Plastics technology: manufacturing handbook & buyers' guide 1995/96.

Extrusion Systems

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ADDEX, INC.

Blown film extruders, dies, air rings, air shrouds, IBC systems, oscillating hauloffs, feedscrews and complete film lines. Products include laminar-flow air ring and noncontact internal bubble-cooling system. The latter employs up to eight external ultrasonic sensors, controls layflats to 1/10 in., and enables dialing in width changes on-the-fly. System is retrofittable. New Internal Gauge Control (IGC) uses air from the IBC to correct film-thickness variations.

AFEX INTERNATIONAL INC.

Winding equipment and single-screw extruders from Afex AG of Switzerland. Standard line includes air-cooled, bimetallic-barreled extruders with screw diam. of 60, 90 and 120 mm. Single winders for cast or calendered film, non-wovens, and adhesive-coated webs. Double winders for blown film. Winders have working widths to 140 in., operating speeds to 2000 fpm, roll diam. to 60 in., analog or digital drive control, 3- and 6-in. shafts (8-in. and over optional), and optional auto-shaft handling and recording. Center drive, surface winding, pressure-control winding, gap winding, or optional reverse wind.

A.I.M. INTERNATIONAL INC.

Unicor corrugators produce tubing from 0.33- to 31.50-in. diam. of PVC, PE, PP, PFA, nylon, etc. Spiral-winding system patented by A.G. Petzetakis in Greece produces large-bore pipe up to 120-in. diam.

Complete line of machinery and equipment for multilayer foam-core pipe from 2- through 8-in. diam.

AKRON EXTRUDERS, INC.

Single-screw extruders from 3/4 in. through 8 in. diam. include heavy-duty models for rigid PVC with a variety of options in hp, L/D, drives, and heat-zone configurations. Also 1-in. and 1 1/2-in. models for lab use, small runs, and medical applications. Pedestal-mounted models for coextrusion.

Replacement screws and barrels for almost every make of extruder. Screws can be custom designed. Rebuilds all makes of extruder screws and barrels. Various screw coatings can be applied to minimize abrasion and/or corrosion. Services include in-house preventive maintenance programs, implant extruder alignment and measuring of screws and barrels, and use of company's extensive screw and barrel library of over 4000 drawings. (See ad p. 144.)

AL-BE INDUSTRIES, INC.

Standard line of single-screw extruders (3/4- to 2 1/2-in. diam.) and custom-designed units up to 8 in. All have bimetallic-lined barrels with up to 32:1 L/D. High-capacity thrust housings provide 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, pelletizing, and custom profiles.

ALPHA MARATHON MFG. INC.

Single-screw extruders from 1- to 6-in. diam., specializing in blown film applications. Extruders have air or water cooling; double-reduction, helical gear reducers; integral heavy-duty thrust beatings; and bimetallic barrels.

Polycrunch film-reclaim systems include extruder with large conical feed section and grooved throat. Scrap film can be fed loose directly into feed section without the need for granulating. Pelletizing system includes underwater die plate with variable-speed face cutter, closed-loop water system, and pellet dryer. Three models have outputs of 500 to 1500 lb/hr.

Top nip, secondary nip assemblies, and surface film winders range up to 164 in. wide. Nip-assembly options include collapsing frames and gusset assemblies. Surface and turret film winders from in simple, economical models to fully automatic versions. Line speeds from 250 to 500 fpm.

ALPINE AMERICAN DIV. HOSOKAWA MICRON INT'L

Complete blown film systems for single-layer HDPE and LLDPE, and for coextrusion of HDPE with LDPE, LLDPE, EVA, EVOH, PP, and ionomer. Screw diam. from 1.5 to 4.7 in., dies and air rings from 3 to 28 in. Takeoffs and winders to 120 in. wide and 60 in. diam. with max. line speeds over 850 fpm. Grooved-feed barrels with solid tungsten-carbide inserts standard. Also stationary or rotating extruders and winders, oscillating nips, upward or downward extrusion, 12-spiral dies, automatic gauge control with segmented air rings, high-intensity cavity-mixing sections, gauge measurement systems, and automatic bubble-diameter control. Max. cooling capacity with HMW-HDPE is 30 lb/in. of die circumference. Bag machines include three-and four-track t-shirt models, processing up to 80-in. webs.

