EQUIPMENT.

Portable thermoregulator

The portable Tricool C5 Consort/Combi thermoregulator has the ability to cool or heat both water and/or oil. It also features a micro processor controller with liquid crystal display, solid state heaters to 9 kW or 12 kW, a leakstopper facility on water to 122 [degrees] F, mold flushing capabilities, direct acting, self-cleaning solenoid valve and is remote control capable. Tricool products are supported by detailed documentation and inspection certification. (Barwell, 460 Tacoma Ave., Tallmadge, OH 44278-2719)

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Waterjet recycling dispenser

The Ward 24 waterjet abrasive recycling dispenser is said to prove itself as a necessity to significantly reduce operating costs of waterjet cutting machines. It works on all makes and models of waterjets, and is said to significantly reduce the abrasive costs by recycling and drying abrasive, readying it for immediate reuse. Customers have tracked the performance of the Ward 24 and are said to verify its financial viability, cost and time savings. (Easi-Jet, 200 Northeast Ave., Tallmadge, OH 44278)

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Bin aerator 

The Model K Vibra-Jet bin aerator can be installed on any storage silo, bin or hopper as an extremely versatile and effective means of getting dry bulk materials to gravity feed more reliably at a very low cost, according to the manufacturer. A triple seal has been designed into the Model K Vibra-Jet bin aerator to prevent backfeeding. (Dynamic Air, 1125 Willow Lake Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55110-5193)

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Injection system

The patented direct mount Posimeter liquid silicone meter, mix and injection system can be adapted to any injection molding machine and is designed to handle high viscosity two-component silicone elastomers for molding medical, electronic, automotive and other silicone parts. It is said to be ideal for small shot applications of 1 cc to 29 cc where mix ratio accuracy and shot size control is critical. The direct mount Posimeter features precision positive displacement rod metering technology with balanced inlet/ outlet spool valves for the "A" and "B" components. The Posimeter is located at the inlet of the screw on an injection molding machine, eliminating long flexible hoses with individual metered components. (Liquid Control, 8400 Port Jackson Ave., N.W., North Canton, OH 44720-0747)

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Mini-calender

The company's two roll mini-calender is said to offer an economical solution for small, accurate, rubber strip processing. This design comes in two sizes, including a 6" x 6" x 10" size with 7-5/8" useable face, and an 8" x 8" x 14" size with 11-5/8" useable face. Features include micrometer adjustment of the top roll for gauge control; adjustable stock guides; adjustable trim knives; and a driven pull-off roller. The top roll is said to be easily changed for profiling applications. Both rolls have heating and/or cooling passages under the roll surface. Applications include profiled shapes in singles or multiples, as well as flat sheet or strips for belt edge strips or veneer cover on white sidewall tire applications. (RMS Equipment, P.O. Box 9001, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 4J4)

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Spark detection

Production machines, dryers, mills, etc., are all sources of sparks which can cause fires and explosions in dust collection systems, according to the company. This spark detection and extinguishment system's sensors contain photo elements which detect a spark's infrared radiation. The smallest spark triggers the sensing element and the system immediately releases a fine mist of water downstream, extinguishing the spark without interrupting production. For high temperature applications, up to 1,830 [degrees] F, fiber optic cables and sensors are utilized. (GreCon, 15875 S.W. 74th Ave., Tigard, OR 97224-7918)

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Hot oil control

The Thermal VAC negative pressure hot oil temperature control unit uses negative pressure to keep production running longer and stronger, even under the most demanding conditions, according to the company. A low-pressure centrifugal pump delivers oil to the process. An on-board vacuum pump then draws oil through the process under negative pressure. With this system, if a leak develops in a process, air is sucked in instead of hot oil being forced out. Molding efficiency is not compromised. (Budzar Industries, 38241 Willoughby Pkwy., Willoughby, OH 44094-7582)

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Fast acting slab side press

The company's fast acting slab side press operates at three times the normal speed. The company has designed and manufactured a double acting cylinder with a new internal and external ram guiding system. In the past, the company has designed a quality slab side hydraulic molding press, said to be of the highest quality. The company is said to offer fast delivery and economical products. (First Choice Machinery, 822 Cleveland Rd., Ravenna, OH 44266)

