Compounding, mixing, blending systems: product lines reviewed.

only four mixing elements are needed to achieve a dramatic improvement in die performance. T.E.D.D. elements occupy a length of less than two pipe diameters and are also compact enough to be installed in the throat of the die input or adapter on all standard sizes of blown film dies.

KRAMER INDUSTRIES, INC.

Company's drum tumbler for dry-color blending uses end-over-end tumbling motion for mixing. Material is held in removable bins.

LCI, CORP. APV CHEMICAL MACHINERY, INC.

Offers compounding systems with production rates of 20 to 20,000 lb/hr. The MCP/V line is a twin-screw, highshear, continuous compounder with barrel valve for variable shear, a melt extruder, pelletizer, and pellet-quenching system for compounding color concentrates, reinforced thermoplastics, and other materials.

The Ko-Kneader line has a single-screw kneader/mixer, power feed, melt extruder and pellet system. It is used for low-shear compounding of PE, PP, PVC, barrier resins and engineering thermoplastics.

The MP2000 Series twin-screw compounders feature segmented barrels that allow barrel length to be changed. Hexagonal shafts are reported to improve torque. Sizes range from 15 to 200 mm.

Company also supplies a CST micro-processor-based control system for compounding, which is capable of storing up to 10 recipes with up to 15 setpoints for each recipe.

APV GAULIN CORP., INC.

Supplies homogenizers and reciprocating high-pressure pumps.

AARON EQUIPMENT CO. DIV. OF ARECO, INC.

Manufactures ribbon and double-cone blenders in stainless and carbon steel for use with resins and powders or colors. A double-sigma blade mixer in carbon steel is available with extruder discharge. A 300-gal double-arm mixer extruder with roller bearings and split packing glands can be directly connected to a gear reducer of up to 200 hp. The front blade speed is 30 rpm; rear blade speed is 17 rpm. The 13-in.-diam. screw is located in the bottom between the tangent point of the two half cylinders that form the bowl and is directly connected to a reversible hydraulic motor. Screw can run from 0 to 30 rpm in either direction while maintaining full torque. Unit has a 75-hp motor, pump, reservoir, and heat exchanger. Bowl and extruder housing, including the portion that extends beyond the end wall, is jacketed for steam, water, or oil heating to 100 psi at 300 F.

PAUL O. ABBE, INC.

Single- and double-shaft ribbon mixers and sigma-blade mixers are offered for dry or wet mixing, including liquid addition if required. The new Forberg II twin-shaft mixer is said to offer very high-speed, high-efficiency mixing using mechanical fluidization. The above are also available as dryers, either vacuum or atmospheric.

Company also offers double-cone, "V" and cylindrical tumbling blenders and dryers. Blenders can be used for coating via liquid spray, while dryers are suitable for high-temperature, secondary polymerization, and solid stating at high vacuum. The Roto-Blade paddle dryer provides large volume drying under vacuum to very low final moisture. Company's range of equipment is completed with ball and pebble mills for size reduction.

ACRISON, INC.

Model 350 multipurpose blender is designed for continuous mixing of dry materials. Unit features two concentrically mounted augers, which operate at different speeds to mix the material. Blender can coat pelletized products with lubricant or release agent, blend dry powders into masterbatches, and add lubricants or colors. Output range is 1.2 to 5100 cu ft/hr. Quick-disconnect and sanitary models are available.

ADMIRAL EQUIPMENT CO. SUB. OF DOW CHEMICAL CO.

Designs blending systems for reinforced and nonreinforced liquid systems such as urethanes. Storage tanks, valves and piping, weighing and blending stations, control circuitry, and material conditioning units for liquid chemicals and fillers are offered. Tank sizes are available up to 30,000 gal in both mild and stainless steel. Optional electronic packages permit central monitoring and control of the entire system.

ADVANCED PROCESS TECHNOLOGY

(Formerly Amplan, Inc.) A line of electrically heated, agitated vacuum/pressure tanks is offered for batch heating, degassing, and mixing in sizes from 2 to 75 gal. Continuous thin-film deaeration systems are also available.

AMERICAN BARMAG CORP.

Company represents KAH/Mixaco's mixing equipment, from universal mixers to container mixers, to high-speed heating/cooling mixers, as well as densifiers and calendering equipment.

AMERICAN LEISTRITZ EXTRUDER CORP.

Offers corotating and counterrotating twin-screw extruders and complete hot-face pelletizing lines for compounding and scrap reprocessing. Screw diameters are from 18 to 135 mm for outputs from under 10 lb/hr to 8000 lb/hr. All machines are modular and have segmented screws. A universal laboratory extruder has attachments for single-screw and three twin-screw modes of operation.

New from company: A convertible 18-mm twin-screw extruder, designed for lab and medical applications, has through-put in the 1- to 12-lb/hr range. The unit may be operated in any or all of the major twin-screw compounding modes: corotating intermeshing, and counterrotating nonintermeshing. Segmented barrels are electrically heated and internally cooled via air or liquid. The machine is self-contained on a roll-around frame. A 3-hp DC motor drives a reduction gear that feeds a distribution gear/thrust bearing for the chosen screw mode.

ANDRITZ SPROUT-BAUER, INC.

Four types of solids mixers are offered for use in granular or powder compounding. The first three types permit limited liquid addition (e.g., plasticizers and colorants):

* The ribbon mixer for heavy-duty mixing has a counterflow action for thorough mixing in a short time. It's available with heating/cooling jacketing.

* Counterrotating twin-agitator system gives intensive action for blending of viscous liquids with granular or powdered raw materials.

* Air-mix gives batch blends quickly from 1 to 3000 cu ft, using compressed air to supply the mixing action.

