch screen that is larger than the previous Aton model's screen.
Other features are a chain-driven segment-wheel dryer, a three-save process and an Eco-mode feature to optimize the drying process.
The three-save process involves an improved material heat-up phase so the "hot" segment is fed directly — running dried air over the heater to utilize the entire element — and counterflow-regeneration, heating the desiccant in reverse direction to the process air flow.
Initially, Wittmann introduced the Aton portable segmented wheel dryer series in 2011. Development on the new Aton H-Series model started in 2016, said Nick Paradiso, division manager for materials handling and auxiliaries.
"Wittmann continues to innovate its product lines to be in the forefront of emerging technology," he said.
Manufacturing of Aton dryers occurs at the company's material handling headquarters in Wolkersdorf, Austria, with final execution assembly at the U.S. headquarters in Torrington, Conn.
The equipment maker will use the theme "Pathway to 4.0" at NPE2018 and show six injection molding machine work cells with integrated robots, automation, material handling and auxiliary equipment. Each will showcase the features and benefits of Wittmann 4.0.
Sections of the booth will be dedicated to specific products, including a robot and automation section, and several displays of auxiliary equipment.
A range of material handling systems and auxiliary equipment will operate in the booth:
• A central material handling system showcasing both Wittmann M7.3 central control platforms and new Teachbox Net 5 control platforms.
• Central drying system with the Drymax 1200 FC Plus redundant dryer technology, Silmax Smartflow technology with material saver function, new modular Silmax 5000L drying hopper, and new modular Silmax 2000L-auger model for use with hard flowing materials or PET crystallization processes.
• Self-contained S3 net loaders, Feedmax central loaders and MC balance throat-mounted feeders; a new S-Max screenless granulator line, G-Max conventional granulators and below-the-mold auger-feed granulators.
• Gravimax blenders with real-time-live-scale technology.
Interactive Wittmann 4.0 demonstrations will allow molders to experience the Internet of Things connectivity and artificial intelligence technology in the equipment.
Vienna, Austria-based parent firm Wittmann Kunststoffgeräte GmbH has seven production facilities, 31 subsidiaries and 24 agencies in 52 countries.
The firm moved production for its bulk material handling department to Wolkersdorf in October 2015. The site assembles single and central material loaders, compact and central material dryers and blenders, has a large warehouse and displays bulk material handling systems in a 2,906-square-foot exhibition floor space.
