Extrusion systems: product lines reviewed.

diam., including both single- and twin-screw.

PECO, INC.

Offers small lab extruders for blown film and pipe, and also complete single-screw extrusion systems (1 3/4-in. to 2 1/2-in. diam.) and auxiliary equipment systems for PE blown film.

PHILLIPS SCIENTIFIC CO., INC.

Custom builds hydraulic or pneumatic-powered ram extruders. Machines are available in vertical or horizontal format and are A.I.M. INTERNATIONAL INC.

Offers a full line of corrugators capable of producing a tubing from 0.33- to 31.50-in. diam. out of PVC, PE, PP, PA, PFA, TFA, etc. Company's Unicor design reportedly offers the highest quality product along with maximum output rates. Also offered is equipment to produce large-bore pipe out of PVC, PE, PP, etc., up to 120-in. diam. through a spiral winding system patented by A.G. Petzetakis.

Company can offer a complete line of machinery and equipment to produce multilayer foam-core pipe in sizes ranging from 2- through 8-in. diam. for PVC, PE, or composites.

ADDEX, INC.

Specializes in blown film dies, air rings, IBC systems, oscillating hauloffs and complete film lines. Products include an improved laminar-flow air ring and a noncontact internal bubble-cooling system, which employs up to eight external ultrasonic sensors and controls layflats to 1/10 in. Ease of operation enables dialing in width changes on-the-fly. The system is retrofittable.

Film reclaim system uses conical single screws for positive feeding of scrap film. The unit can feed melted scrap directly into a monolayer or coextrusion die. It also can produce finished pellets. Extruders come in sizes of 2 1/2-, 3 1/2-, 4 1/2- and 6-in. diam. with outputs of 200, 350, 700, 1200 lb/hr average and 300, 500, 1000 and 1800 lb/hr peak.

AKRON EXTRUDERS, INC.

Single-screw extruders from 3/4 in. through 8 in. are available. Company offers a range of extruders, including heavy-duty models (for rigid vinyl applications) with a variety of options in hp, L/D, extruder drives and heating zone configurations. In addition, company has introduced new 1-in. and 1 1/2-in. models designed for medical tubing. Pedestal-mounted models are also offered.

Company supplies replacement and repaired screws and barrels for almost every make of extruder. A variety of screw coatings can be applied for both abrasion and corrosion resistance. Services include custom design to meet specific processing applications, in-house preventive maintenance programs and the use of company's extensive feed screw library, consisting of over 3500 drawings.

AL-BE INDUSTRIES, INC.

Company has a standard line of single-screw extruders (1-, 1 1/4-, 1 1/2-, 2- and 2 1/2-in. diam.) and also manufactures custom-designed units with diameters up to 8 in. All models have bimetallic-lined barrels with up to 30:1 L/D. High-capacity thrust housings are provided for long bearing life. Auxiliary equipment includes vacuum sizers and cooling tanks (the latter with optional built-in refrigeration units), hauloffs, cutoff saws, coilers, and dies for pipe, tubing or pelletizing.

ALPHA MARATHON MFG. INC.

Manufactures single-screw extruders in diameters from 1 to 6 in., and specializes in blown film applications. Extruders feature air- or water-cooled systems; double reduction, helical gear reducers; integral heavy-duty thrust bearings; and bimetallic barrels.

Company also offers its Polycrunch film reclaim systems. Extruder features a large conical feed section with a grooved feed throat. Scrap film can be fed loos directly into feed section without the need for granulating. For maximum outputs granulated film can be gravity fed from an optional hopper. Pelletizing system includes underwater pellet die plate with variable speed face cutter, closed-loop water system and pellet dryer. Three models are available for outputs of 500, 800 and 1500 lb/hr.

ALPINE AMERICAN DIV. HOSOKAWA MICRON INT'L.

Complete blown film systems are offered for single-layer HDPE and for co-extrusion of HDPE with LDPE and LLDPE, EVA, EVOH, ionomer and Surylin resins. Screw diameters range from 1.5 to 3.5 in.; dies and air rings measure 3 to 22 in.; takeoffs and winders handle widths up to 120 in. and diam. up to 60 in. with maximum line speeds over 700 fpm. Grooved-feed barrels with solid tungsten carbide inserts for generating high outputs at low melt temperatures are standard. Operations include stationary or rotating extruders and winders, oscillating nips designed specifically for the full spectrum of HDPE and LDPE polymers, upward or downward extrusion, and 12 spiral dies. Components for HDPE or LDPE blown film systems include automatic gauge control with segmented air rings, high-intensity cavity-mixing sections, gauge measurement systems, and automatic bubble diameter control systems. The maximum cooling capacity with HMW-HDPE is 28 lb/in. of die circumference. Bag machines include a three-track t-shirt machine and a bottom seal can liner machine.

AMERICAN BARMAG CORP.

Offers the following extrusion packages: Blown film systems for single-ply and multilayer film (up to seven layers) with extruder sizes from 1.8- to 6-in. diam.; tape extrusion lines, including winders, with widths from 16 to 71 in.; monofilament extrusion lines for polyolefins, nylon and PET; flat film and sheeting installations for monolayer and coextrusion technology; single-screw extruders as large as 14-in. diam.; and melt filters for continuous and discontinuous production at up to 880 lb/hr. Also provided are gear metering pumps, extrusion discharge pumps, and turnkey gear pump systems, along with polymer filtration systems and polymer valves.

AMERICAN JET STREAM, INC.

Offers complete extrusion systems for HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE from Plastimac; and twin-screw extruders for compounding from Maris.

Also distributes Plastimac multiline bag-making machines for T-shirts and conventional bags with in-line or off-line printing.

AMERICAN LEISTRITZ EXTRUDER CORP.