* Vertical screw mixer is recommended for blending regrind scrap with virgin in pellet form.

ARMORFLITE INC.

Supplies a modular dynamic mixing head for extruders that reportedly increases the melt capacity of the extruder and improves homogeneity of the melt, while limiting backpressure to 120-250 psi. Named the Mark-I Dynastic mixer, the system can adapt to individual processors' needs. Company's tests are said to show that the mixer does the work of 8 to 10 screw flights in plasticating and mixing.

Also available is the Mark-IV thermomixer, which combines a heat exchanger with a static mixer. Cooling oil is circulated through the blades of the mixer for close temperature control. The blades are test-rated to 50,000 psi and backpressure is limited to 250 psi.

BALL & JEWELL DIV. STERLING, INC.

Offers the Tumble Master, a drum tumbler featuring dual-drum mixing and high production rates. Designed for continuous operation, the unit is constructed of heavy-gauge steel. Mixing capacity ranges up to 300 lb/drum. A 1-hp drive is standard; 2-hp drive is optional. A timer package is also offered to control the mixing cycle to ensure uniform mixing. The unit is designed to meet current safety standards.

BEPEX CORP.

Offers a high-speed, high-shear continuous mixer to blend solids with solids, liquids, or gasses. It comes in six sizes from 8- to 30-in. diam., has adjustable shear and impact action, and may be jacketed for heating and cooling. Paddles are adjustable for varying retention time.

Company's nonintensive ribbon blenders for dry and dry-liquid blending have capacities of 2 to 680 cu ft and are used for mixing additives and pigments into powders and pellets. Agitator assembly with inner and outer ribbons provides a gentle mixing action and is recommended especially for mixing small amounts of critical ingredients with large amounts of matrix material. Batch or continuous operation is offered.

Company also supplies a unit for mixing and extruding paste and plastic materials. Unit produces a continuous mixing and kneading action on materials discharging through an orifice plate that provides size and mixing control. Unit is also jacketed for heating or cooling.

BERSTORFF CORP.

Company offers the following extruders and systems:

* Twin-screw corotating, intermeshing extruders from 1 to 12 in. for compounding, reinforcing, filling and masterbatch production. Specialty designs are available for melt-fed compounding, devolatilizing, and reactive compounding.

* Single-screw extruder line, up to 24-in., consists of melt- and pellet-fed homogenizing, devolatilizing, straining, pelletizing, and specialty designs.

* Single-screw, vertical/horizontal tandem extruder up to 14 in./16 in. combination for highly filled PVC and specialty designs for scrap reclaim of polyolefins and PET.

* Planetary-gear extruders for rigid and flexible PVC compounding and calender feeding reportedly provide excellent temperature control.

* Pelletizers for the above extruders include water-ring, underwater, and hot-die-face types.

* Foam extrusion systems, single or tandem lines, are available for PS, PE, and PVC foam.

BLACK CLAWSON CO. CONVERTING MACHINERY DIV.

In conjunction with company's pelletizers, single-screw extruders, homogenizers, devolatizers and compounders are available in standard sizes ranging from 2 1/2 to 20 in.

STEWART BOLLING CO., INC.

See Kobelco Stewart Bolling Inc.

C.W. BRABENDER INSTRUMENTS

The Prep Mixer, a high-shear, fluxing, intensive mixer, is designed for lab or pilot-plant mixing of plastics. Mixing capacities are about 1/3 to 1/2 qt. Liquid or electrical heating is available.

Company's two-roll Prep Mill with a 4-in. diam x 8-in. work area on the rolls is also for lab use. Roll gap is adjustable from 5 to 195 mils; drive speed is adjustable between 10 and 30 rpm.

A twin-screw continuous mixer is designed for high-shear mixing at rates up to 25 lb/hr. It features counterrotating, intermeshing 1.65-in.-diam. screws.

BRAN & LUEBBE, INC.

Manufactures liquid metering/proportioning pumps and systems that are used for in-line blending of two or more liquids. Units handle pressures up to 50,000 psi and viscosities up to 100,000 cps at outputs to 23,000 gal/hr. Liquids can include resins, catalysts, colorants and promoters.

CARL G. BRIMMEKAMP & CO., INC.

Distributes the Collin 7K-50 laboratory twin-screw extruder from Dr. Collin GmbH of Germany. This unit can be made counter- or corotating with a single gear change. Segmented screws and barrels are standard. Closed, vented and feed-port barrels, and numerous configurations are available. Screw diameter is 50 mm, processing lengths vary from 9: to 18:1 L/D, and maximum output is 50 lb/hr. Measuring equipment and micro-processor controls are optional.

BUSS AMERICA, INC.

Buss-Kneaders are continuous, reciprocating single-screw, intensive-fluxing units for mixing and dispersing thermoplastics and thermosets. These units feature special profiled screw flights and rows of kneading teeth in the barrel section, plus a reciprocating screw action to provide intensive kneading. Primary applications include rigid and plasticized PVC, polyolefins, engineering plastics, masterbatching, and RP blending.

Buss-Kneader continuous calender-feed systems have capacities from 40 to 15,000 lb/hr. Axial and radial mixing are said to offer exceptional plasticating, dispersing and homogenizing of polymer with additives prior to calendering. The unit processes plasticized and nonplasticized PVC and is said to give wide formulation flexibility and to be suited to feeding all calender types and sizes.

The company also carries Waeschle Subsystems' PGM pneumatic blender for pellets and the WGM blender for powder and pellets. The PGM blender has only one internal blending tube with low energy requirements. Capacity range is 50 to 21,000 cu ft. The WGM gravity blending system comes in models with capacities of 200 to 2300 cu ft.

