Strictly-Extrusion

New Auxiliary Equipment / TSM Control Systems (www.tsm-controls.com) is now offering plastics producers new ways to weather the economic storm and improve their profit margins. New TSM technology focuses on combining standard processing requirements; accurate dosing and homogeneous material mixing, with a third critical component when processing regrind and flake materials: material head pressure.
This new downforce amplifier developed and patented by TSM offers further downward head pressure to the existing cramming action created by the patented reverse flight auger which TSM offer on each of its batch blender range. The downforce amplifier ensures that material throughput and hence production speed can be maximized when processing difficult regrind materials.

TSM understands the problems facing many customers with difficult regrind materials, and this latest development will not only improve material flow and mixing characteristics but also enables higher percentage regrind processing while eliminating material throat blockages.

This patented technological advance allows the processing of even the most difficult flake regrinds by being able to cram materials into the throat of the extruder eliminating variations in flow due to bulk density variations. TSM now have a unique solution for difficult regrind materials combining their new downforce amplifier with their existing patented reverse flight auger mixer, guaranteeing homogenous mixing, regardless of regrind percentages, material density or material geometry while cramming mixed material into the throat of the extruder.

Songwon (http://www.songwonind.com), a leading additives supplier to the polymer industry, announces the development of a new range of UV additive solutions. The new products named SONGLIGHT® 2790 GR and SONGLIGHT 2930 GR are 100% UV active systems consisting of synergistic blends of several additives. The new combinations deliver very good UV protection of plastics compared with standard UV formulations and are particularly suitable for thick plastic sections, where surface & colour protection are key to the customer’s end use applications under severe UV irradiation.

The company Ampacet has introduced an ultraviolet-light absorber (UVA) masterbatch for thin gauge polyolefin films designed to protect packaged contents from UV light damage. Compared to conventional UVAs, the new masterbatch offers improved content protection for thin gauge film applications with fewer problems due to additive migration. Click here for more information

The company BinMaster has announced that its PROCAP flexible, extendable capacitance probe is ideal for sensing lump material at distances up to 35 feet (1070mm). This probe is suitable for use with any material that might bend, damage or break a rigid probe, incl.all types of plastic pellets. For more information, visit www.binmaster.com.

Now there are two ways to stay in touch with Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC (EDI), the leader in flat-die technology for film, sheet, and coating. Connect to EDI via these links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EDIGlobal
Twitter: www.twitter.com/EDIGlobal

The Italian company Colines (www.colines.it) has launched a PP & LLDPE combi extrusion line which is able to produce both stretch film (jumbo rolls, CPP rolls and CPP embossed rolls) and cast film up to 600mm. It is reported that extremely low thicknesses (8 to 12 µm) can be produced. More information: click here

Canadian film and sheet extrusion machinery manufacturer, Macro Engineering & Technology Inc. (www.macroeng.com), has received a patent for its recently upgraded automatic air ring – the D10 PRO Automatic Dual Lip Air Ring.The latest upgrades to the D10 PRO were created to simplify the operation of the air ring. Upgrades included new valves and motors for each control zone to improve reliability and redesigned software for faster and simpler startups. Installation has also been simplified by replacing heavy connection cables with a pair of light power and communication cables.
The company utilizes two general scanning methods with it’s automatic air ring; a traditional rotating scanner system that senses the film thickness as the bubble rises in the tower, and a flat scanner system that takes film thickness readings after the bubble has been collapsed. “Both systems provide advantages,” states Macro’s R&D Director, Felix Guberman. “The flat system allows the use a wider range of non-nuclear scanners such as infrared, X-ray or ultrasound and can complete scans quicker. The rotating scanner setup requires less complicated setup and software.”

Low density polyethylene is one of the oldest plastics – and continues to be in demand. LDPE is primarily used for films, carrying bags, and sacks, but can also be used to reinforce levees, for example.  Screw caps and lids are also produced from this soft, ductile, and flexible material.  LDPE can hold its ground against competition from newer plastics, as a result of its advantageous characteristics:  low melting point, high clarity, and good process-ability.  “The trend of substituting LDPE with other polymers is declining again throughout the industrialized nations,” says Oliver Kutsch, owner of Ceresana Research: “Opportunities for LDPE can be seen, for example, in the application of coatings and packaging for medical products.  These applications will recover relatively quickly from the effects of the economical crisis.”

Recovery in Sight

LDPE prices fell by as much as 30 percent in certain regions during 2009, and Western Europe and North America exhibited considerable decreases in demand. Consequently, global revenue fell by 15.9 billion € (22.2 billion US$).  However, Ceresana Research expects to see growth again starting in 2011.  The Asia Pacific region in particular, already the largest consumer of LDPE, will see growth and increase its share of global consumption to more than 39 percent.

Upsurge in the Middle East

LDPE production is particularly being expanded in the oil-rich countries of the Middle East:  Capacity increases of approximately 3.5 million tons are planned to take place by 2014.  Accordingly, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, and the other countries that make up the region will be the world’s largest plastic exporters.

A Useful Reference Work

The multi-client Market Study: Polyethylene – LDPE provides a concise overview of the most important information regarding this plastic on 870 pages: from manufacturing, to legal questions, to recycling.  Then the LDPE market is closely analyzed– including prognoses until 2016: Individual data regarding production and capacities, consumption in individual application areas, as well as imports and exports is presented for the entire world, seven regions, and in detail for 67 countries.  The study is particularly extensive in its analysis of the 12 countries with the highest revenues.  Current and future LDPE manufacturers are introduced with 87 company profiles.  The world’s most comprehensive market report on LDPE is available immediately in English or German from Ceresana Research: www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/plastics/polyethylene-ldpe/