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Automatic guillotine 

This company builds a line of automatic guillotines for a variety of uses. The 24-10 model feeds and cuts rubber bales automatically and features a fully programmable operator station showing machine status, and a loading station for controlling staging operations. The conveyor system includes a 13' inclined staging conveyor, a 3' scale charging conveyor and a 3' weight scale conveyor. It is available with an air or hydraulic cutter. (Spadone, 507 Westport Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851)

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Hydraulic drum hoist

The Hydravator is a hydraulic drum hoist used for lifting and loading raw materials. The maintenance-free Hydravator uses a single operator who can more effectively operate multiple high speed presses, eliminating hand feeding and increasing production rates, according to the company. The steel construction is said to safely deliver powders and other granular materials from steel or fiber drums into table presses, blenders, hoppers and mills. (Wedco, 11490 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77077)

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Self-lubricating sleeve bearing

Met 70 is an oil-free, self-lubricating sleeve bearing designed to fit standard 200 series pillow blocks and flange units. These specially formulated carbon compound bearings are said to withstand temperatures of up to 1,100 [degrees] F, and are excellent for shaft finishes of 10-30 rms, according to the manufacturer. Met 70 inserts are available in two temperature ranges and can be packaged as complete pillow blocks. (Spadone-Alfa, 507 Westport Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851)

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Hot oil system

The Value Line of hot oil systems is fully welded so there are no threaded connections to leak. The Value Line units use only low watt density heaters. The units incorporate headers designed to be used exclusively with 60 watt density oil systems. Value Line units have automatic bypass valves which are said to maintain a constant velocity across the heater, regardless of how much oil circulates through the process. Watt density is held at the intended low level, oil is protected and the process continues. The Value Line has a maximum temperature of 450 [degrees] F. (Budzar Industries, 38241 Willoughby Pkwy., Willoughby, OH 44094-7582)

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Tire engraver

The SE-2000Q four-axis, CNC engraving station is designed for engraving the sidewalls of tire molds. The SE-2000Q features a PMC-550 CNC control system that incorporates a 68040 main CPU board with 16 Mbytes of DRAM, VGA color display and soft-touch keyboard. The control accepts standard G-code type programs. The system features the ability to restart anywhere in the program with graphical verification of the restart. Programming is said to be easily accomplished using any standard 2-1/2-axis CAM software that allows for minor customization of the output. The SE-2000Q has linear rapid rates up to 600 in./min., achieved by using ball bearing frictionless cross-slides and ball screws. The rotary table has a maximum rate of 8 rpm. The rotary head can rotate at an equivalent of up to 6 rpm. The machine includes an SC-82 high-speed spindle that can run at speeds between 10,000 and 40,000 rpm. (Quality Mold, 99 Seiberling, P.O. Box 9400, Akron, OH 44305)

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Walk-in oven

The No. 835 is a 1,200 [degrees] F electrically heated walk-in oven. Workspace inside this oven measures 48" wide x 72" deep x 72" high, and a maximum temperature of 1,200 [degrees] F is provided by 120 kw power, installed in Incoloy-sheathed tubular heating elements. A 10,000 cfm, 71/2 hp recirculating blower provides combination vertical/horizontal airflow to the load. The oven features an aluminized steel exterior, 16 ga. stainless steel interior and 10" thick insulated walls. (Grieve, 500 Hart Rd., Round Lake, IL 60073-2898)

