Compounding & mixing.

NPE exhibits supported the idea that new high-speed, high-torque extruders are the hottest trend in twin-screw compounding. Seven companies rolled out new units that deliver more power, higher screw speeds, and increased output capacity. (These were covered in a recent feature article - see July '97, p. 44). At the show, processors also found new twin-screws of other types, as well as lab machines, batch mixers, kneading reactors, and pelletizers.

VENT AS YOU PLEASE

Get venting when you want and as much as you want with an adjustable-position port plug from Extruder Technologies Inc., North Caldwell, N.J. Its new Vent Port Plug fits into a contoured hole in the barrel and is hydraulically operated.

NEW MIXING REACTOR

Shown for the first time in the U.S. is the new CoRotating Processor (CPP) from List Inc., Acton, Mass. This twin-rotor mixing and kneading reactor processes highly viscous, sticky materials. CRP machines are custom made for drying, evaporating, compounding, crystallization, polymerization, and other reactive applications in a throughput range of 2.7 to 10,000 liters/hr.

BEEFED-UP EXTRUDERS FOR MASTERBATCHES

A remodeled line of corotating twin-screw color-masterbatch extruders from B&P Process Equipment and Systems, Saginaw, Mich., offers 20% more power plus higher output at the same price as previous models.The MP-MB line of 50, 65, and 80 mm diam. now reportedly handles black and white concentrates more effectively with higher horsepower and 30:1 or 35:1 L/D versus 15-25:1 formerly. Output range is now 300-2000 lb/hr. The series will ultimately extend from 19 to 160 in.

NEW LAB UNITS

New FTX-20 corotating, fully intermeshing twin-screw compounder from Farrel Corp., Ansonia, Conn., has 22.5 mm diam. and 28:1 L/D. This 44-lb/hr unit, Farrel's first lab-sized twin-screw, runs at up to 500 rpm and can use the firm's Polygon or CME screw elements.

The TSK-TT series is the first line of tabletop twin-screws from Theysohn Corp., now located in Charlotte, N.C. Available in 20- and 28-mm models for 33 and 88 lb/hr, respectively, the units come with counter- or corotating intermeshing screws, clamshell barrel, and L/Ds of 16:1, 28:1 or 36:1.

BATCH MIXERS CLEAN EASILY

The line of Mixaco container mixers from American Barmag Corp., Charlotte, N.C., have a new Quick Change Mixing Head that allows removal of mixing blades in a few minutes to speed cleanout. The head is held in place by pneumatic clamps and connects to the drive shaft, exhaust and cooling system through self-locking couplings. The head is disconnected with a push of a button and removed for cleaning, while a clean head is substituted, thereby cutting downtime. Another new feature of Mixaco units is automatic purging with inert gas.

In addition, vertical high-intensity mixers from Henschel Mixers America, Inc., Houston, have been redesigned to be more compact.

QUIET PELLETIZER

There's a new 8-in. model of Super Quietizer strand pelletizer from Cumberland Engineering Div. of John Brown Plastics Machinery, South Attleboro, Mass. It handles 45 1/8 in. strands at 4500 lb/hr. An anti-vibration mount between the cutter and base helps keep noise down to 80 dbA, the company says.