CENTER LINE MACHINERY DIV. LYNCH INDUSTRIES

Product line includes intensive internal mixers, mills, ribbon blenders, and drum tumblers.

CHEM-MIXX TECHNOLOGY DIV. TRA-CON INC.

Manufactures a line of metering, mixing and dispensing equipment for use with epoxies, polyesters, and urethanes, including a complete line of static mixers of stainless steel and/or disposable construction.

CHEMINEER-KENICS

Offers the following motionless mixing elements:

* The Thermogenizer for extrusion delivers homogenized melt streams to the die and has mixing capacity independent of extruder output.

* Heat exchangers (multitube and jacketed pipe) use Kenics elements to enhance heat transfer in polymer melt and foam. All units are compact, heavy-duty, have no moving parts, and provide economical and efficient continuous heating and cooling.

CLEVELAND-EASTERN MIXERS EMI INC.

Manufactures static mixers, which reportedly achieve a uniform, controlled degree of shear and flow. Unique element shape is simple to manufacture and provides lower-cost mixing than competitive shapes, according to the company.

COLORTRONIC

See K-Tron, Colortronic & Co.

CONAIR FRANKLIN THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Models 5000 and 3000 metering blenders for pellets and regrind can blend up to 5000 and 3000 lb/hr, respectively. The supply hopper of each blender is divided according to the number of components (up to six) to be metered and mixed together.

The Autocolor for metering and mixing colorants and additives with resins and regrind features automatic volumetric loading, additive metering, and mixing. Models offer ratio loading, integral or remote vacuum dual metering for additives at speeds up to 600 lb/hr.

The Feeder and Micro-feeder mix materials as they flow through into the throat of the process machine. Coupled with the company's Intermixer, Handy-Hopper, and Resin Loader, a mixing station is available for on-the-machine loading, coloring, and mixing.

Conomix and Micro-Conomix compounding blenders meter and continuously agitate up to four materials. They can be mounted directly on the processing machine or used as central blenders. Rates are adjustable up to 3000 lb/hr. DC-driven, microprocessor-controlled augers are available in a wide range of sizes. Calibration ports are said to provide easy sampling with no disassembly.

The new Conair Gravicon is a 4-component gravimetric weigh blender, which includes microprocessor control and loading functions.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY DIV. INVESTMENT HOLDINGS GROUP LTD.

Distributes the Plas Mec (Italian) line of Turbomixers and auxiliary components for temperature regulation and vacuum mixing, which range in capacity from 80 to 800 kg per loading. Volumetric displacement capacities run from 200 to 2000 liters. Also available are a series of horizontal ribbon blenders for cold mixing of temperature-sensitive materials, and special systems for combination heating and cooling with mixing. Automatic systems for charging the mixers are available, as well as systems for "containerizing" the finished blends. Laboratory-sized systems are also available.

CORNELL MACHINE CO.

Versator solid/liquid blender can mix and blend two or more components. Recommended for products such as coatings and pastes, it disperses one or more finely divided solids into liquids and will simultaneously deaerate. A disc in the vacuum chamber revolves at speeds from 900 to 6000 rpm. A broad viscosity range can be handled.

CUSTOM SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

Company's specialty is laboratory and pilot-plant mixing extruders that operate on the elastic-melt principle. A screw-less extruder uses the elastic-energy storage characteristics of polymer melts for mixing and extrusion. Residence time is said to be short (typically, 20-31 sec), and the amount of shear applied to the melt and the degree of mixing reportedly can be varied.

Two models are available: one with a 2-in. diam. rotor and 1/4-in. outlet die, and the other with a 3/4-in. diam. rotor and 1/8-in. outlet die. Temperature controls are provided for rotor and die; and water-cooling channels regulate the temperature of the feed hopper. System handles pellet, powder, flake or crumb. Typical applications for the unit include compounding, polymer blending, fiber melt spinning, and pelletizing.

DAVIS-STANDARD DIV. CROMPTON & KNOWLES CORP.

Manufactures a twin-screw corotating and counterrotating intermeshing extruder (sizes 30 to 128 mm) called D-tex. The D-tex patented gearbox allows selection of either corotation or counterrotation by the shift of a lever. The combination of proper rotational direction and speed can provide the desired shearing characteristics and high output rates. D-tex extruders are available with drives from 15 to 800 hp and multiple barrel ports for downstream solids additions or devolatilization.

Company also manufactures a Cavity Transfer Mixer (in sizes 25 to 450 mm) under license from RAPRA of the U.K. for continuous blending of rubbers and plastics. The mixer's rotor, with its spherical cavities, is attached to the end of the screw, and the stationary housing is mounted at the end of the extruder between the barrel and die. The resulting circulating and cutting motion provides distributive mixing to ensure that polymers, additives and masterbatches enter the die system completely homogeneous. Features include the following:

* A less restricted flow of material is achieved because the unit has no pins, dams, or other obstructions.

* Blending of the additives reportedly produces more consistent product properties and appearance.

* Reduction of material distortion through the die and residual stress is achieved because the unit establishes even heat distribution of the material prior to its entering the die.

* Mixer has no "dead spaces," resulting in quick changeover of polymer.

J.H. DAY CO./TAYLOR-STILES

Offers a comprehensive line of processing equipment, including ribbon blenders, vertical conical mixers, double-arm high-shear mixers, high-speed dispersers, three-roll mills and complete processing systems:

* Ribbon and large cylindrical blenders with jacketed tanks are used for precise temperature control in heating/cooling PVC and other resins. Also used for standardizing, color blending, and intimate mixing of different ingredients. Capacities to 1000 cu ft.