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O-ring machine

This company has redesigned a series of horizontal machines, resulting in the development of an o-ting machine with optimum stability of the heating platens,

allowing the use of thin mold plates. The strong design of the machine is said to reduce flash and the waste rate to a minimum. The machines can be used for both injection compression molding and classic injection molding. The speed of the o-ring machines is said to be outstanding. The low dry cycle times push the output of these units into a new dimension, according to the company. The horizontal rubber injection molding machines are said to be compact and ergonomically designed. The control cabinet is integrated at the side of the machine. The tie bars are arranged square and allow optimum accessibility for installation and cleaning of the mold. The machine works on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle, meaning that the material first plasticized will be injected first. A constant L/D ratio is said to guarantee the homogenous preparation of the compound. Another benefit is said to be the short distance from the pot chamber to the nozzle. The machine can be equipped with silicone stock feeders or pumping units for liquid silicone. (Maplan/Starlinger North America, 921 A.E.C. Dr., Wood Dale, 1L 60191)

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High performance slitter

The company's high performance slitter with duplex turret rewind is specifically designed for converting a range of light gauge films up to 16" wide with and without adhesive coating. In addition to the standard interchangeable slitting assemblies for shear and razor capability, the unit has two "S" wrap pull roll sections with additional nip rolls for programmable "draw" control curing slitting. The unit is driven by a dual drive DC system. (Independent Machine, 2 Stewart Place, Fairfield, NJ 07004)

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Coating removal, cleaning

The SpongeBlast line is a family of products comprised of sponge particles that release fast-acting abrasives or cleaning agents upon impact. SpongeBlast products are designed to add speed and decrease dust in the removal of paint and other coatings, and can also be used to accelerate major cleaning projects. SpongeBlast cleaning media are used to cleanse oil, film or other materials from large surfaces. (U.S. Technology, 220 Seventh St., S.E., Canton, OH 44 702)

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Computerized preformer

The C4 preformer is a combination of the company's C3 precision preformer and the technologically advanced HT computerized preformer. The C4 features plc controls and simple three-step operation. It also stores multiple settings and has an automatic cycling feature. It is capable of maximum pressures of 3,500 psi and has an extended center for easy access cleaning. Accuracy of blank weight is achieved by simply adjusting the cutter speed at startup, or during operation, or by typing in the actual achieved weight of the blank and letting the internal processor calculate the necessary adjustments. A scaled loopback option is also available, in which the operator can recalibrate the machine's control ratio by placing a preformed blank onto the scales. The computer will automatically make the necessary adjustments to maintain accuracy. The combination of standard mechanical push buttons and the simple electronic control panel is said to ensure operator efficiency and accurate, repeatable performance. The C4 has an optional ram head mounted barrel cleaner for quick and easy cleaning, according to the company. (Barwell, 460 Tacoma Ave., Tallmadge, OH 44278-2719)

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Portable hot water systems

The MTC (mold temperature controller) portable hot water systems are said to deliver full feature temperature control in the smallest cabinets on the market. At only 11" wide and 19" high, the MTC units will fit just about anywhere that a customer needs highly accurate, powerful temperature control, according to the manufacturer. The MTC eliminates pump failures by using industrial duty pumps with EPDM Ni-Resist mechanical seals rated up to 300 [degrees] E The standard 30 psi discharge pressure is said to deliver powerful, turbulent flow. All units can be upgraded to 50 psi. A continuous automatic air vent prevents heater burn-out and insures optimum heat transfer through a process. (Budzar Industries, 38241 Willoughby Pkwy., Willoughby, OH 44094-7582)

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Polymer processor

The U-Max processor, with its temperature/vacuum capabilities, is said to have successfully demonstrated the methodology of an in-situ polymerization reaction followed by effective drying and size reduction. Once again, multiple processing steps have been carried out in the company's equipment. Other materials may require the presence of both heat and pressure. Again, the company is said to be capable of providing the required equipment (Prestovac). One of the key elements in the company's design is the ability to mechanically fluidize the bed to achieve high coefficient of heat transfer, and at the same time the company can break down large agglomerates that start to form after the melt. Without the high speed chopping mills, users can end up with irregular powder sizing, which will cause problems in building the proper molecular weight and further handling prior to downstream processing. Equipment is available in sizes from four to 25,000 liters. (Processall, 10596 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45215)

