Davis-Standard: Fibermaster® II Specialized for Non-Wovens Industry
To address the evolving demands of the non-wovens industry, Davis-Standard, LLC has engineered the Fibermaster® II extruder to support every fiber application. The Fibermaster, built for durability and operating efficiency, is designed specifically for monofilament, multifilament, spunbond and meltblown processes. Key advantages include the capacity to process a variety of resins including materials with a high recycled content and machine versatility for processing complex bi-component structures. Fibermaster extruders have a solid track record among industry-leading OEM’s for support of applications within the hygienic, medical disposable, hazardous materials, filtration, staple fiber, carpet and furniture markets. The Fibermaster has also been effective in laboratory and university/college environments for research and development.
‘This extruder is unique in that it offers dedicated technology for the fiber industry. It is not an off-the-shelf machine,’ said John Plante, product manager of Davis-Standard’s fiber systems. ‘The Fibermaster is a premium extruder package that combines efficiency with performance to reduce operating costs and provide a long-term return on investment. This is especially important as producers look to reduce material costs. The Fibermaster is equipped to effectively process just about any material, and Davis-Standard extruders are known to last up to 40 years or more.’
The Fibermaster is especially advantageous for bi-component structures, in-line alloying/blending or color applications where quality control and outputs are critical. The machine can be combined with another Fibermaster or Davis-Standard extruder to achieve ‘A’ and ‘B’ output ratios ranging from 80/20 to 50/50 to 20/80. Davis-Standard solutions enable multiple polymers to be processed using the same extruder and feedscrew to avoid unnecessary screw changes, and screws can be designed to be interchangeable from the ‘A’ to the ‘B’ extruder. Davis-Standard’s extensive feedscrew technology covers the full range of polymers including PA 6, PA 66, PET, PP, PE, CO-PET, PPS, TPU and recycled resins, among others.
Superior energy efficiency is achieved component by component. The Fibermaster’s thermal expansion helical gear cases have a mechanical efficiency of 95 percent or better. A fully cored feed throat enables process heat segregation, and highly efficient heaters ensure a rapid set point time. In addition, the extruder is available with zone cooling blowers or water cooling capabilities. The air-cooled machines are equipped with high volume blowers for effective heat removal. Water-cooled machines are available for applications requiring higher heat removal efficiency. Both feature a wide selection of gearbox ratios to maximize kilowatt per kilogram per hour (kw/kg/hr) value.
The Fibermaster is available in 2-inch (50 mm), 2 1/2-inch (65 mm), 3-inch (75 mm), 3 1/2-inch (90 mm), 4-inch (100 mm), 4 1/2-inch (130mm) and 6-inch (150 mm) models with L/D’s from 24:1 to 34:1. The extruder and feedscrews can be engineered to meet specific process specifications. The Fibermaster is also designed to be compatible with systems offered by most major fiber equipment suppliers.