AMERICAN BARMAG CORP.

Blown film systems for single-ply and multilayer film (to seven layers) with extruder sizes from 1.8- to 6-in. diam.; tape extrusion lines, including winders from 16 to 71 in. wide; monofilament lines for polyolefins, nylon and PET; flat film and sheet lines for monolayer and coextrusion; single-screw extruders up to 14-in. diam.; and melt filters for continuous and discontinuous production to 8800 lb/hr. Also gear metering pumps, extrusion discharge pumps, and turnkey gear-pump systems, polymer filtration systems, and polymer valves.

AMERICAN JET STREAM, INC.

From Plastimac of Italy: complete blown film extrusion systems for HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE. Multiline bag-making machines for T-shirts, patch-handle bags, and conventional bags with in-line or off-line printing up to six colors.

Also cast stretch-film lines and co-extruded blown film with or without IBC, and Maris corotating variable twin-screw extruders for compounding.

AMERICAN LEISTRITZ EXTRUDER CORP.

Twin-screw extruders in both corotating and counterrotating intermeshing and nonintermeshing modes, with screw diam. from 18 to 135 mm, for compounding and scrap reprocessing. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) Auxiliary equipment offered for complete production lines.

Universal laboratory extruder has attachments for three twin-screw modes and single-screw operation. Auxiliary equipment includes blown film, sheet, and profile attachments. Also hot-face pelletizing systems with capacities up to 5000 lb/hr. (See ad p. 228.)

AMERICAN MAPLAN CORP.

Twin-screw extrusion systems for rigid PVC pipe and siding include two conical and three parallel twin-screw extruders. DSK-52 and -62 are low-output, high-pressure machines, and TS 80, 100, and 130 have 24:1 L/D. Diameters range from 1/2 in. to 36 in., and outputs from 250 to 2400 lb/hr. Oil cooling standard. Also tooling for PVC pipe and profile, replacement barrels and screws, and calibrating systems.

AMUT S.P.A.

See Carl G. Brimmekamp & Co.

APV CHEMICAL MACHINERY, INC.

See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.

ASHLAND TAYLOR INC.

Complete extrusion lines for corrugated pipe with patented corrugators and dual-wall tooling systems; blown film systems with in-line bag-making and converting equipment coupled with automatic packaging; and scrap reclaim and pelletizing systems. Custom-designed tooling and extruders from 3/4- to 18-in. diam. with patented screw designs.

BATTENFELD BLOWMOLDING MACHINES, HARTIG EXTRUSION DIV.

Custom single-screw extruders from 3/4- to 15-in. diam. in L/Ds of 24:1 to 48:1, air- or water- cooled versions, vented or nonvented. Feedscrews designed for specific material and process.

Also reprocessing extruders in single- and dual-diam. configurations for handling materials from bulk densities as low as 0.5 lb/[ft.sup.3] to hot melts. (See ad p. 120)

BATTENFELD EXTRUSIONSTECHNIK

See Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering.

BATTENFELD GLOUCESTER ENGINEERING CO., INC.

Monolayer and multilayer HDPE and LDPE blown film extrusion systems for packaging, thick/thin or stretch film and bagmaking for in-line and off-line operation; Also complete single- and multilayer systems for sheet, cast film, foam, and extrusion coating. Also line of winders and downstream equipment, reclaim extrusion systems, and pelletizers. All extrusion systems available with Extrol 6000 series microprocessor controls.

BAUSANO

See Tex America, Inc.

BERSTORFF CORP.

Corotating, twin-screw mixing extruders and pelletizing systems; twin-screw compounding with direct in-line sheeting of filled and reinforced plastics; and single-screw profile extrusion from commingled reclaim. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending.) (See ad p. 230.)

BETOL-FRANCIS SHAW

Complete high-output precision extrusion lines. Single-screw extruders from 18 to 75 mm diam. offered with all associated downstream equipment including vacuum calibration baths, water-cooling baths, haul-offs, rotary cutters, three-roll stacks, film casting units, and film towers. Complete lines or single items of equipment available. Typical applications include medical tubing (single and multilumen); reinforced hoses; multilayer sheet and film; solid, hollow, and foamed profiles; and fine wire or fiber-optic sheathing. Lines can be built to specific requirements such as specialized coextrusion.