Twin-screw extruders in both corotating and counterrotating modes and auxiliary equipment are available for complete production lines for compounding (including color concentrates) and scrap reprocessing. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

A universal laboratory extruder has attachments for three twin-screw modes and for single-screw operation. Auxiliary equipment, including blown film, sheet, and profile attachments, is available. Company also supplies hot-face pelletizing systems with capacities up to 5000 lb/hr.

Extruders are manufactured by Leistritz AG, Nurnberg, Germany.

AMERICAN MAPLAN CORP.

Offers a line of five twin-screw extrusion systems for rigid PVC pipe and siding: two conical and three parallel twin-screw extruders. The DSK-52 and 62 are low-output, high-pressure machines, and the TS 80, 100, and 130 are twin-screw extruders with L/D ratio of 24:1. Diameters range from 1/2 in. to 36 in., and outputs from 250 to 2400 lb/hr. Oil cooling is an integral part of the machines. Tooling for PVC pipe and profile, replacement barrels and screws, and calibrating systems are also available.

AMUT S.P.A.

See Carl G. Brimmekamp and Co.

ASHLAND TAYLOR INC.

Manufactures complete and fully integrated extrusion lines for production of corrugated pipes with patented corrugators and dual-wall pipe tooling systems, blown film systems with in-line bag-making and converting equipment coupled with automatic packaging, and scrap reclaim and pelletizing systems. Extruders range from 3/4- to 18-in. diam. Custom-designed extrusion tooling and extruders are also offered with patented screw designs.

BATTENFELD BLOWMOLDING MACHINES, INC./HARTIG DIV.

Supplies standard and custom designed single-screw extruders ranging in screw diameter from 3/4- to 15-in. and in L/D ratios depending upon application requirements. Extruders are equipped with heavy-duty gear reducers with change gears, high-capacity thrust bearings, and heating/cooling systems. In-house screw manufacturing and design are available for all thermoplastic materials such as polyester, nylon, PP, HDPE, LLDPE and others.

Also available is a proprietary reclaim system for hard-to-feed, low-bulk-density materials, as well as downstream equipment for special applications. Four sizes have special throat and feed capabilities for film scrap, fiber, foam and other hard-to-feed materials. A complete laboratory is available for in-house testing and demonstration.

BATTENFELD EXTRUSIONSTECHNIK

See Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering.

BATTENFELD GLOUCESTER ENGINEERING CO., INC.

Manufactures converting systems for both in-and-out-of-line operations, single and multilayer blown film extrusion systems for packaging, thick/thin or stretch film applications, and bagmaking; and complete systems for sheet, cast film, foam and extrusion coating. Other equipment includes reclaim extrusion systems, PVC window profile, HDPE and PVC pipe extrusion systems, as well as a complete line of pelletizers. All extrusion systems are available with the Extrol 6000 Series Microprocessor Control Systems.

Company has also taken over manufacturing and marketing of Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik pipe and profile extrusion equipment in North America. PVC pipe extrusion systems can be supplied with parallel twin-screw extruders up to 130-mm diam., CNC computer control, and a reportedly unique self-centering die. PVC window and other profile systems can also be supplied. Polyolefin pipe systems include single-screw extruders with diam. of 65- to 150-mm.

Battenfeld's single- and twin-screw extruders and downstream equipment are being redesigned for the North American market.

BAUSANO

See Tex America, Inc.

BERLYN CORP.

Offers extruders and filters, single-screw extruders from 3/4-in. diam. to 15-in. diam. and all L/D ratios; filters and screen changers, including slide-plate, continuous and automatic types; downstream strand equipment, dies, water baths, air strippers and pelletizers; underwater pelletizing systems to 6000 lb/hr; and other sheet, film and winding equipment, and polymer melt pumps.

Company's single-screw extrusion recycling systems for thermoplastic resins consist of size-reduction granulators, vertical screw feeders, long L/D ratio (50:1) barrels, dual-venting systems, slide plate screenchangers and/or continuous filters for removal of large quantities of contamination, and strand and underwater pelletizing systems. Productions rates range from 100 lb/hr to 10,000 lb/hr.

BERSTORFF CORP.

Offers corotating, twin-screw mixing extruders and pelletizing systems. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

BLACK CLAWSON CO.

Systems include completely integrated processing lines for flat cast film, embossed cast film, stretch wrap, extrusion lamination; extrusion coating of paperboard, woven and nonwoven substrates; oriented-film lines, and oriented-tape and fiber lines. Single-screw extruders range from 2 1/2- to 12-in. diam., with standard L/Ds of 24:1 and 30:1. Accessories include film and coating dies, primer coaters and dryers, film winders, unwinds, slitter/rewinders, and coextrusion systems for cast film and extrusion coating. All systems are available with microprocessor-based controls.

Custom-built, single-screw compounding/pelletizing extruders with melt-feed, cold-feed and batch-feed designs are offered in diameters up to 20 in. Output rates extend to over 60,000 lb/hr.

STEWART BOLLING CO.

See Kobelco Stewart Bolling, Inc.

BOMONT PLASTICS CORP. DIV. OF BOMONT INDUSTRIES

Offers complete systems ranging from laboratory to 6-in. production extrusion lines. Emphasis is on custom-designed machinery for film, sheet, monofilament, slit tape and strapping. Company offers rebuilt screws and barrels to meet specific requirements.

BOSTON MATTHEWS, INC.

Manufactures single-screw extruders, vacuum baths, cooling troughs, haul-offs, automatic cut-off saws, coilers, and complete extrusion lines for the production of pipe and profile, and the insulation of wire and cable.

THE BOULIGNY CO.

See RPM Extrusion Div.

