New Firm Plans In-Line Extrusion/Forming System.

It's about a year away, but a new turnkey extrusion and forming system will be the first product of Irwin OMV Technologies (IOT), Yakima, Wash. IOT was created this year as a collaboration between Irwin Research & Development Inc. of Yakima and OMV-USA, Genoa City, Wis. Each company owns a 50% stake in IOT, which will produce only custom turnkey systems for heavy- and thin-gauge applications.

The new system is being designed for HIPS, PET, or HDPE packaging. It will have an in-line thermoformer with a large forming area and downstream trim press. It will take sheet as wide as 57 to 60 in. and as thick as 80 mils. Most conventional systems handle sheet up to 52 in. wide and gauges from 20 to 60 mils. The new unit will also permit unusually deep draws of up to 9 in. Individual AC brushless servo drives will power each machine motion, including plug assist, chain index, platen movement, trimming, and ejection. The C-frame oven will have top and bottom ceramic heaters.

Irwin and OMV will jointly design the former, while the trim press is being designed by Irwin and the extruder will come from OMV. Irwin's Ballerina controls will probably be used for forming, and OMV's controls will run the extruder.