* The vertical Day Mark II Nauta mixer/processor performs low-shear blending/dispersion and batch standardization for pigments, colorants, plastic pellets, etc. Widely used for plastisol and organosol production, solids and paste mixing. Capacities to 1400 cu ft.

* Double-arm mixers compound, knead and mix heavy viscous masses that are hard to blend, such as bulk molding compounds. Available in capacities from 5 to 1000 gal. Company's Mixtruder, a specially designed double-arm mixer, is equipped with discharge screw to facilitate unloading the mixed material. Capacities from 1 to 500 gal.

* Daymax high-speed disperser is intended for dispersion/dissolving/emulsification and other liquid-solid applications. Used effectively for medium-viscosity plastisols, color concentrates, pigment dispersions, and premixes. Capacities from 10 to 1000 gal.

* High-speed rotary mills permit continuous size reduction and blending of wet or dry, heated or chilled materials. By interchanging components, mills are readily adaptable to a broad range of applications. Sizes up to 32-in. widths.

* Three-roll mills for ultrafine dispersions of thermoplastics, pigments and color concentrates in liquid vehicles. Available in 5 x 12 in. lab size, and 10 x 22 in., and 14 x 30 in. production models.

* Ultra-precise Regal vertical mixers are available in up to 1800-gal capacities and are used for high shear mixing and standardization of viscous materials.

DELAWARE EXTRUDER CORP.

Manufactures 62-mm, 92-mm and 122-mm corotating, intermeshing twin-screw compounding extruders. These are said to offer high torque, a new patented cooling system, and custom screw elements to handle a wide range of engineering resins. According to the company, the extruder provides up to 50,000 lb of thrust at 200 rpm, delivering up to 150 hp per screw. High-torque capacity is attributed to the design of the gearbox, which maximizes the torque to each shaft. Output shafts are in contact with two larger gears above and below. Energy from each larger gear is counter-balanced by the other and directed inward toward the gears turning each shaft. The opposing gears reduce the defection that occurs when using a single, unopposed gear, thus delivering higher torque to each shaft.

Segmented barrel allows feed ports and a venting section to be placed in any configuration. Barrel segments are provided in standard lengths of 3.6:1 L/D (which can be used for feeding, venting, or additives) and 6:1 L/D. Other features include a patented cooling system said to offer maximum flexibility of temperature control; a single, 12-mm-wide key to hold screw elements and kneading blocks in place; bi-lobal kneading blocks 90 mm long with a lobe width of 18 mm; a quick-release, swing-away die; and a single control panel, which includes tachometer, individual barrel temperature controllers with heat and cool programs, and individual ampere gauges for each heater element. Also, for processors who need documentation of the manufacturing process for product certification, a microprocessor-based control system is available that will print out the necessary process parameters to ensure a quality product.

DRAISWERKE, INC.

Offers Drais Perl ball mills for fine dispersing and homogenizing of high-, medium-, and low-viscosity materials and stiff pastes. Units include a perforated or pinned-disc agitator and a grinding chamber 80-90% filled with small grinding beads ranging from 0.25- to 2-mm diam. The large number of beads results in very fine grinding and dispersing and is said to increase output by 30-50%. Chamber capacities range from 1 to 1500 liters.

Company's Drais turbulent mixer/reactors are used for high-speed mixing, kneading, and reaction processes. They have interchangeable mixing elements for powders, pastes, and reaction processes. Knife mills, pinned discs, and main-shaft mounted serrated discs can be built into the reactor chamber. Batch and continuous process designs are available with capacities from 2.5 to 40,000 liters.

Company's Drais Gelimat high-intensity mixer is available in sizes from 1 to 250 liters. This mixer uses friction energy to heat the product for mixing, compounding, and fluxing, and reportedly completes a cycle in 15-25 sec. Mixer can process PVC, PP, PE, UHMWPE, ABS and PVDC. Material can be directly discharged into an extruder, mold, or roller mill and pelletized. Both batch and continuous models are available.

DUPLEX MILL & MFG. CO.

Six types of Kelly Duplex mixers are available:

* Vertical spiral mixers, available in 10- to 1500-cu-ft sizes for blending large batches of pellets.

* Horizontal paddle mixers, available in 2- to 360-cu-ft batch sizes for fast blending of regrinds, slurries and powders.

* Fluid-bed mixers for unusually heavy or pasty materials in 2- to 200-cu-ft batch sizes.

* Horizontal ribbon mixers for mixing flow-resistant materials up to 580 cu ft per batch.

* Continuous twin-ribbon mixing conveyor with capacities from 50 to 12,000 cu ft/hr, combining mixing and conveying of bulk materials.

* Continuous twin-rotor paddle mixers for blending solids with solids or liquids at rates from 100 to 3000 cu ft/hr are said to be particularly effective for batch mixing of PE and color pigments for rotational molding. Multiple batch sizes are available; 600-lb and 1000-lb units are standard. Units provide positive discharge, are said to be easy to clean, and feature air-purged shaft seals that help prevent contamination.

The Kelly Duplex batching and mixing package allows material to be automatically batched, mixed, and stored, then fed directly to extrusion machinery. A line of complementary equipment is also available.

ECLIPSE SYSTEMS, INC.

Air-motor-powered agitators from 1/6 to 5 hp handle low- to high-viscosity materials. Mixers are fully equipped with mufflers, valves for speed control and an air inlet connection. Stainless-steel couplings, shafts and propellers are standard. Mixers are explosion-proof, shock-proof, burnout-proof, low in maintenance and operate in wet environments. Models are configurable for special requirements. ANSI series flange mixers, mounted on top or side of tank, are available for pressure or vacuum mixing, along with models for laboratory, medium-sized 500-gal tanks, and large tanks up to 5000 gal.