C.W. BRABENDER INSTRUMENTS

Lab and pilot-plant single-screw extruders come in 3/4- and 1 1/4-in. diam. with L/Ds of 10:1, 15:1, 20:1, 25:1 and 30:1. When attached to the company's Plasti-Corder drive, units become miniature process-sensing elements that chart the extrusion cycle. Also available are custom-designed tooling and a complete line of interchangeable dies and screws, such as dies for capillary flow, blown film, wire coating, sheet, and profiles. Company supplies a variety of hoppers, gravity and force feeders, and takeoff units for sheet, blown film and wire. It also offers its Independent Table-Top Extruder: a 3/4-in., compact, small-scale, self-contained system driven by a 3/4-hp motor and worm gear reducer.

Counterrotating, intermeshing twin-screw extruders for laboratory or pilot-plant work are also offered: a parallel-screw, 1.65-in. model for high-shear continuous mixing of rigid PVC and polyolefins at rates up to 20 lb/hr; a parallel 1.4-in. model with higher L/D, designed mainly for profile extrusion at rates up to 45 lb/hr; and a conical design for extrusion/mixing of heat-sensitive or highly lubricated materials at a rate of up to 35 lb/hr (supplied also in a corotating design).

BRAMPTON ENGINEERING INC.

Single-screw extruders for blown film, pipe, profile, foam sheet, sheet, wire and cable, and compounding are offered. Extruders are manufactured with 1- to 6-in. screw diam. and L/D ratios up to 40:1.

Complete blown film lines are available with coextrusion and single-layer dies up to 84-in. diam. and coextrusion dies for 2, 3, 5 or more layers in rotating, oscillating or stationary configurations. Also supplied are dies for foam sheet, pipe coating, wire coating, hose and pipe; and both center and surface winders in widths to 120 in.

CARL G. BRIMMEKAMP & CO., INC.

Single- and twin-screw extruders from Amut S.p.A. are available up to 6 1/3 in. Complete systems are available for pipe and profile, blown film extrusion and coextrusion up to five layers, and plain and corrugated sheet extrusion and coextrusion up to six layers. Reclaim and pelletizing systems are also available. Laboratory extruders from Dr. Collin GmbH of Germany are available for pipe, profile, blown and cast film extrusion and coextrusion in sizes from 3/4 in. to 1 3/4 in. A Collin lab twin-screw compounder operates in either corotating or counterrotating mode.

BROWN PLASTICS ENGINEERING CO.

A line of small extrusion systems up to 1 1/2 in. is offered for lab, school, R&D and production uses. Used machinery, screen changers, pelletizing, wire and cable, fiber and filament systems are also available. Services include screw and barrel repairs. Company also rebuilds plastics machinery of all types and offers refurbished machinery for sale.

BUSS AMERICA, INC.

The Buss-Kneader is a reciprocating single-screw extruder designed for compounding thermoplastics, thermosets, powder coatings, rubbers, and chemicals. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

CINCINNATI MILACRON MARKETING U.S. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Manufactures twin-screw extruders designed to process heat-sensitive materials such as flexible or rigid PVC. Four basic machine models are available: the CM-55, CM-65, CM-80, and CM-90 conical twin-screw designs. System downstream equipment includes vacuum calibration tables, puller, saws, collection tables, spray baths, dry-face cutters, and pneumatic cooling systems. Output rates of rigid PVC range from 10 to 2500 lb/hr. Complete systems produce pipe, siding, sheet, window profile, and pellets.

Milacron has also newly introduced replacement screws and barrels for both parallel and conical twin-screws of German and Austrian makes.

A brand-new Apex line of single-screw extruders comes in diameters of 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 in. with standard L/Ds of 25:1 and 30:1 and air or water cooling. They're said to be built of heavy-duty components with versatile drives that can be supplied in right- or left-hand or tuck-under positions. Brushless DC drive is standard. New EX compact microprocessor control panel is optional. The new extruders and a brand-new spiral die head will be offered in polyolefin pipe extrusion systems.

Also offered are integrated single-screw extrusion and thermoforming systems for crystal PS and PP based on technology from OMV of Italy. Company also owns the Sano Design & Machine Co.

CINCINNATI MILACRON-SANO, INC.

Specializes in extrusion systems for blown, cast, and/or cast/embossed film in widths from 20 in. to 20 ft and speeds up to 1500 ft/min. Single- and multilayer spiral-die assemblies (diam. up to 90 in.) are offered for up to seven layers. Noncontact internal bubble cooling systems are available, in addition to high-output air-cooling rings suitable for 1.3:1 to 5:1 BUR and film thicknesses of 0.3 to 80 mils. Single-screw extruders have typical diam. of 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 in. with standard L/Ds of 25:1 to 30:1.

Company also supplies automatic winding equipment with in-line slitting, automatic web transfer and handling, web widths up to 160 in., and roll diameters up to 60 in. Turnkey, custom-engineered film extrusion systems and line components are also provided.

Company has entered the sheet systems business with lines based on the new Cincinnati Milacron Apex single-screw extruders and Sano's new three-roll cooling/polishing stacks. The latter offer automatic roll-gap adjustment with digital indication of nip opening, brushless DC drives, and a split pivot lever arm designed for high closing forces.

Company now offers microprocessor control systems built by Cincinnati Milacron, as well as those systems offered by control systems companies. New from Sano are computer systems for total line supervision in film and sheet extrusion. Based on Milacron hardware and both Milacron and Sano software, these Optec systems have a color graphics CRT, and full SPC/SQC reporting and trending. Integrated recipe management ties in temperature profile, blender rates, gravimetric feed rates, and gauge control.

CONAIR RECLAIM TECHNOLOGIES THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Offers a complete range of auxiliary equipment specifically for conveying, separation, granulation, size reduction, and blending of reclaimed materials. Company does not manufacture extruders, but provides complete systems through a network of OEM extruder manufacturers using company's auxiliaries.