Supplies, installs and commissions package deals from a single line to a complete factory for processes including compounding, wire and cable insulation and sheathing, sheet extrusion, production of floor tiles and coverings, profiles, and seals.

BLACK CLAWSON CONVERTING MACHINERY CORP.

Complete processing lines for flat or embossed cast film, stretch wrap, extrusion coating and lamination; oriented film, and oriented-tape and fiber. Single-screw extruders 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. Supervisory control system available. All systems available with microprocessor controls.

Pre-engineered products include Excel extrusion coating and laminating line and universal cast film lines. Suited to quick installation and start-up.

Custom-built, single-screw compounding/pelletizing extruders in melt-feed, cold-feed, and batch-feed designs; diam. to 20 in.; and output rates to over 60,000 lb/hr. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

BLACK, CLAWSON-SANO INC.

Complete lines and retrofit components for film extrusion. Products include monolayer and coextrusion film systems for blown film, cast film, and cast/embossed film. Standard line widths for blown film from 34 to 144 in. and cast film widths from 34 to 164 in.

Retrofits and enhancements for blown film lines include monolayer and coextrusion dies - both oscillating and stationary - for one to seven layers; dual-lip air rings; and internal bubble cooling systems, all from 4 to 48 in. diam. Also various types of collapsing systems, stationary and oscillating nips, treater systems, and both surface and center winders.

Retrofit components for cast and cast/embossed systems include casting units, MD orienting units, treater stations, and high-speed winder systems.

Services and parts include single- and multilayer die and oscillator rebuilds and winder repairs. In-stock repair and parts kits for oscillators, dies, and air rings deliverable within 48 hr.

STEWART BOLLING

See Kobelco Stewart Bolling, Inc.

BOSTON MATTHEWS INC.

Complete lines of downstream equipment include Linchpin twin-belt takeoff machine; new range of vacuum calibration baths from 6 to 20 ft long and 4 to 8 in. wide. Six models of rotary cutters produce up to 750 cut pieces per min with consistent, adjustment-free accuracy. Three recently introduced models of AS automatic in-line saws handle products up to 6 7/8-in. diam. at 65 ft/min. Calini pipe, tube, and extrusion coiling machines and ancillary equipment.

THE BOULIGNY CO.

Complete slit-tape and monofilament extrusion systems based on single-screw extruders. Slit tape can be produced at 2000 lb/hr or more and monofilament at 800 lb/hr and up. Auxiliary equipment includes ovens, quench tanks, chill rolls, slitters, takeaways, fibrillators, winders, and spoolers.

C.W. BRABENDER INSTRUMENTS INC.

Laboratory and pilot-plant single-screw extruders come in 3/4- and 1 1/4-in. diam. with L/Ds of 10:1 to 30:1. When attached to the company's Plasti-Corder drive, units become miniature process-sensing elements that chart the extrusion cycle. Also custom-designed tooling and interchangeable dies and screws for capillary flow, blown film, wire coating, sheet, and profiles. Hoppers, feeders, and takeoff units for sheet, blown film and wire.

Independent Table-Top Extruder is a 3/4-in., compact, self-contained system driven by 1-hp motor and worm gear reducer.

Counterrotating, intermeshing twin-screw extruders for laboratory or pilot-plant work include a parallel-screw, 1.65-in. model for high-shear continuous mixing of rigid PVC and polyolefins at rates to 10 lb/hr; a parallel 1.4-in. model designed mainly for profile extrusion at rates to 45 lb/hr; and a conical design for extrusion/mixing of heat-sensitive or highly lubricated materials at rates to 35 lb/hr - supplied also in a corotating design.

BRAMPTON ENGINEERING INC.

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

Complete blown film lines with coextrusion and single-layer dies to 84-in. diam. and up to 8 or more layers in rotating, oscillating, or stationary configurations. Also dies for 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. to 6 1/3-in. diam. Complete systems for pipe, profile, and blown film (up to five layers); plain and corrugated sheet extrusion (up to six layers). Reclaim and pelletizing systems. Laboratory extruders from Dr. Collin GmbH of Germany for pipe, profile, blown and cast film in sizes from 3/4 in. to 1 3/4 in. Collin laboratory twin-screw compounder operates in either corotating or counterrotating mode. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

BROWN PLASTICS ENGINEERING CO.