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Extruder/preformer

The company's newly designed machine extrudes, preforms, screens and profiles rubber compounds in preparation for the next step of rubber parts manufacturing. The rubber compound is plasticized by a screw and then fed in-to a gear pump. The pump has its own drive, which eliminates the pulsations that are generated by the motions of the screw in many conventional machines. The pressure control system, before and after the pump, regulates the screw and pump speed. This is said to keep the profile even and consistent throughout the system. The gear pump also serves as a metering system that gives an exact volume of rubber during each revolution. The pump motor has an encoder which sends impulses to an electric counter in the PLC. This in turn gives a signal to the cutter motor, via the servo control, to cut. (Infinity Consulting Services, 14621 Karyl Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55345-2920)

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Size reduction

The Vulcanator features a novel low friction cutter design which quickly reduces whole bales of rubber into small bits without heat rise, according to the manufacturer. Rugged rotary knives pull the material into the cutting area and disintegrate the slabs to a size fine enough to pass through a special sizing screen. The reduced particles are then expelled from the bottom of the unit. The Vulcanator is built for heavy duty operation. The housing is constructed of heavy steel plate. A high level of precision is incorporated into every component, according to the company. Access doors are provided for easy maintenance. An auxiliary fly wheel is said to help this unit rip through even the toughest bales. Optional features include an S260 automatic reversing controller, conveying systems and hoppers. (Franklin Miller, 60 Oknet Pkwy., Livingston, NJ 07039)

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Tapered extruders

This manufacturer of mixers and presses for the rubber and plastics industries has introduced a line of tapered, twin-screw extruders. The RSM Series of machines is available in eight models, with outputs ranging from 990 to 33,000 pounds per hour. Drive motors of 25 to 275 hp produce controllable screw speeds from 3 to 15 rpm. The machines can be sent-up to extrude profiles, or can be equipped with roller heads to produce sheet. Roller heads are available from 14 to 24 inches in diameter and with roll widths of 24 to 40 inches. Based on sizes of rolls and drive motor horsepower, the roller heads can produce sheet ranging from 20 to 36 inches maximum width. These extruders are said to offer such advantages as eliminating the need for a mill, and they have the capability to accept an entire batch from the mixer, according to the company. In addition, they are said to offer the versatility of producing either a profile or sheet. (Technical Machine Products, 5500 Walworth Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102)

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Tiebarless machine

The company has expanded its tiebarless line to include a 300-ton model. With a tiebarless machine, users are said to gain a substantially larger platen area that can accommodate larger, more complex molds. Conventional machines often force molders to use larger tonnage machines than an application needs because their mold cannot physically fit between tiebars at the ideal tonnage, according to the company. The 300-ton tiebarless machine is available with two control packages, including the EC100 and the CC100. Both packages offer smart pump hydraulics and the company's RISC-based distributed intelligence machine control, which is said to allow for virtually limitless expandability. The EC100 package can handle the majority of injection molding applications. It features a standard, high-resolution color display, a single smart pump and self-tuning temperature control. The CC100 advanced package offers even more flexibility and performance, with its state-of-the-art color graphic interface and dual smart pumps, according to the company. (Engel, 545 Elmira Rd., Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1K 1C2)

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Extruder system

The company's single roller die extruder system is said to combine the advantages of the direct extrusion process with quality improvement and excellent productivity, according to the manufacturer. The company provides mixing and extrusion lines for the processing of rubber compounds, including dispersion kneaders, compounding, sheet, ribbon and CMB production lines, open kneaders, multi-profile extruders, rubber extruders, strainers, silicone extruders, multi-layer profile extruders, plastic compound extruders, twin screw extruders, two combination extruders, rubber sheet manufacturing equipment, o-ring cutters, magnetic rubber systems and autoload preformers. (Woo Sung Machinery, 3-Ma 206, Sihwa Industrial Complex, 1374-5, Jungwang-Dong, Sihung-City, Kyunggi-Do, Korea)