CONAIR GATTO THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Offers a complete line of extrusion equipment for producing plastic pipe, tubing and profiles in sizes up to 48-in. diam. Complete extrusion systems, or individual components, such as dies, sizing and cooling tanks, take-off and cut-off units, saws, coilers, and dump tables are available. Extrusion lines can be supplied with standard electrical packages or microprocessor-based automated systems. Safety features are said to meet OSHA standards. Company offers a 1 1/4-in., 24:1 single-screw extruder with water-cooled barrel, 5-hp drive, and controls for screw speed, three barrel zones, and two die zones.

CORMA INC.

Offered are production systems for plastic corrugated pipe or tubing. Seven standard models cover a range from 1/8 in. I.D. to 60 in. I.D. of corrugated pipe, including systems for dual-wall corrugated pipe and large-diameter spiral-wound pipe from 15-in. to over 66-in. diam. Company also builds after-coolers, perforators, slitters, cut-offs and high-speed winders for small-diam. tubing, and offers a complete line of extruders with its corrugators.

New products include rib pipe systems for underground electrical utility ducting and sanitary sewer pipe; range of machinery is from 1 1/4-in. to 30-in. I.D. Company also sells individual machines, corrugator lines or turnkey installations.

CROWN MACHINE DIV. CROWN PRODUCTS, INC.

Designs and manufactures a full line of custom-designed biaxial and unidirectional orientation extrusion systems for PS, PP, PVC, PPS, PE and nylon film and sheet. Extruders are available in single-screw configuration of 2 1/2- to 12-in. diam. and L/D ratios from 12:1 to 38:1, and feature patented feed sections with accelerated feed grooves and laser-aligned barrel- and thrust-bearing assemblies to reduce vibration, wear and energy consumption. Screws are custom-designed, and barrels are bimetallic. Systems employ microprocessor and/or computer control to maintain high output and precise product specifications. Biaxial orientation lines include extruder, machine-direction orienter, transverse-direction orienter, infrared or convection oven, die and winder.

Crown is licensed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan to use its technology for biaxially oriented PP and PET systems, sold here under the name Crown-MHI. Crown is also the exclusive distributor in North America of Mitsubishi's PTE polyester-type extruder and its high-mixing extruder.

Company also builds cast sheet and film lines, as well as a line of standard extruders and pelletizers. A complete selection of auxiliary equipment such as gear pumps, screen changers, adapters and filters is available.

CUSTOM SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

Company's specialty is laboratory and pilot-plant mixing extruders that operate on the elastic-melt principle. A screwless extruder uses the elastic-energy storage characteristics of polymer melts for mixing and extrusion. Typical applications for the unit include compounding, polymer blending, fiber melt spinning, and pelletizing. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

DAVIS-STANDARD CROMPTON & KNOWLES CORP.

Provides customized extruders, feed screws, drives and controls for processes such as wire and cable, pipe, profile, medical tubing, sheet, blown and cast film, blow molding, elastomer, compounding, reclaim/recycle and fiber. Customization continues for such proprietary new technologies as rotary thermoforming of microwaveable barrier containers, melt-blown nonwovens manufacturing, high-speed compression molding of beverage bottle caps, and high-throughput OPP film manufacturing. Extruders vary in size from 1- to 12-in. diam. Custom-designed screws operate at high outputs and quality.

Company also provides multilayer barrier film and sheet extrusion systems and is involved in recycling of plastics with custom-designed extruders to handle low-bulk-density scrap.

For rigid PVC profiles, company has introduced new twin-screw Gemini machines that are reportedly rugged and as easy to operate and maintain as single-screw extruders. In medical products, company's new flexible PVC tubing systems provide production rates to 400 fpm; ultra-precise ID/OD ovality tolerances; screw designs to allow for high product clarity; and continuous ultra-low-tension coiling. In conjunction with the medical tubing systems, new 1-in., 1 1/4-in., and 1 1/2-in. floor-model extruders have been introduced.

In drives and controls company has been active in programming and packaging process line controls for CIM. System 401 incorporates patented dual-sensor, anticipatory temperature controls; and the new Epic II color, touch-screen supervisory control system provides speed and power, and incorporates dual thermocouple control and responsive closed-loop line control. System has a graphical user-friendly interface featuring pictorial control screens, trending and SPC/SQC screens.

Company offers extrusion processors specialized technical services, equipment rebuilding, and modernization of machinery and controls. Rebuilding all makes of extruders is accomplished with custom packages to improve output and performance.

Company is also offering its own line of blown film dies and rotators, ranging from single-layer dies to five-layer coextrusion systems in sizes up to 86-in. diam.

DELTAPLAST MACHINERY LTD.

Offers its Delta line of single-screw extruders from 1- to 6-in. diam. Models are liquid- or air-cooled and have company's Deltatherm heating/cooling systems, heat-failure alarm systems, in-stream hopper metal traps, open-frame construction and unitization.

Also builds caster-mounted and column-mounted coextruders, as well as dies, profile sizers, cooling tanks, and custom-engineered screws. Company also rebuilds equipment.

DROSSBACH N.A., INC.

Manufactures extruders and complete extrusion lines and specializes in corrugating equipment for producing pipe and tubing.

DURHAM INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Provides complete services for manufacturing outdoor building products, especially PVC windows and sliding doors. Products and services include complete extrusion lines with either single- or twin-screw extruders, all necessary take-off equipment, complete extrusion dies and calibrators, plus complete engineering designs for windows and doors.

ER-WE-PA USA LTD.

See Klockner ER-WE-PA-USA Ltd.

EGAN MACHINERY DIV. JOHN BROWN, INC.

