German biocompounder Tecnaro GmbH has doubled its production capacity, thanks to a new KraussMaffei Berstorff compounding line.
In June 21 statement, KraussMaffei Berstorff said the bioplastics specialist will use the new twin-screw extruder to meet the increasing demand for tailored alternative plastics compounds, cost-effectively and in large volumes.
Based in Ilsfeld-Auenstein, Germany, Tecnaro specializes in technologies for the industrial use of renewable raw materials in plastics processing.
The company offers lignin-based compounds, known as Arboform, for loudspeakers, musical instruments, toys, design objects or urns. It also supplies the biodegradable raw materials of the Arboblend series for packaging, office supplies, household items, film and sheet.
A third Tecnaro product line is based on filled compounds made from renewable raw materials.
Tecnaro produces the biocompounds on twin-screw extruders.
"We started with second-hand machines, one of which was originally delivered by KraussMaffei Berstorff. This is one of the reasons why we opted again for a compounding line from Hannover," said Jürgen Pfitzer, chief executive officer of Tecnaro GmbH.
The recently installed new line is a ZE Basic 62 twin-screw extruder for a maximum output rate of 800 kilograms per hour.
"The possible scale-up of our formulations for the production of larger quantities of specific compounds on the new extruder is of decisive importance to us," Pfitzer added.
The twin-screw extruders of the ZE Basic series are versatile and suitable for about 80 percent of all plasticising, filling and reinforcing applications without requiring any major equipment modification, according to KM Berstorff.
The series comprises a total of four extruder sizes with diameters ranging between 42 and 77 mm and output rates of up to three tonnes/hour.