Small extrusion systems up to 1 1/2 in. for lab, school, R&D and production uses. Used machinery, screen changers, pelletizing, wire and cable, fiber, and filament systems. Services include screw and barrel repairs and machinery rebuilding.

BUSS AMERICA, INC.

Buss-Kneader is a reciprocating single-screw extruder for compounding thermoplastics and thermosets. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

CINCINNATI MILACRON/PLASTICS EXTRUSION SYSTEMS BUSINESS

Conical twin-screw extruders process heat-sensitive materials such as flexible or rigid PVC. Five basic models: CMT-35, CM-55, CM-65, CM-80, and CM-92. Downstream equipment includes vacuum calibration tables, pullers, saws, collection tables, spray baths, dry-face cutters, and pneumatic cooling systems. Output rates of rigid PVC from 10 to 2500 lb/hr. Complete systems produce pipe, siding, sheet, window profile, and pellets. Also replacement screws and barrels for parallel and coni- cal twin screws of Cincinnati Milacron or competitors' makes.

Single-screw extruders in 1 1/2 to 8 in. diam. with standard L/Ds of 25:1 and 30:1 and air or water barrel cooling. Heavy-duty components and versatile drives in right-hand, left-hand, or tuck-under configurations. Can be configured to accept competitive screw shanks. Compact EXc microprocessor control panel optional. Downstream equipment for sheet, compounding, film, pipe, and profile.

Sheet extrusion systems based on single-screw extruders and three-roll cooling/polishing stacks. Vertical, horizontal or reconfigurable roll orientations. Silent-chain, open-gear or individually driven roll-drive assemblies. Pneumatic and hydraulic nip actuation.

Process-control options include discrete instruments, Cincinnati Milacron EXc microprocessor system, or fully integrated line control with color touch-screen, SQC charting, and supervisory-level process analysis. (See ads pp. 10, 58-59, 126-127, 142, 146; data sheets pp. 91-97, 138-139, 159-160.)

CLAY GROUP, INC.

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

Single-screw recycling extrusion systems consist of granulators, vertical screw feeders, 50:1 barrels, dual-venting systems, slide-plate screen changers and/or continuous filters, and strand and underwater pelletizers. Production rates from 100 to 10,000 lb/hr.

CONAIR GATTO THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Specializes in downstream equipment for extruded pipe, rod, tubing, and profiles. Offers complete turnkey extrusion systems, as well as individual line components, which include die-head and sizing tooling, high-technology and precision vacuum-sizing/cooling tanks, belted or cleated pullers, on-demand or continuous rotary cutters, up-cut and traveling saws, automatic and conventional coilers, dump tables and takeaway conveyors.

Exclusive U.S. distributor of Speedex pipe and profile production equipment for window profiles and pipe diam. up to 78 in. Vacuum sizing and cooling tanks, take-off equipment, straight-cut and planetary saws, dump tables, printers, coilers, and drilling or slotting machinery.

CONVERTING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL

Blown film systems manufactured by M.A.M. Srl of Italy. Extruders for HDPE and LLDPE (45 to 80 mm) and winding systems for widths to 72 in. Fully rotating die heads. Tungsten-carbide barrel liners and screws for long wear. Winders include single, double over-and-under, and double back-to-back types for reel diam. to 50 in. All are electronically controlled and d-c driven with fully automatic roll changeovers.

CORMA INC.

Corrugated pipe or tubing systems include seven standard models for 1/8-in. to 60-in. I.D. pipe. Systems produce single-wall (1/8- to 60-in I.D.), dual-wall (3/4-to 60-in I.D.), and ribbed (1 1/4- to 36-in I.D.) pipe for electrical conduit, drainage, sewers, culverts. Also large-diam. spiral-wound pipe systems from 15- to over 60-in. I.D., as well as aftercoolers, perforators, slitters, cut-offs and high-speed winders for small-diam. tubing. Offers extruders with corrugating lines. Also in-line cuff systems for single-wall and double-wall corrugators.