EGAN MACHINERY DIV. JOHN BROWN, INC.

Division supplies both single- and twin-screw compounding extruders complete with microprocessor controls, strand and underwater pelletizing systems, and complete test and demonstration capabilities at its technical center in Somerville, N.J. Twin-screw corotating, intermeshing compounders come with capacities of 100 to 2500 lb/hr and segmented barrel and screw elements. Special adaptations of the company's CMR computer system control product consistency, create reports and offer management information. Controller can interface with feeders and extruder, as well as downstream operations.

ERIE MILL & PRESS CO.

Laboratory and production two-roll mixing, warm-up, and blending mills are supplied. Working faces are available in sizes from 6 x 13 in. to 26 x 84 in. and up to 120 in. long. Mills can be furnished with standard sleeve bearings or roller bearings, as well as chromeplated and drilled rolls, adjusting screws, air-operated scraper knives, and tilting stock guides. Drives consist of constant-speed AC motors and DC variable-speed drives.

FARREL CORP.

Company's Continuous Mixer is a starve-fed, twin-rotor, intensive-fluxing continuous mixer used primarily for polyolefin color masterbatching, polyolefin homogenization, and compounding engineering resins, reinforced or rubber-modified polymers, and rigid and flexible PVC. Units range from 25 to 85,000 lb/hr and feature variable work input levels to permit the adjustment of discharge temperature. Additionally, the non-intermeshing short rotor design provides fast product changeover and easier cleaning. The Farrel CP (Compact Processor) combines the continuous mixer with a hot-fed extruder to provide a versatile, sprue conservative system.

Company also manufactures its Banbury twin-rotor intensive-fluxing batch mixer and Diskpack processor, a screwless continuous compounder.

FINISH THOMPSON INC.

Manufactures drum pumps and mixers. Products are corrosion resistant. Also offers waste-solvent recovery systems and solvent distillation.

FINN AND FRAM, INC.

In-line mixing system for polyester SMC is supplied. (See also Reinforced Plastics Equipment.)

FOREMOST MACHINE BUILDERS

Offers a complete line of volumetric and gravimetric blenders, either machine-mounted or freestanding.

Volumetric blenders:

* Upright duplex series, capable of blending up to 6000 lb/hr of virgin resin, granulate, colorants, and additives in pellet, powder, or film flake form. Series includes holding bins, metering augers or vibrators, and a cascading chute or mixer.

* Mini- and machine-mounted blenders capable of blending the same range of materials as the Duplex series are designed for direct mounting on the process machine throat and are available for pellet, powder, or film applications. Continuous mixers are optional.

Gravimetric (weight-based) blenders:

* LWB Series and BWB Series for either loss-in-weight or batch-weight continuous blending systems are available for floor or machine mounting. Microprocessor controls provide accuracy to |+ or -~0.05% by weight. Standard on all units is continuous inventory monitoring of all ingredient throughputs. Feed and control options include plant-wide data acquisition and material usage control with a central microcomputer. Custom and proprietary systems are offered for compounding and include options such as liquid feed by weight.

Company supplies pellet and powder feeders, both volumetric and gravimetric, for mixing and feeding additives onstream.

FRANKLIN MILLER, INC.

Company's Hurricane mixer is available from 25 to 10,000 gallons or more. Uses include most any chemical process. It will mix any viscosity and completely homogenize and disperse in a short time. Larger units are available from 2-ft shaft lengths and larger. Various propellers are available in either turbine, flat, curved, paddle, ribbon or anchor types. Units are available in carbon steel, Iconel, Monel, or other materials.

Also available are units with either direct gear-drive or belt-reduction drive. Propellers are top-entering and available with 1/2- to 25-hp gear motors and prop sizes 6 in. to 10 ft in diameter. Special units are available with variable-pitch props and variable speeds, variable shaft lengths and submersible, electric, air or hydraulic motors.

GENERAL MACHINE CO. OF N.J., INC.

Manufactures tumble blenders, dryers, and formulators for powders. The semi-continuous Porta-Hopper reportedly combines the speed of continuous blending with the versatility of batch operations. The formulator reportedly combines multiple steps in materials handling and blending to reduce time, labor, materials handling, and worker exposure. A full laboratory for process development as well as product testing is available.

HTC CORP.

Offers static-mixer components inserted in injection nozzles. Also manufactures nonreturn valves.

HAAKE INSTRUMENTS INC.

Intensive internal mixers offer 30- to 500-cc capacities for laboratory and pilot-plant use. Interchangeable rotors are of medium- and high-intensity configurations, counterrotating at a variety of gear ratios over a variable speed range. Electric heating and air cooling reportedly provide precise temperature control of the mixing chamber to a maximum of 932 F. Mixing torque is mechanically and electronically measured and recorded.

For continuous compounding and extrusion, the company offers a conical twin-screw extruder in corotating and counterrotating models as well as single-screw extruders.

A.C. HAMILTON, INC.

Company has developed a modular blending system, which automatically weighs as it loads itself with one or more major materials (pellets or powders) and weighs minor ingredients (pellets, powders, or liquids) as they are metered into a fine scale hopper. Blending is done in either a supplied dynamic mixer or a separate ribbon or high-intensity mixer. These larger systems deliver from 4000 to 8000 lb/hr of blended materials.

Model 1200 D weigh blender is sized to be used as an individual machine blender or small central blender for up to 1200 lb/hr. Up to six different materials can be blended. Programmed weights of each material are metered in sequence to a weighing chamber. A complete batch is then discharged into a mixing chamber.

