News Aplenty In Extrusion

Last month brought a spate of developments that extrusion processors should find interesting. Here’s a rundown of three of them:

•Known primarily for its strong position in robotics and injection molding machinery and related auxiliaries, Wittmann Battenfeld says it is positioning itself to become a force in extrusion as well. The company, whose U.S. operations are based in Torrington, Conn., is focusing on materials handling, drying, blending, and other auxiliaries for pipe, profile, film, sheet, and compounding, as well as blow molding and thermoforming.

As part of that effort, the company has teamed with Custom Downstream Systems (CDS) of Quebec to offer a broad range of extrusion downstream equipment such as tanks, pullers, combo units, cutters, hauloffs, and medical processing equipment. What’s more, Wittmann Battenfeld has added extrusion-specific auxiliaries of its own to its line, such as yield control, edge-trim handling, and fluff reclaim. The company recently hired Joe Norco, a 20-yr veteran in material handling, as its national sales manager for extrusion.

•There’s a new supplier of equipment for blown and cast film. Global Die & Extrusion Technology Inc., Brampton, Ont., was launched in October, offering extruders, dies, bubble cages, and a variety of other equipment. The startup company also offers an exclusive process-simulation software called Pro/Process. This package is said to allow processors to simulate within minutes how a multilayer die will operate when processing a variety of resins through the system.

•There’s also a new source of pelletizers for North America. ADG Solutions, Fairfield, Conn., is offering water-ring pelletizers built by Italy’s Filtec S.a.s. Its first product is the Filtec GRO water-ring pelletizer, available in outputs from 90 to 11,000 lb/hr. “Compared to other water-ring systems, this pelletizer exhibits a longer working life and cuts downtime for job changeovers and maintenance,” states ADG president Sandy Guthrie. “Its one-piece design, with fully integrated cutting chamber, water system, and dryer, eliminates complications like extra piping and water overflows,” he adds.