CUSTOM SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

Laboratory and pilot-plant mixing extruders. A screwless extruder uses the elastic-energy storage characteristics of polymer melts for mixing and extrusion. Typical applications include compounding, polymer blending, fiber melt spinning, and pelletizing. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Customized extruders, feed screws, drives and controls for wire and cable, pipe, profile, medical tubing, sheet, blown and cast film, blow molding, elastomers, compounding, reclaim/recycle, and fiber. Also systems for high-voltage wire and cable, melt-blown nonwovens, and high-throughput BOPP, OPS, and PET film.

Complete systems include single-screw extruders to 12-in. diam. including grooved-barrel, vented-barrel, tiltable, and tandem machines and vertical extruders to 3-in. diam. Downstream equipment for blown and cast film, sheet, laminations, pipe, profile, fibers, and compounding. Underwater pelletizing lines. Feedblocks and other coextrusion equipment for sheet and blown film. Screen changers, dies, and custom-designed equipment.

Also multilayer barrier film and sheet coextrusion systems and custom-designed recycling extruders to handle low-bulk-density scrap. Blown film dies, rotators, and winders range from one to five layers in sizes up to 86-in. diam.

For rigid PVC profiles, conical and parallel twin-screw Gemini machines are reportedly rugged and easy to operate and maintain.

Flexible PVC medical tubing systems provide outputs to 400 fpm; ultra-precise I.D./O.D. ovality; screw designs for high product clarity; continuous ultra-low-tension coiling; and 1-, 1 1/4-, and 1 1/2-in. floor-model extruders.

Process line controls for CIM: System 401 incorporates patented dual-sensor, anticipatory temperature controls; and PLC-based Epic II control incorporates dual-thermocouple control and responsive closed-loop line control. Graphical user-friendly interface features pictorial control screens, trending, complete line documentation, data acquisition, and SPC.

Specialized technical services, modernization of machinery and controls, and rebuilding of all makes of extruders with custom packages to improve output and performance. (See also Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) (See ad p. 152.)

DELTAPLAST MACHINERY LTD.

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

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

DR. COLLIN GMBH

See Carl G. Brimmekamp & Co.

DROSSBACH N.A., INC.

Extruders and complete extrusion lines, specializing in corrugating equipment for pipe and tubing.

DURHAM INTERNATIONAL CORP.

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

EGAN DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

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

"Standard" single-screw extruders and sheet systems 20-66 in. wide complement traditional customized offerings at cost savings of 10-20%, and delivery times four to six weeks shorter than for custom units.

Twin-screw compounding extruders are corotating with segmented screws. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) (See ad p. 152.)

ENTWISTLE CO.

Single-screw extruders in three sizes from 3/4 in. to 6 in. include heavy-duty Thermoflite machines in 2- to 6-in. diam. and 15:1 to 30:1 L/D; lighter-duty extruders in diam. of 3/4 to 2 in. and up to 30:1 L/D; and vertical extruders for coextrusion, tubing and small profiles, from 3/4-to 2 1/2-in. diam. and up to 30:1 L/D.

Also complete single- and multilayer sheet lines with rolls 15 to 42 in. and wider.

ESI-EXTRUSlON SERVICES, INC.

Automated downstream extrusion equipment for profile, tubing, and small pipe. Systems for in-line processing, cutting and fabrication, as well as turnkey services with complete extrusion line layout, setup, run-in, and operator training. Custom design capabilities for special requirements, along with total process control.

On-demand or continuous air- or servo-actuated flycutters, fixed and traveling saws, on-line fabrication presses, smooth and cleated belt pullers, conveyors, vacuum-sizing and temperature-controlled annealing and calibration tanks, cooling tanks, letoffs, and windups.

PLCs for all machine control. Optional automated length-control systems on all curing and fabrication units provide cut-length accuracy down to [+ or -]0.0025 in., and 100% automated length inspection and reporting.

FARREL CORP.

Custom-designed, heavy-duty single-screw extruders for densification, homogenizing, and extruding in strip, strand or pelletized form. Specializes in larger machines, up to 26-in. diam., for production rates as high as 50,000 lb/hr. Hot-melt extruders, cold-feed extruders, and machines for receiving the discharge from batch or continuous mixers. Underwater pelletizers and retrofits for LDPE extruders with vents for devolatilization.

FTX corotating twin-screw compounding extruder is available in outputs from 88 to 3960 lb/hr. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) (See ad p. 224.)

FILMASTER INC.