All weight blenders have a |+ or -~0.5% accuracy. Larger models come standard with DX electronic controls, including CRT screen and custom keyboard for recipe entry and storage. Displays include totalization, setpoint recipe, stored recipe and alarm signals. Optional printers may be supplied, and controls can be interfaced with factory computers.

THE HAMPEL CO., INC.

Distributes meter-mix blenders built by Har/Noy Metal Fabricators of Olathe, Kan. These units are designed to blend virgin, regrind, color concentrate and other granular materials at rates of 3000 lb/hr and more. Hampel also distributes machine-mounted proportioning equipment from Plastore and Labotek for mixing colorants, regrind, and other additives.

HENDERSON INDUSTRIES

Offers complete compounding systems, which include scales, feeders and controls. Designs are for powder scales, liquid scales, conveyors, and minor ingredient systems. Custom systems using industry-standard components are also available.

HI-TECH SYSTEMS, INC.

Offers total materials-handling and bulk-storage systems, including compounding/blending equipment. Company also provides consulting services. Total turnkey system installation includes system start-up and training seminars.

HITACHI ZOSEN TRADING & MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

HZTM supplies corotating twin-screw kneaders for compounding in 53 to 200 mm diam. Complete pelletizing lines are also offered.

HOCKMEYER EQUIPMENT CORP.

Offers a variety of mixers:

* A concentric shaft mixer with a high-intensity and slow-speed mixing blade for blending dry materials into viscous liquids.

* High-speed mixers with high-shear mixing blades for mixing and dispersing in the low-to-medium viscosity range.

* A horizontal mixer with a mixing blade specifically designed for low-intensity mixing of highly viscous products. This design, according to the company, lends itself to efficient batch unloading. A positive-displacement pump can be supplied already mounted on the machine.

Company also offers its CMX-100, a fully automated cleaning system, eliminating workers from exposure to hazardous solvents while providing a more productive approach to washing portable tanks and totes. By incorporating a rotating brush assembly with low-pressure sprays, the CMX-100 provides complete cleaning of a multitude of different tank sizes and shapes. Typical cleaning time is cut by as much as 80% and cleaning solvent utilization is increased by more than 33%, says the company.

Company's VRU-2000 (Vapor Recovery Unit) provides a solution to pollution control and VOC abatement. System incorporates the use of a compressed air stream, which carries solvent fumes out of the tank and into the VRU-2000 where multiple passes through condensation coils removes at least 90% of evaporated solvents.

HOSOKAWA MICRON DIV.

See Micron Powder Systems.

HUTCHEON MACHINERY, INC.

Supplies used and rebuilt compounding extrusion systems and all accessories such as high-, medium- and low-intensity mixers; ribbon blenders; drum tumblers; and twin-shell and continuous mixers.

HYDRECLAIM CORP.

A complete line of Hydracolor color-concentrate and dry-colorant metering units and blenders is supplied. Units are solid-state controlled by digital counters to maintain a ratio between virgin and color. Large central blenders to 15,000 lb/hr are custom built.

The RWIMB series ratio-weigh blending units feature weighed virgin and regrind metering/conveying. When a preset weighed batch is dumped into the mixer, the correct amount of additives is precisely metered at the same time. The 400RWIMB, used with the 6150RW microprocessor control equipped with an RS485 serial port for communications, provides a menu-driven format to allow recipes to be entered by percent.

Company's 400 series accumulative weigh blenders have menu-driven computer controls. Several of these units can interface with each other for total plant inventory control. The 402B series offers batching loss-in-weight blending for extrusion control and virtually all blending applications. The 402B batching loss-in-weight unit is available with powder feeders for compounding applications.

New from company: Patent-pending 470 Ulti-Meter that eliminates any need for mixers--materials are weight-loss metered continuously at the same rate as the extruder is using them. The design provides "first-in first-out" (FIFO) feeding to the extruder and eliminates any segregation of virgin pellets and additives. The advanced computer control of Model 470, coupled with a lower mass-flow weigh hopper directly over the extruder throat, provides precise learned extruder throughput rate and maintains a constant head of material over the extruder screw. Controls are designed to allow color changes on-the-fly by initiating 100% virgin feed while hoppers and auger assemblies are changed over to another material. The unit can then switch over to the new recipe without losing string up- and downtime. Because the material in residence is very small, color change is effected within minutes. The 470 computer system has been designed to incorporate a single board computer with built-in A/D for load cell inputs. New digital RS485 microprocessor speed controls control auger speeds to within 1 rpm of setpoint for reportedly unparalled accuracy. Controls feature a small hand-held RCP that can conveniently be located by the operator station. It provides full computer functions and is user friendly.

IMS CO.

Offers a variety of machines for mixing material with color, lubricants and other additives. Heavy-duty drum tumblers feature a 20|degrees~ tilt and criss-cross action. A 1/3-hp mini-tumbler accepts 5-gal pails and up to 36 lb per holder. Larger twin-drum tumblers with 1 1/2- and 2-hp motors handle 55-gal drums and up to 280 lb per holder. There is also a space-saving, single-drum corner unit. Most are available with lower-cost chain drive or longer-lasting, maintenance-free belt drive.

For high-volume, high-speed blending, company also stocks two Hurricane large-capacity mixers that mix 350 or 850 lb in 15 minutes. Hurricane mixers offer versatility, safety and convenience with platforms, bag breakers and air-takeoff available.

IKEGAI AMERICA CORP.

Company's PCM series of intermeshing and self-cleaning, high-speed twin-screw extruders utilize segment screws that regulate the kneading effects on materials. The barrel uses a building-block system so that L/D ratio is easily adjustable. Screws are driven in either a corotating or counterrotating direction. Screw diameters from 29 to 125 mm are available.

