Extrusion will get a full showing at K 2019 — compounding, pipe and profile, medical tubing, and even a touch of pultrusion. Bioresins and recycled materials are among the "green extrusion" highlights.
Here is a sampling of what K showgoers can see:
Coperion and Coperion K-Tron, at (Hall 14, Booth B19) will demonstrate sustainable production, with a focus on recycling and biodegradable plastics. The main themes center on simplified handling, increased efficiency and cost savings — covering both turnkey systems and the areas of compounding, pelletizing, feeding and conveying.
Coperion will show two high-end ZSK Mc-18 type twin-screw extruders with side feeders and side devolatilization. The redesigned systems have extruders with screw diameters of 45 and 78 millimeters. Both extruders have quick removal from and reinstallation to the process section for cleaning or easy screw changes, needing just a few hand movements.
Coperion also plans to show a dual-bearing SP 240 stand pelletizer, as the company has completely reworked its SP series for greatly simplified handling.
Also at K 2019: a redesigned K3 Vibratory Feeder line from Coperion K-Tron, making its debut to the European market. The K3-ML-D5-V200 vibratory feeder will be displayed as part of a recirculating system — with automatic refill provided by a P-Series vacuum receiver and a compact vacuum pump.
The company will also show Coperion K-Tron's SWB-300 weigh belt feeder.
In material handling, show attendees will see the Fluidlift ecoblue pneumatic conveying process for plastic pallet that the company said reduces abrasion and avoids the creation of dust strands.
Buss AG (Hall 16, Booth A59) will present the company's largest system, the new Compeo 110, with a processing length of 18 L/D, including a downstream side feeder along the new conical twin-screw discharge unit.
In that configuration, the system is suitable for compounding filled and reinforced thermoplastics, including natural fiber-reinforced and bio-based as well as halogen-free, flame-retardant cable compounds.
Along with the Compeo 88, the 110 are two higher-throughput models of Buss' Compeo range of compounding systems. The smaller Compeo 55 was introduced a year ago.
The Compeo 88, with a processing length of 25 L/D, is optimized for compounding black or colored masterbatches. It can be fitted with one or two additional side feeders. Buss has sold the first Compeo 88 to a European masterbatch manufacturer.
In other compounding extruder news at K 2019, KraussMaffei will again highlight the twin-screw ZE BluePower series — now in a large-size version. Four of the big machines, with throughput ranges of 2,500 kilograms per hour and higher, will be available immediately after the K show.
KraussMaffei extrusion equipment will be displayed at Hall 15, Booth B27.
"Since its market launch in 2013, the ZE BluePower has gained a strong foothold in the market for a wide range of compounding tasks as well as for reaction and degassing applications," said Matthias Sieverding, president of KraussMaffei's extrusion technology segment. "The new series is designed for large national and international compounding companies with high production capacities, where maximum reliability in 24/7 operation is a must."
ZE BluePower twin-screw extruders combine a large free-volume and high specific torque for compounding engineering plastics and even highly filled formulations, KM said.
Davis-Standard LLC (Hall 16, Booth A43) will show a well-rounded range of extrusion-related equipment, including Maillefer machinery for extrusion coating of wire and cable, and producing pipe and tubing, blown film equipment from Gloucester Engineering and Brampton Engineering and formers from Thermoforming Systems.
The main theme: Davis-Standard's support of a circular economy.
"Our exhibit will highlight an excellent cross-section of technology at our booth," said Jim Murphy, Davis-Standard's president and CEO. "We will also share progress on our product lines and continual efforts to improve customer service responsiveness. K 2019 will also mark the second anniversary of our acquisition of Maillefer. This partnership has significantly broadened Davis-Standard's reach and capabilities throughout Europe and the Middle East and Africa regions."
Highlights at K 2019 will include the DS Activ-Check, a "smart" system that alerts machine operators to potential machine failures, so they can do preventative maintenance. Key parameters monitored include extruder reducer, lubrication system, motor characteristics, the drive power unit and barrel heating and cooling.
Maillefer's Bluebox is the unit's Industry 4.0 strategy, showing data correlated into dashboards.
Davis-Standard will also show equipment for medical and automotive applications, including silicone technology for producing medical-grade silicone tubes, wound drains and catheters, as well as elastomer processing of hydraulic and automotive hoses and automotive seals.
In profile, pipe and tubing extrusion, the company will show applications including automotive fuel and vapor tubes, micro-drip irrigation laterals, heating and plumbing pipe, blown fiber micro-duct, medical tubes offshore flexible pipe, custom pipe and tubing, and wire and cable.
Also new: the Series 510A die for extrusion coating, and blown film technology from the partnership of Gloucester Engineering and Brampton, including the GEC Extrol control systems and the Vector air ring.
Davis-Standard also plans to promote its global aftermarket and technical services.
Graham Engineering Corp. (Hall 16, Booth A71) will show its companywide Navigator controller for medical tubing at K 2019.
Navigator uses an industrial PC with a Windows platform. Navigator controls are now available on American Kuhne extrusion systems for medical tubing, profiles and wire and cable.
At K 2019, Graham Engineering will show an American Kuhne medical extrusion system with an XC300 Navigator control making a tri-layer tubing line using three compact, modular, extruders.
Moving on to the pultrusion process — the continuous pulling-extrusion of fiber-reinforced profiles — KraussMaffei will show parts for automotive and construction made on its iPul system, which can run up to 3 meters per minute. KM introduced the turnkey iPul line in 2017. Two big markets: window profiles and concrete rebar.
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