Complete blown film lines for monolayer extrusion and coextrusion include single-screw extruders with smooth-bore or grooved-feed throats, manual screen changers, die assemblies (1 to 90 in.), air rings, take-offs, slitters, and automatic high-speed winders (turret, surface, and specialty types). Also cast film systems, narrow-tubing blown film lines, double-bubble lines, and custom-designed extruders.

Auxiliary items such as the post-air-ring cooling chamber, air-flotation bubble-collapsing A-frame, and ultrasonic layflat-width control, are easily retrofittable to existing lines for productivity enhancement.

FUTURE DESIGN INC.

Complete blown film lines for LDPE and HDPE include modular parts such as screws, screen changers, oscillators, low-pressure dies, top-nip assemblies, winders, bubble-sizing equipment, dual-sided treater stations, extruders, and control panels. Saturn dual-lip, low-pressure air rings for 1/2-in. to 100-in. dies.

Provides engineering, planning and servicing. Also Investment Recovery Program for selling used equipment, rebuilding equipment, and servicing.

GENCA

Thermoplastic and thermoset extrusion crossheads for single-, dual-, triple- and multilayer extrusions with striping capability for wire and cable, medical tubing, hose, pipe and profiles.

Standard and custom-designed single-screw extruders for thermoplastics and fluoropolymers. Single-column vertical extruders from 3/4 to 1 1/2 in. with 24:1 L/D. Heavy-duty, dual-column units with motorized height adjustment in 1 1/2-and 2-in sizes. Also horizontal extruders from 3/4 to 4 1/2 in. with 24:1 L/D.

Benchtop horizontal extruders on a heavy-duty, castered base in screw sizes from 3/4 to 2 in.

A 1/2-in., 24:1 L/D extruder can be operated in either horizontal or vertical plane.

Complete extrusion systems with discrete or microprocessor control for medical tubing and wire and cable. Coextrusion systems for three-to five-layer tubing.

G.F. GOODMAN & SON, INC.

Downstream machinery for pipe, tubing, and profiles from 0.010 to 7 in. O.D. Included are pinch-roll systems and caterpillar pullers with a-c vector, brushless d-c or servo drives using gearbox or Synchro-Pull timing-belt drive. Also traveling saws; flywheel and rotary on-demand cutters, including electromagnetic, pneumatic, hydraulic, servo-driven, and Vac-U-Torq vacuum-clutch/brake types.

Also cuff-detection systems for cutting corrugated tubing in-line. Cutters built to standard or custom designs. Discharge conveyors with or without air ejection or mechanical sweep of cut parts. Electronic cut-length measuring system sorts and calculates SPC data on all cut lengths in-line.

Bondabelt replacement caterpillar belts for all makes and models of pullers. (See ad p. 150.)

ROBERT GREGORY ASSOCIATES

Custom-designed single-screw extruders, screws for single and twin extruders, dies, and engineering and consulting services. Process technology for compounding, blown and cast film, foam, and sheet production.

HAAKE INC.

Rheomex laboratory single-screw extruders in 3/4- and 1-in. diam. with L/Ds from 10:1 to 30:1 serve for sample preparation or as sophisticated measuring systems providing process parameters for research, product development, q-c, and scale-up. Extruders can be attached to a simple drive motor or Rheocord 9000 torque rheometer.

Rheomex TW-100 conical twin-screw extruder is for evaluating new compounding formulations, additives, or economics of continuous vs. batch mixing. TW-100 also can serve as a small-scale production line.

Complete line of segmented or clam-shell parallel twin-screw compounders.

Line of take-up and downstream extrusion components can be used with all types of extrusion or compounding equipment.

HARREL, INC.

Small to medium-size single-screw extruders (to 2 1/2 in.) feature rugged construction, digital drives (accurate to 0.001%), and Digipanel microprocessor controls. Geartruders are a combination of extruder, high-precision gear pump, digital drive, and Digipanel microprocessor controller, which coordinates extruder and gear pump operation.

Instrumentation includes Digipanel microprocessor controllers, nuclear thickness gauges, and laser gauging systems. Other accessories include melt pumps, weigh feeders, and a unique Rollerpuller. Elements integrated into complete, prepackaged extrusion systems for tubing or profile. Patented Tubetrol system controls both O.D. and I.D. of tubing or pipe of any size.