Specializes in high-capacity extrusion lines for blown or cast film, sheet, foam, extrusion coating, compounding, and reclaim. Cast film lines produce trim widths up to 160 in. wide at speeds up to 2000 ft/min. Johnson sheet dies are made by Egan. Flex Lip dies are available up to 160 in. wide for both monolayer and coextruded film and sheet. Lines for foam sheet extrusion up to 1500 lb/hr are available. High-speed coating and laminating lines are offered for a wide range of products. Other products include compounding lines with underwater pelletizers, reclaim systems for reprocessing a broad range of low-bulk-density material, standardized Powerflight single-screw extruders up to 6-in. diam., and custom extruders to 18 in. CMR microprocessor control systems are available for single or multiple line control on new systems or as retrofits on existing lines.

New from company are "Standard" single-screw extruders and sheet systems that complement its traditional customized product offerings. Both lines are said to incorporate proven, high-quality design features available on its custom extrusion equipment at a cost savings of 10-20%, and delivery times four to six weeks shorter than for custom units. Sheet lines are available in widths from 20-66 in.

A line of twin-screw compounding extruders comes in corotating models with segmented screws. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending.)

ENTWISTLE CO.

Single-screw extruders are available in three models from 3/4- to 6-in. Available products include:

* Heavy-duty Thermoflite machines in 2-, 2 1/2-, 3 1/2-, 4 1/2-, and 6-in. diam. from 15:1 to 30:1 L/D.

* Lighter-duty extruders in diameters of 3/4, 1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, and 2 in., and up to 30:1 L/D.

* Vertical extruders for coextrusion, tubing and small profiles, ranging from 3/4- to 2 1/2-in. diam. and up to 30:1 L/D.

* Complete single- and multilayer sheet lines with rolls from 15 to 42 in. and wider.

EXTRUSION SERVICES, INC.

Manufactures downstream extrusion equipment for profiles and tubing though complete extrusion lines are designed to customer specifications, with or without total process control. Firm specializes in on-line automation of the fabrication process with Accupunch and Accustep fabricators and several profile and tube cutters. Special tube cutters include Spincut for fragile, easily broken plastic; Spiralcut for spiraling/slicing around O.D. of tube; and SFC-Cuffcut for corrugated tubing to cut to exact measure at the cuff or valley of tube.

Company also offers extrudate sizing with wet or dry vacuum calibrators; hot water annealing with vacuum sizing to control bow and warpage; standard cooling and vacuum tanks up to 30 ft long; precision pull hauloff with no drift in speed during warm-up or start-up; and a variety of saws and coilers.

FARREL CORP.

Product line consists of custom-designed, heavy-duty single-screw extruders for plastic densification and homogenizing and extruding in strip, strand or pelletized form. Company specializes in larger machines, up to 26-in. diam., for production rates as high as 50,000 lb/hr. Available units include hot-melt extruders, cold-feed extruders, and machines for receiving the discharge from batch or continuous mixers. Underwater pelletizers for LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, PP, PS, ABS, masterbatch compounds, and plastic blends are optional. Retrofits for LDPE extruders with vents for devolatilization are available. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

FILMASTER INC.

Specializes in complete blown film lines for monolayer extrusion and co-extrusion. Single-screw extruders are manufactured for blown film, cast film and blow molding. Individual line components are engineered and manufactured to specifications, including smooth bore extruders, grooved-feed-throat extruders, manual screen changers, blown film die assemblies (1 to 90 in.), air rings, take-offs, slitters, automatic high-speed winders (turret, surface, and specialty applications), and a complete line of auxiliary machinery and replacement parts.

Auxiliary items such as the post-airing cooling chamber, air-flotation bubble collapsing A-frame, and ultrasonic layflat-width control, are easily retrofittable to existing extrusion lines for productivity enhancement. Narrow-tubing blown film lines and double-bubble lines are also available. All machinery and control systems are designed and manufactured at company headquarters in Fairfield, N.J.

FUTURE DESIGN INC.

Supplies complete blown film extrusion lines for LDPE and HDPE, including modular parts such as screws, screen changers, oscillators, low-pressure dies, top nip assemblies, winders, bubble-sizing equipment, extruders and control panels. Provides engineering, planning and service to blown film processors.

Also supplies Saturn dual-lip, low-pressure air rings (from Saturn Mini for 1/2-in. dies to Saturn VII for up to 100-in. dies); and Saturn 100 for HMW-HDPE stationary dies of 1 in. and up.

Company also supplies complete plastic recycling equipment, which consists of washing systems, water treatment systems, grinders, extruders, water-ring pelletizers, drying systems and silo storage systems. Complete plant design and start-up are available.

GENCA DIV. PENN CENTRAL CORP.

Offers a complete line of extrusion crossheads for single-, dual-, and triple-layer extrusions with striping for wire and cable, medical tubing, hose, pipe and profiles. To complement the crosshead product line, company designs and manufactures a complete line of vertical piggyback and horizontal extruders from 3/4- to 4 1/2-in. with standard 24:1 L/Ds. Complete extrusion lines are offered for fluoropolymer and thermoplastic extrusion of wire and cable, and medical tubing.

GLACIER MACHINERY SALES CORP.

Provides complete systems for profiles and blown film, including single-screw and parallel twin-screw extruders to over 6-in. diam. Extruders are manufactured by Carvalho e Catarro Lda. of Portugal, which supplies downstream equipment, including winders, rollers, nips, cut-offs, vacuum tanks, air rings, towers, corrugators and dies. Co-extrusion technology is available. Used extruders and downstream equipment also are offered.

G.F. GOODMAN & SON, INC.

Provides a complete line of post-extrusion machinery for plastic tubing and profiles to 4 in. O.D. Included are vacuum calibration tanks and tables, spray and immersion cooling tanks, DC driven and AC brushless servo-driven caterpillar haul-offs, vacuum pneumatic and electromagnetic clutch/brake and servo-driven, on-demand rotary cutters, traveling saws, AC brushless servo-driven flywheel cutters, cuff-detection systems for cutting corrugated tubing, medical tubing cutter, discharge conveyors, blow-off and sweep conveyors and dump tables. Complete extrusion lines can also be supplied.