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Body ply cutter/splicer

The TPCS textile body ply cutter/splicer system automatically prepares body ply for the assembly of car tires. The TPCS system automatically unwinds the calender rolls, cuts and splices the material to yield new rolls of high quality tire ply stock ready for final tire assembly, according to the company. To splice the stock and re-orient the textile cords, the company uses a splicing device that is said to insure precise and reliable splice quality. The system is designed to meet tire manufacturers' tight requirements for splice overlap, according to the manufacturer. The company offers a complete system, including calender roll unwinding, ply cutting, auto splicing and ply re-winding. Several system options are also available for adding rubber or textile strips, stock marking, cord angle adjustment and operator interfaces. The machine is modular in form to allow each user to choose the configuration that best meets their process needs. The machine can be easily reconfigured should process conditions change in the future, according to the company. (VMI Americas, 4485 Allen Rd., Stow, OH 44224)

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Twin screw extrusion line

The TEM Series of co-rotating intermeshing twin screw extruders is said to offer the highest torque-per-free-volume and the highest screw speed of any of its major compounding competitors, according to the company. The increased torque of the patented gearbox and the high screw speed are said to assure product quality with uniform dispersion at a low material temperature. Production costs are said to be lower as a result of the TEM Series compounders' ease of operation and reduced maintenance requirements. The company offers a 58 mm SS model, along with 41 mm, 48 mm, 75 mm, 92 mm, 104 mm and 136 mm models. The company provides extrusion and compounding equipment. (NFM Welding Engineers, 577 Oberlin Rd., S.W., Massillon, OH 44647)

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Scrap size reduction system

One year after introducing the S-30 Shuttle Granulator for the size reduction of large scrap items, the company has developed a smaller version for purgings and other heavy-duty scrap. The S-20 model has a smaller scrap containment chamber (20" x 30") than the existing S-30 unit (30" x 30"), and a smaller footprint (5 1"w x 72"1 x 50"h), but has the same overall size and operates identically. The Shuttle Granulator combines two size reduction steps into one two-stage process analogous to that used in carpentry, then the grinding process carried out by the company's Radial granulator. Originally developed for beside-the-press use, the Radial granulator required only slight modification for use as the second stage in the Shuttle Granulator, which is a central granulating system. (Maguire Products, 11 Crozerville Rd., Aston, PA 19014)

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Process/sortation equipment

Standardized process equipment for rubber processing and tire manufacturing, and a complete line of sortation equipment for tire handling are offered by the company. The firm has developed a slab robber cooling unit that reduces manufacturing and engineering costs through the standardization of the rubber process and tire handling equipment. In turn, the standardization is said to provide quicker deliveries and savings for the customer. The slab rubber cooling unit features automatic threading, precision stacking, auto skid handling, auto slitting and cutting, and optimal space utilization, according to the manufacturer. A complete line of tire sortation equipment is available with sortation speeds as high as 100 tires per minute. Lower-speed models are said to be more common. The product line includes a product for tire handling, the transverse-roller slat shoe sorter. Since this product is specifically designed for the high-speed sortation of tires, slats not associated with shoe motion are removed and replaced with narrow transverse-oriented conveyor tread. (Mathews Conveyor, Danville, KY)

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Electric walk-in oven

The No. 825 is a 500 [degrees] F electric walk-in oven, currently in use for curing latex at a customer's facility. This unit is a modified version of the company's standard model WTH566-500 walk-in oven. Workspace dimensions inside this unit measure 54" wide x 72" deep x 72" high. The oven's 30kW power is installed in Incoloy sheathed tubular heating elements, while a 6,000 cfm, 5 hp recirculating blower provides horizontal airflow across the workload. Construction features on the No. 825 include 4" thick insulated walls, a 2" insulated floor with truck wheel guide tracks, an aluminized steel exterior, a Type 304, 2B stainless steel interior with continuously front-welded seams, a cellular silicone rubber door gasket, a stainless steel water cooling coil located in the heat chamber, a removable top-mounted heat chamber, to minimize floor space requirements, and the oven body is split into three sections for customer loading onto their elevator. Safety equipment includes a digital programming temperature controller, a manual reset excess temperature controller with separate heating element control contactors, a recirculating blower airflow safety switch, an SCR power controller and a 6" strip chart recorder. (Grieve, 500 Hart Rd., Round Lake, IL 60073-2898)