INCOE CORP.

Offers two models of a motionless mixing nozzle for injection molding machines. The first is for use solely as a motionless mixer, and the second is a combination mixer/melt filter to remove contaminating particles from the resin. The basic mixing element is a tubular chamber filled with loosely packed grooved balls; melt flows through the grooves and around the balls. These intersections force the melt in a gentle action to promote thermal homogenization and mixing.

The Mix Pac filter is similar in construction, except the melt must first pass through a tubular filter within the mixing chamber of grooved balls before passing through the mixing balls to the mold.

INDCO, INC.

Manufactures a full line of portable mixing equipment, including laboratory stirrers, high-speed laboratory dispersers, 5-gal mixers, and drum mixers (direct- and gear-drive) to handle a wide range of material from 55 to 5000 gal. Also manufactures mixing propellers, paddles, blades, and pail openers.

Company's HD series of heavy-duty bung mixers is designed to handle 55-gal batches of heavy materials that are beyond the range of direct-drive mixers. Electrically open, totally enclosed and explosion-proof motors, as well as air-powered versions, are available. Standard electric motors are 420 rpm; standard air units range from 70 to 700 rpm. Folding propellers collapse for entry through the 2-in. bung and open to an 8-in. diam. for mixing. Propellers are adjustable on the mixing shaft.

INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS (IMCS)

Offers a vertical blender for batch mixing pellets, flakes, and regrind with any number of dry colorants and additives. The unit can be loaded with an auger, flow-through bin, or vacuum loader. Up to 30 cu ft of material can be mixed in about 15 min.

INTERNATIONAL PROCESS EQUIPMENT CO. (IPEC)

Company is the North American distributor for MTI mixers. The line includes a full range of mixers for compounding, coloring, and plastisol mixing. The mixers are designed for increased throughput and improved quality production. IPEC maintains a fully equipped test center in Camden, N.J., for testing and evaluating performance on production size equipment.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Information is supplied on complete systems available from 40 Italian manufacturers for blending and dosing, turbomixers, roll mixers, and internal mixers.

IVEK CORP.

The Ivek Biox proportional fluid blending system provides two-component flow and mixing control accurate to 0.1% at all flow rates. Rates are digitally selected from 0.001 to 999 ml/min. Mix proportion of A to B is selectable in 0.1% increments. Parameter changes are accomplished without stopping the unit by using digital thumbwheel switches. Constant volumetric flow rates are maintained even when the liquid proportions are changed. Solid-state electronics, stepping-motor drives, and valveless, ceramic pumps are reported to provide accuracy with reliability and long life.

JWI, INC.

Heavy-duty, dual-shaft plow blender disperses fillers and fibers into heavy, tacky matrix materials. Batch or continuous system handles viscosities up to 10 million cps and handles long glass without fiber breakdown. Jacketing and construction for vacuum or pressure are available. Potential applications include BMC molding compounds.

Single-shaft plow blenders for dry materials blend resins, colorants, and reinforcing fibers in 15- to 30-sec mix cycles.

Also available is a line of small, intensive, nonfluxing, continuous plow blenders for mounting directly above the extruder to blend colorants, fillers or fibers. An 8-in.-diam. x 20-in.-long blender can blend 2000 lb/hr. Compacts are suited for all types of regrind and flexible scrap.

JAECO PUMP CO.

Propeller-type liquid mixers come in side-entering and top-entering models with either single or dual propellers. These portable Jaecomix units range in motor power from fractional to 3 hp. Square, three-bladed, and steep-pitch propellers are available in steel, stainless-steel, and plastic construction. Shafts and propellers can be furnished with various rubber or plastic coatings. A number of types of mixer supports can be supplied.

JAPAN STEEL WORKS AMERICA, INC. SUB. OF JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.

Two basic types of twin-screw mixers are offered. One is the CMP-X series of corotating twin-rotor mixers with gear pump based on the company's CIM continuous intensive mixer technology. Standard models range in size from 65- to 340-mm rotor diam. at mixing zone. The largest model has a max. rotor speed of 206 rpm, 8000-hp drive, and throughput to about 70,000 lb/hr. Clearance between the screws and barrel wall can be adjusted by a slot control mechanism.

Company also offers its Tex twin-screw counter- or corotating extruder, reportedly unique because of its change lever (at the side of the gear box), segmented screw and block cylinder. Sizes range from 30-mm to 305-mm screw diam. The largest unit, Tex 305, has a 5950-kw gear box and output of 20,000 kg/hr.

JAYGO, INC.

Company's conical-screw blenders for pellets, powders, pastes, etc., can be supplied in mild or stainless steel. Units consist of a conical hopper chamber with an internal screw mixer that helps discharge product through the bottom of the cone. Jacketed units for heating, cooling, and vacuum operations are also available.

Coaxial twin-rotor mixers for PVC plastisols are offered in capacities from 200 to 2500 gal with drives from 15 to 250 hp. Mixing bowl contains a low-speed outer wiper blade and a coaxial but independently driven high-speed dispersion blade.

Planetary mixers are available with 1- to 500-gal capacity, side scraper arms and central high-speed disperser.

Extrumix sigma-blade, double-arm batch mixers discharge product horizontally by means of an extruder screw. Size range is 1 to 1000 gal. Several models are designed to handle highly viscous materials such as PVC coatings and hot-melt adhesives up to 10 million cps.

Company also supplies ribbon blenders.

JIFFY MIXER CO., INC.

Propeller mixer, recommended for heavy or viscous liquids, is available in sizes that will fit over containers from 1 pt to 55 gal. The heavy-gauge metal unit is designed to eliminate sucking in of air and splashing. Different sizes of mixing attachments fit standard 1/4- to 3/4-in. power tools.