ROBERT GREGORY ASSOCIATES, INC.

Offers custom-designed single-screw extruders, screws for single and twin extruders, dies, and engineering and consulting services to review extrusion-oriented processes and update existing systems. Process technology for compounding, blown and cast film, foam, and sheet production is also available. Screw-design technology includes single screws for extrusion, as well as twin screws for compounding and converting.

HPM CORP.

Company's single-screw extruders range in diam. from 2 to 10 in. with L/D ratios of 24:1, 30:1, and 38:1. Nonvented and vented units are available for normal and high-torque applications. Company's specially designed screws, including its patented Double-Wave screw, are reportedly geared to high-performance processing. Double-vented extruders are said to improve processing of hygroscopic resins. Complete lines are offered for sheet extrusion, pipe, profiles, compounding, and scrap reclaim, including options for coextrusion, foam-core, and foamed processes. Tooling is offered for sheet, pipe, strand, strip, and blown film.

HAAKE/FISONS INSTRUMENTS

Laboratory and pilot-plant extruders for compounding and general use are available in 3/4-in. diam. with 10:1 to 30:1 L/D ratios for thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers. Company offers a counterrotating, conical twin-screw machine capable of extruding PVC at a rate of 24 lb/hr. All systems can be driven by Haake Rheocord Torque rheometers.

HARREL, INC.

Manufactures a complete line of small-to-medium extruders (to 2 1/2 in.) that feature rugged construction, digital drives (accurate to 0.001%), and Digipanel microprocessor control panels. Also manufactures a line called Geartruders: a combination of an extruder, high-precision polymer gear pump, digital drive, and Digipanel microprocessor controller, which coordinates the operation of both extruder and gear pump in an integrated system.

A complete line of instrumentation systems are available: Digipanel microprocessor controllers, nuclear thickness gauges, and laser gauging systems. Other extrusion accessories include melt pumps, weigh feeders, and a unique Rollerpuller. Company integrates these elements into complete, prepackaged extrusion systems for tubing or profile. Patented Tubetrol system controls both the outside and inside diameter of tubing or pipe of any size.

HITACHI ZOZEN TRADING & MFG.

Offers two lines of Japanese single-screw extruders: a general-purpose line from 45- to 200-mm diam., and a shorter-barrelled line for polyolefins, from 50- to 120-mm diam. In addition, HZTM supplies counterrotating twin-screw extruders for PVC (cylindrical-barrel type) in sizes from 55- to 160-mm diam., and corotating twin-screw kneaders for compounding in 53- to 200-mm diam.

Various accessories, gear pumps, and controls are offered, as well as complete lines for thin or thick sheet, blown film, mono- or biaxially oriented cast film, pipe, and pelletizing (including film-scrap repelletizing). A specialty is systems for optical-quality clear sheet.

HUTCHEON MACHINERY, INC.

Supplies used and rebuilt extrusion systems for compounding and pelletizing, pipe and profile, cast and blown film, wire and cable, and sheet. Extruders range in size from 1/2- to 12-in. diam. All accessories, such as screen changers, materials-handling equipment and temperature control units, are 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.

INSTAMELT SYSTEMS

Manufactures a unique "screwless" extruder with a smooth rotor housed in a short, eccentrically bored barrel. Material passes around the circumference of the rotor and then exits the barrel into a gear pump and from there through a die. Company's extruders have processed a wide range of virgin and reground thermoplastics at rates of 300 to 2000 lb/hr. The same unit can run materials of a wide melt-flow range. Significantly short residence time and energy savings, relative to a standard single-screw extruder, are claimed.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Office has information and catalogues on Italian extrusion and coextrusion lines for tubes, pipe, profiles, film, sheet, filament, strapping, tape, pelletizing, and cable coating for thermoplastics and rubber. Single- or twin-screw extruders are made by about 30 Italian companies and are available from 1- to 10-in. diam. and L/D from 12:1 to 30:1.

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

Builds two types of twin-rotor continuous fluxing mixers for high-intensity compounding. One is a counterrotating twin-rotor type, similar in basic concept to the Farrel Continuous Mixer; the other is a corotating twin-screw compounding extruder built under license from Krauss-Maffei. (See also Compounding, Mixing and Blending.)

K INC.

Provides film extrusion equipment, including extruders, screws, dies, towers, winders, air rings, continuous screen changers, film sealing and punching equipment, and corona treaters. Also offers resin blending equipment, scrap recycling systems, flexographic printing presses, and gear pumps.

KIEFEL INC.

Designs and manufactures blown film extrusion systems for up to five-layer film structures of HDPE, MDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, EVA, ionomer, PP, PA, EVOH and PET materials. Extruders are available in stationary, oscillating or rotating design and can be equipped with a grooved-feed barrel and decompression screw, or a smooth barrel and compression screw. Sizes range from 30- to 80-mm diam.; die sizes range from 40- to 500-mm diam. Internal bubble cooling is available on die diameters of 120-500 mm. Take-offs can be arranged in a stationary or oscillating design. Surface winders can be supplied in a stationary, oscillating, or rotating design. Operation of winders can be semi-automatic or fully automatic. Take-offs and winders are available with maximum layflat widths of 500-2500 mm. Various accessory equipment is available, such as blenders, vacuum loaders, treaters, web guides, gravimetric gauge-control systems, and layflat width-control systems.

Company specializes in supplying complete systems for extruding thin-gauge, single- or multilayer HMW-HDPE film at high outputs, with reportedly excellent film strength and uniform film thickness or roll quality.

KILLION EXTRUDERS, INC.