HPM CORP.

Complete single-screw extrusion systems for sheet, pipe, profiles, compounding, recycle, and scrap reclaim. Four styles of extruders, four styles of sheet lines, and a variety of auxiliary components, including patented Doublewave screw.

Custom equipment for demanding applications includes very wide sheet, very thick sheet, coextruded sheet to nine layers, and high-throughput and high-speed sheet extrusion.

High rates can be achieved with the Doublewave screw on HPM's heavy-duty, high-torque, high-speed compounding lines in 2.5- to 10-in. sizes and lengths to 50:1.

Prodex profile extruder can be supplied for all profile sizes with or without a downstream system. Turnkey profile lines include wet vacuum, dry vacuum, or air calibration, plus material handling.

Recycle and reclaim of industrial and post-consumer waste can be handled from feeding of ground scrap to bagging or boxing repelletized resin. (See ads pp. 38-39.)

HUTCHEON MACHINERY, INC.

Used and rebuilt extrusion systems and all accessories for compounding and pelletizing, pipe and profile, cast and blown film, wire and cable, and sheet. Extruders range from 1/2- to 12-in. diam.

IKEGAI AMERICA CORP.

PCM series of intermeshing, high-speed twin-screw extruders utilize segmented screws. Barrel uses a building-block system so that L/D ratio is easily adjustable. Screws are either corotating or counterrotating. Screw diam. from 29 to 125 mm. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

INSTAMELT SYSTEMS

Unique "screwless" extruder has 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 then a die. Units process a wide range of virgin and reground thermoplastics at 300 to 2000 lb/hr. The same unit can run materials of a wide melt-flow range. Short residence time and energy savings relative to a standard single-screw extruder are claimed.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

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

JSW PLASTICS MACHINERY INC.

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 Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) (See data sheets pp. 105-107.)

K INC.

Blown film extrusion and converting equipment includes extruders, screws, dies, towers, winders, air rings, gear pumps, and screen changers. Also equipment for film sealing and punching, resin blending, film-scrap recycling, and flexographic printing.

KIEFEL INC.

Blown film extrusion systems for up to five-layer structures of HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, EVA, ionomer, PP, nylon, EVOH and PET. Company specializes in complete systems for thin-gauge, single-or multilayer HMW-HDPE film at high outputs with excellent film strength and uniform film thickness or roll quality.

Extruders can be stationary, oscillating or rotating with either grooved-feed barrel and decompression screw or smooth barrel and compression screw. Grooved-feed extruders from 40- to 100-mm diam.; smooth bore extruders from 30- to 60-mm diam.

Die sizes from 20- to 500-mm diam. Air rings with single or dual lip. Internal bubble cooling available on dies of 110-500 mm. Take-offs either stationary or oscillating; surface winders can be stationary, oscillating, or rotating and semi-automatic or fully automatic. Take-offs with max. layflat widths of 500-3000 mm. Winders with max. layflat widths of 500-2500 mm.

Accessories include blenders, vacuum loaders, air chillers, treaters, web guides, gravimetric extrusion-control systems, automatic transverse-direction gauge-profile control system, and layflat-width control systems.

KILLION EXTRUDERS, INC. DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Recently acquired by Davis-Standard, Killion supplies single-screw extruders in sizes from 3/4- to 3-in. diam. and L/Ds up to 36:1. Broad range of downstream equipment includes tubing and profile cutters formerly made by Versa Machinery. Complete extrusion systems for tubing, wire coating, blown film, pipe, sheet, profiles, filament, coextrusion, pelletizing, and lab setups.

Builds custom extrusion equipment with emphasis on coextrusion and medical tubing systems. Wide range of extrusion-related services, including process laboratory facilities and training programs. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) (See ad p. 152.)

KLOCKNER ER-WE-PA USA, INC.

Components and complete lines for extrusion coating, cast film, sheet, and coating/laminating. Experience and process knowledge in extrusion, priming, drying, treating, coating, laminating, and web handling of light- to heavy-gauge materials. Lines supplied for wet and dry lamination, coextrusion barrier coating, extrusion coating and laminating, printing, and siliconization.