K-TRON, COLORTRONIC & CO.

Company's Graviblend continuous, on-line gravimetric blender, designed for in-line weigh blending of up to eight ingredients and additives, provides gravimetric accuracy for more consistent product quality, eliminates overfeeding critical ingredients, minimizes waste, and offers gravimetric throughput control of extruder rate.

For complete access to all process and programming variables, Graviblend's RS485 serial communications link allows host control and convenient, comprehensive performance documentation.

Resins and additives may be fed at a total throughput of over 5000 lb/hr. For high precision, Graviblend features stable, three-point digital weighing of each ingredient. All feed augers are interchangeable and inclined to prevent dribble. Stainless-steel ingredient module has a viewing port, access door and features a triple-function discharge chute for sampling or 3-min emptying without tools or product spillage.

Graviblend Control provides full-featured, microprocessor-based display and data entry in a compact package. Complete with a 4-line-by-20-character backlit LCD display, sealed data-entry touchpad and complete programmability, the control offers four user-selectable control modes for total operational flexibility.

Company also manufactures volumetric continuous blenders designed to automatically meter and mix pellets, granules, nonfree-flowing powders, and liquids directly on the process equipment. Blenders incorporate discs instead of augers and disassemble easily for quick cleanout when a material or color change is desired. They are equally suitable for injection molding, blow molding or extrusion, and models are available for 250, 1000, and 2000-plus lb/hr maximum throughput. Company also manufactures color/additive feeders. Optional microprocessor-based blender control provides memory recipe storage, an "auto calibrate" mode, and totalizer functions as well as interface capability.

KEMUTEC, INC.

Offers Gardner horizontal 'U' trough ribbon and cylindrical ploughshare-type mixers. State-of-the-art, short-aspect ratio designs are said to give significantly reduced mixing times. Also available are double-cone and drum-type units with capacities from 2 to 100,000 liters. All mixers are available in a variety of materials and surface finishes. Heating/cooling jackets can be applied to mixing chambers, which can also be designed to mix under pressure or vacuum conditions.

KILLION EXTRUDERS, INC.

Manufactures a line of single-screw extruders designed specifically for compounding. Units are available in screw diameters from 0.75 to 2.5 in. with 36:1 L/D and a vent for devolatilization in the second half of the barrel. The second stage of the two-stage screw has mixing elements for laminar, dispersive, and distributive mixing. These include multi-flighted sections, mixing pins, gear-type mixers, and fluted mixing sections.

Additional features include injection ports along the barrel for downstream feeding of additives, and a separate control panel for easy access to the machine during maintenance and clean-up. Extruders may be used in either production or lab applications involving output rates of less than 250 lb/hr. Both strand and dieface pelletizing systems are available. Machines also may be interfaced with downstream equipment to compound in-line with an extrusion operation.

Company also offers strand dies, cooling troughs and pelletizers, and lab trials on equipment prior to purchase.

KLOCKNER FERROMATIK DESMA SALES & SERVICE, INC.

Offers complete units for compounding urethane prepolymers based on continuous degassing, metering, and mixing of components. Units for mixing complete polyol components are also available.

KOBE STEEL AMERICA INC.

Builds in Japan twin-rotor continuous mixers based on Farrel technology, and corotating and counterrotating twin-screw extruders with segmented screws and barrels in sizes from 37- to 200-mm diam. NEXT-T two-stage continuous compounders consist of a twin-rotor mixer mounted above a single- or twin-screw discharge extruder.

KOBELCO STEWART BOLLING INC.

Offers its Mixtrumat system, a continuous two-stage, twin-rotor, high-intensity fluxing mixer with transverse discharge screw. The unit provides mixing chamber backpressure and material removal. It is primarily used for polyolefin masterbatching, homogenization, and compounding rigid and flexible PVC. Units range from 1000 to 40,000 lb/hr. The system features a close-coupled rotor screw, designed for reduction of energy consumption, temperature control, improved dispersion, higher output, and minimal heat history and contamination.

Company also builds batch-type intensive mixers in capacities from 4 to 1300 lb and two-roll mixing mills in sizes from 2 1/2 x 2 7/8 x 7 in. to 30 x 30 x 100 in.

KOCH ENGINEERING CO., INC.

Offers motionless mixing equipment, designed to improve mix of the melt in injection molders and extruders.

A line of combination static mixer/heat exchangers are designed for cooling of high-viscosity materials, isothermal control of exothermic/endothermic reactions in plug flow, rapid preheating for flash devolatilization, and heating of thermally sensitive materials. Units come in various configurations: SMX jacketed monotube design for heating and cooling; SMXL multichannel shell-and-tube design, primarily for rapid heating; SMR tubular design with large heat-transfer surface in a single flow channel.

KOMAX SYSTEMS, INC.

Company's state-of-the-art static mixer, Komax Equalizer, is manufactured from solid stainless-steel and guaranteed not to collapse. The mixer ensures thorough mixing for completely homogeneous melt streams in extrusion equipment, dividing and recombining the melt stream more than 393,000 times. Extruder screw rpm can be increased for increased product throughput at optimum quality levels. Mixer also holds melt-stream temperature variation to 1|degree~F or less. Unit easily comes apart for cleaning. Discs nest together and slip back directly into the barrel for rapid reassembly.

Company also offers its new Komax T.E.D.D. (Thermal Equalization & Distribution Device), a compact static mixing system especially developed for blown film applications, which provides effective thermal homogeneity in a melt stream. Because of its compact size, the T.E.D.D. can be installed just in front of the die, ensuring that a thermally homogeneous melt stream reaches the die. The device takes little space, because