Manufactures single-screw extruders with screw sizes ranging from 3/4- to 2 1/2-in. diam. and L/Ds up to 36:1. A broad range of downstream equipment is available. Complete extrusion systems for tubing, wire coating, blown film, pipe, sheet, profiles, filaments, coextrusion, pelletizing, and other applications are offered. Complete laboratory setups can also be supplied.

Company tailors equipment to meet specific applications and also designs and builds custom extrusion equipment within its size range, and places special emphasis on coextrusion systems and medical tubing systems. Also provides a wide range of extrusion-related services, including process laboratory facilities and educational training programs.

KLOCKNER ER-WE-PA USA, INC.

Company designs and manufactures components and complete lines for extrusion coating, cast film, sheet, and coating and laminating. These markets require machinery systems adaptable to a broad range of products. Systems are developed by applying experience and process knowledge in areas of extrusion, priming, drying, treating, coating, lamination, and web handling of light-to-heavy materials. Lines are supplied to achieve various functions, including wet and dry lamination, coextrusion barrier coating, extrusion coating or laminating, printing, and siliconization.

Coextrusion may consist of two or more layers joined prior to a single-slot extrusion die, or a multislot extrusion die having individual and separate feed channels. Higher levels include skin-layer coextrusion using feedblock technology, and dies with automatic die-gap adjustments and integrated thickness measurement and control.

KOBE STEEL  AMERICA INC.

Builds in Japan twin-rotor continuous mixers based on Farrel technology, as well as corotating and counterrotating twin-screw extruders with segmented screws and barrels in sizes from 37- to 200-mm diam. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

KOBELCO STEWART BOLLING, INC.

Hot-melt, single-screw compounding extruders are offered in standard sizes ranging from 4 1/2- to 20-in. nominal screw diam. (See also Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

KRAUSS-MAFFEI CORP. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Offers a complete range of counterrotating, twin-screw extruders in double-conical and parallel-screw configuration for PVC extrusion. High-inventory pipe tooling and coextrusion blocks for siding and capstocking, and dies and calibrators for semi-sheet and post-formed siding extrusion, are available. A special version of the double-conical extruder series is available to serve as a satellite extruder or for triple-layer foam-core pipe.

Machines are controlled by either auto-tuned, microprocessor-based temperature controller and programmable controller in lieu of relay functions, or complete microprocessor controls.

Company has teamed up with Actual Plastics Technology to offer complete systems for PVC window manufacturing.

KUHNE GMBH

See O/K International.

LEISTRITZ AG

See American Leistritz Extruder.

LUWA CORP. FLUID SYSTEMS DIV.

Supplies full range of specialized processing machines and systems, gear pumps, microprocessor controls, motionless mixers and systems for continuous processing of highly viscous polymers. Transported thin-film processing systems are supplied for concentrating and devolatilizing, polymerization and polycondensation, demonomerizing and finishing, and recovery of solvent and polymer from waste streams. Benefits include lower volatile levels, polymer quality preservation, waste minimization through recovery, reliable continuous operation and energy efficiency.

Positive-displacement gear pumps and complete pumping systems are available for handling viscous materials up to 30 million cp. Specialty extrusion gear pumps offered are said to improve dimensional control of product, increase capacity on new or existing lines, regulate extrudate to prevent surges, and reduce energy consumption.

Motionless mixers blend high-viscosity materials thoroughly and improve thermal homogenization. Extrusion microprocessor systems for complete gravimetric extrusion control, gauging systems, pump and temperature control, and complete pilot-plant engineering and start-up services are also available.

MPM POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC.

Offers a complete line of custom-designed and standard extruders and downstream equipment for film sheet, profile, and fibers. Extruders range from lab scale up to 8-in. diam. production sizes and include all accessories, plus a line of computer-designed single- and multilayer flat and blown film dies. Complete in-house engineering and machine shop facilities are available.

MACRO ENGINEERING CO., LTD.

Designs and manufactures complete blown film systems for LDPE, LLDPE, and HDPE, including single-screw extruders, material-blending and scrap-recovery systems, together with secondary cooling systems, PTFE collapsing frames, winders, and other downstream equipment for packaging applications. The company also offers custom equipment for processing new or difficult-to-process resins.

MCNEIL AKRON, INC.

Manufactures a complete line of extruders and downstream equipment. Available extruders include twin-screw types from 2.5 to 4.5 in. and single-screw types from 1.5 to 8 in. Downstream equipment is manufactured for pipe, profile, and sheet. Custom-designed systems are available. Company states that it provides true turnkey responsibility because it manufactures all processing equipment needed. Product line includes extrusion heads, calibration equipment, cooling tanks, pullers/haul-offs, saws, belling machines, roll polishing stands, and high-intensity mixers for PVC compounding.

MERRITT EXTRUDER CORP.

Offers single-screw extruders from 1 in. through 8 in., as well as complete systems for blown film, reclaim, cast film, sheet, wire and cable, profile, and fiber optics.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES

Company supplies, directly from Japan, monolayer and multilayer cast film and biaxial orientation lines with die widths up to 4500 mm. In addition, the firm offers standard single-screw extruders in 65- to 250-mm diam., special single-screw mixing extruders (with a hexagonal-barrel mixing section) of 50-135 mm, tandem single-screw systems from 90/115 to 220/275 mm, counterrotating, conical twin-screw extruders for PVC in 50 mm and 60 mm, and corotating twin-screw compounders from 45-125 mm. (See also listing for Compounding, Mixing, Blending.)

MORRISON ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING, INC.

Manufactures plastic process equipment, including lab-size and production-size, bench- and floor-mounted, horizontal and vertical extruders. Color compounding, wire and cable, monofilament, medical tubing, straw and aerosol tube lines are available.

Product line includes process equipment capable of handling fine wire through large jacketed conductors, and includes auxiliary handling equipment, such as rewind/inspection/cut-to-length lines with PC and CRT electronic control systems, to simple lines for less rigorous requirements.

