By Ron Shinn
Extruder manufacturer Battenfeld-Cincinnati added a smaller version to its high-speed solEX NG line when it debuted the solEX NG 45 at K 2022.
The line previously consisted of four models — the solEX NG 60, 75, 90 and 120. The number in each model’s name refers to the screw diameter. NG stands for next generation.
The new extruder has a processing unit consisting of an internally grooved barrel and matching screw geometry. This ensures the highest-possible quality standard for the extruded, semi-finished product, the company said.
The entire solEX NG series achieves a 25 percent higher output when processing HDPE and up to 40 percent higher output when processing PP, Battenfeld-Cincinnati said. Melt temperature is reduced by up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, compared with conventional extruders.
The five NG series machines use about 15 percent less energy than predecessor solEX extruders, the company said.
The controller is Battenfeld-Cincinnati’s BCtouch UX, which supports OPC-UA protocols and Industry 4.0 functions. It can be mounted directly on the extruder cabinet or a mobile stand. The user interface is customizable to every operator in terms of language, preferred icons and screen configuration. Up to seven extruders can be integrated into one control.
In another technology improvement announced at K 2022, Battenfeld-Cincinnati unveiled a software module called Steady flow to eliminate pulsations in the material flow when processing PVC in a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder.
The pulsations are caused by configuration of the two screws. Steady flow measures melt pressure in front of the extrusion die and constantly adjusts the screw speed to eliminate fluctuations. The company has applied for a patent.
The German machinery manufacturer also unveiled a new pelletizing extruder series for PVC, the aglomEX, suitable for both dry blend and recycled PCR material.
The aglomEX counter-rotating parallel twin screw extruder series initially has two variations — with and without an electrically driven shear gap adjustment — and is based on the company’s established twinEX models. It is available in 93mm, 114mm and 135mm screw diameters. The series has a 34:1 L:D, which results in about a 20 percent higher throughput than previous PVC pelletizing extruders.
Ron Shinn, editor
Contact:
Battenfeld-Cincinnati USA, McPherson, Kan., 620-241-6843, www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com
Ron Shinn | Editor
Editor Ron Shinn is a co-founder of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and has been covering the plastics industry for more than 35 years. He leads the editorial team, directs coverage and sets the editorial calendar. He also writes features, including the Talking Points column and On the Factory Floor, and covers recycling and sustainability for PMM and Plastics Recycling.
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