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Servo puller cutter system

The company's servo puller/cutter systems are specifically designed for medical and catheter tubing production. These systems use no gears, toothed timing belts, shafts or other inertia causing mechanical transmission, but rather are direct driven, allowing precise speed control and virtually instantaneous speed changes required in the production of bump or taper tubing. Three motors are used on the system, one each for the two belts and one for the cutter. Touch screen control software features include a switching output to change tubing inflation air levels for proportional changes in bump tubing ID/OD ratios. Taper lengths are said to be easily programmed. (Wayne Machine & Die, 100 Furler St., Totowa, NJ 07512-1896)

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Polyurethane mixhead

A recirculating mixhead has been developed for spraying polyurethane in RIM (reaction injection molding) applications. The MiniRim spray head is said to be the first recirculating spray mixhead designed specifically for open-pour. The MiniRim spray head is also said to be the only mixhead on the market designed specifically for spray, and is self-cleaning. The nozzle mechanism is engineered to expunge the mixed urethane resins out of the chamber and cavity automatically, thereby reducing chemical resin waste and shortening cycle times, according to the company. The MiniRim spray head is said to offer many additional advantages over open-pouring with a standard head. The spray head disperses the foam material in a wide, even application path, greatly reducing the number of times the head must pass over the mold to complete the pour. The head is said to offer molders a way of covering large areas quickly and efficiently, with precise control of overspray, according to the manufacturer. (Gusmer-Admiral, 305 W. North St., Akron, OH 44303)

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Horizontal injection molding

The line of Indigo horizontal injection molding machines includes toggle clamp models from 33 to 440 U.S. tons and hydraulic equipment from 500 to 1,000 U.S. tons. The machines are now supplied with closed-loop control capabilities at no surcharge. Each model incorporates the company's Matrix controller, a microprocessor-based system that provides closed-loop injection pressure control and other capabilities. Precision, repeatability, durability and economy are said to differentiate the Indigo Series from competitive equipment, yet now molders can use closed-loop control to stabilize, analyze and improve their processing operations, according to the manufacturer. The company is said to be the world's largest manufacturer of vertical clamp insert-molding equipment, and also supplies horizontal injection molding machines. (Autojectors, P.O. Box 790, 200 Dekko Dr., Avilla, IN 46710)

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Small totalizer

Processors who meter pre-blended or single-component materials directly into their processing machines can now control consumption and monitor throughput with a dispensing unit small enough for mounting at the extruder throat. The Model WST 110 is an addition to the company's Weigh Scale Totalizer line of machines, which function exactly like the company's gravimetric weigh scale blenders, utilize the same control software and provide the same high level of dosing precision, according to the manufacturer. A technology that reduces raw material costs by controlling mono-layer and coextruded product thickness, the extrusion control network is simpler and more accurate than conventional yield control systems and costs 50% less, according to the company. Processors can now use the totalizer as part of the extrusion control network or as an isolated unit for controlling batch sizes and tracking consumption of raw material. (Maguire Products, 11 Crozerville Rd., Aston, PA 19014)

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Extrusion head

A duplex extrusion head has been developed for vehicle tire apex profiles. Featuring a new hydraulic lever locking system, the extrusion head is specially designed for apex production and thus considerably less expensive than the previously used standard extrusion heads, according to the company. Apex profiles are made from one or two different rubber compounds and are applied to the steel wire beads which hold the tire on the wheel rim. Special apex extrusion lines were already developed some time ago to allow the continuous production of these profiles and hot application to the beads without interim storage, according to the company, whose range also includes extrusion lines of this kind. However, duplex extrusion heads with hydraulic hammer-head locking are still used to produce apex profiles, although they are really designed to make treads and sidewalls. As apex production requires significantly lower extruder output and lower locking forces, these heads are said to be too big for the job, and thus too expensive. The new apex extrusion head is much smaller and is said to be considerably less expensive than standard units. (Krupp Elastomertechnik GmbH, 663 E. Crescent Ave., Ramsey, NJ 07446)

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