NRM POLYMER EQUIPMENT CORP.

Designs and manufactures complete extrusion systems for foam, solid and coextruded sheet, film, pipe, profile and continuous extrusion blow molding.

Pacemaker IV thermoplastic extruder is available in 2 1/2- and 3 1/2-in. diam. screws with standard L/D ratios of 24:1, 30:1 and 32:1. Microprocessor-based controls are now standard, using Sentry Pro 1001, which provides centralized, totally integrated control and monitoring of all product and process parameters. Standard sizes range up to 8 in. with L/Ds to 38:1 (designs available to 15 in. and 50:1 L/D). Features also include aircraft-quality, case-hardened gearing, double-reduction gearbox, and new-generation DC scr digital drives.

Pacemaker III thermoplastic extruder is available in 3 1/2-, 4 1/2-, 6 and 8-in. diam. with standard L/D ratios of 24:1, 32:1 and 36:1. Extruders feature new "cold-start" protection, including a soak timer, new Sentry Pro 1001 microprocessor-based controls, individual-zone circuit breakers and DC scr drives with compact power unit. All components are mounted on a single base and completely wired, requiring only utility connections.

Acculayer 2000 is a versatile sheet line designed for wider ranges of materials and processes. It features standard PLC-based alarm system, computer-compatible instrumentation, quick roll change, four-speed transmission and convenience outlets. It has 3-in. conveyor rolls, 800 pli nip pressure and 36-144 in. finished sheet widths.

Company also provides complete turnkey extrusion systems with extruder and downstream equipment, as well as total microprocessor control systems, including sheet and film-gauge inspection systems. Total reclaim systems, spare parts, feed screws, screw design and extruder remanufacturing services are also available. (See also Total Machine Control Systems.)

NEW CASTLE INDUSTRIES, INC.

Offers a line of add-on coextruders for all types of thermoplastic coextrusion. Sizes range from 1 to 3 1/2 in. with most L/Ds available. Either electric or hydraulic drive is available. Custom features are emphasized, such as designs for restricted spaces, multi-axis movement, special controls, and high-performance screws.

Company supplies custom reclaim extruders up to 8 in. using dual-diameter extruders and/or hopper crammers, depending on the feed material. Both new systems and retrofit of existing extruders are offered.

NOKIA-MAILLEFER, INC.

Offers manual and microprocessor-controlled wire and cable, fiber-optic, and plastic tubing extrusion systems, which include dual flyer pay-offs, pay-off stands, BM Series single-screw extruders, fixed and manual centering crossheads, entry/exit caterpillars and capstans, multipass cooling troughs, vacuum calibration troughs, single and dual automatic take-ups, take-up stands, and cabling machinery. Line options include diameter, capacitance, temperature, elongation and synchronization control systems.

The MPL 32 system is designed for extrusion of pipe and tubing for automotive and other engineering applications involving monolayer, multilayer, and shrinkable materials. Line is able to produce tubing from 0.16- to 1.26-in. diam. at speeds from 20 to 394 ft/min.

The MPL 10 line is designed for processing medical and specialty tubing from about 0.04- to 0.4-in. diam. on a variety of materials, including PVC, polyurethane, nylon block copolymers and PE. Outputs range from 98 to 984 ft/min, depending on the material (the output for flexible PVC is about 722 ft/min).

NORMAG CORP.

Manufactures complete gear pump systems for extrusion, including pumps, controls, and drives. Also available are in-line mixing units for extrusion, particularly for color additives. Company also manufactures continuous and slideplate screen changers for extrusion filtration.

O/K INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Company is a full-service distributor of complete extrusion lines for blown film, sheet, and cable from Kuhne GmbH of West Germany. Single-screw extruders up to 5 in. provide output of as much as 800 lb/hr. Complete downstream equipment includes dies, air rings, high-speed winders, towers, cutters, cooling rolls, and corona treaters.

Kuhne's HDPE blown film lines feature a 24:1 L/D and optional Turbo Cool IBC System. Turbo Cool has an externally adjustable internal stabilizer, which allows size changes without interrupting production.

Kuhne sheet lines are designed for production of flat films and sheet of PE, soft PVC, ABS, acrylic, TPU, and filled materials.

OLYMPIA TOOL AND MACHINE CO.

Single-screw extruders are available in the following sizes: 3/4-, 1-, 1 1/4-, 1 1/2-, 1 3/4-, 2-, 2 1/2-, 3 1/2-, 4 1/2-, and 6-in. diam.; L/D ratios available are 20:1, 24:1, and 30:1. Features include extra-large-capacity thrust bearings, flame-hardened or Stellite alloy screws, heavy-duty gear transmissions, and control panels in keeping with JIC type standards.

OMIPA EXTRUSION MACHINERY

Italian manufacturer offers single- and twin-screw extrusion lines for cast film, sheet and pipe.

P.J. SOFTWARE, INC.

Taiwanese blown film, bagmaking and printing systems are represented in North America. A broad line of blown film systems from Queens Machinery Co., Ltd. includes several series of standard and compact lines for HMW-HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE. They utilize 30-65 mm, 25-26:1, air-cooled extruders rated for outputs of 40-330 lb/hr, and can include such features as grooved barrels, nitrided mixing screws, low-pressure 360|degrees~ rotating dies (standard on some lines), dual-lip air ring, PTFE sizing ring, internal bubble stabilizer, and auto-roll loading. Auxiliary equipment includes the company's line of corona treaters, bag machines, and two- to six-color flexo printers.

Company also offers downward-extruding, water-bath-type PP blown film lines for 40-132 lb/hr.

PARAMCO INC.

Offers polymer gear-pump systems, including special adapters for the extruder side and the die side. Pump systems and adapters are supplied for extruders from 1-in. through 12-in.