Coextrusion uses proprietary feedblock prior to a single-slot extrusion die or a multislot extrusion die having individual feed channels. Skin-layer coextrusion uses a feedblock. Dies can have automatic die-gap adjustments and integrated thickness measurement and control.

KOBELCO STEWART BOLLING, INC.

Represents Kobe Steel and offers heavy-duty, single-screw, hot-melt and compounding extruders in screw sizes from 3 1/2- to 20-in. diam. and L/D ratios to 30:1. Extruders can be heated electrically or with steam or oil, and can be cooled by air or water. Full range of dies and tooling. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

KRAUSS-MAFFEI CORP. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Counterrotating twin-screw extruders in double-conical and parallel-screw configurations for PVC extrusion of pipe, window lineals, siding, and custom profiles. High-inventory pipe tooling and coextrusion blocks for siding with cap-stock. Special version of the double-conical extruder serves as a satellite extruder.

Controls can include autotuned, microprocessor-based temperature controller with PLC instead of relay functions, or complete, integrated microprocessor control.

Company has teamed up with tooling and downstream suppliers to offer complete systems for PVC windows.

KUHNE GMBH

See O/K International.

LCI CORP.

Specialized processing machines and systems, gear pumps, microprocessor controls, motionless mixers, and systems for continuous processing of highly viscous polymers.

Positive-displacement gear pumps and complete pumping systems handle viscous materials to 30 million cp. Specialized extrusion gear pumps improve dimensional control of product, increase capacity of new or existing lines, regulate extrudate to prevent surges, and reduce energy consumption.

Motionless mixers blend high-viscosity materials and improve thermal homogenization. Also microprocessor systems for complete gravimetric extrusion control, pump and temperature control.

Agitated thin-film evaporation/reaction systems for concentrating and devolatilizing, polymerization and polycondensation, demonomerizing and finishing, and recovery of solvent and polymer from waste streams. Turba-Film and Roto-Vak processors accommodate final viscosities from 10,000 to 50,000 cp. For product viscosities of 50,000 to 15 million cp, Vistran processor provides positive transport of product. Complete pilot-plant facilities and process services. (See data sheets 161-162.)

LEISTRITZ AG

See American Leistritz Extruder.

MACRO ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Complete blown film systems for LDPE, LLDPE, and HDPE include single-screw extruders, material-blending and scrap-recovery systems, secondary cooling systems, PTFE-coated collapsing frames, winders, and other downstream equipment for packaging. Custom equipment for new or difficult-to-process resins.

M.A.M. SRL

See Converting Systems Int'l.

MEGA MACHINERY INC.

MegaTech single-screw extruders for sheet, film, profile and reprocessing. Sizes from 1- to 8-in. diam., L/D ratios to 44:1, and drives from 2 to 100 hp.

Specializes in sheet: Megatron cooling and polishing units ensure smooth transmission of power to chrome polishing rolls for glazing quality. Quick Switch roll-change system minimizes downtime, as does Plus 1 system that optimizes heating and cooling. MegaCool cooling conveyor helps increase production rates. MegaTronix complete process-control system available.

MERRITT DAVIS CORP.

(Formerly Merritt Extruder Corp.) Standard and customized single-screw extruders from 1 in. to 8 in. with L/D ratios of 24:1 to 36:1, as well as metric sizes from 40 to 200 mm. MX series extruders feature high-capacity liquid cooling systems; Super Cooled series has ultra-high-capacity air cooling; and Air Cooled series has standard blower systems.

Complete systems for single- and multilayer blown film with dies to 72-in. diam., single and multilayer sheet extrusion to 144 in. wide, compounding with or without side-arm feeders, reclaim/recycling, wire and cable, medical tubing, pipe and profile.

High-performance screws include Merrexx barrier (variable-pitch, variable-depth) type with high specific output rate and reportedly outstanding pressure stability.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AMERICA, INC.

Monolayer and multilayer cast film and biaxial orientation lines have die widths to 4500 mm. Standard single-screw extruders in 65- to 250-mm diam.; special single-screw mixing extruders (with hexagonal-barrel mixing section) of 50-135 mm. Also tandem extruders from 90/115 to 250/300 mm; counterrotating, conical twin-screw extruders for PVC in 50 and 60 mm; and corotating twin-screw compounders of 45-125 mm. (See also Compounding, Mixing, Blending.) (See ad p. 69.)

MPM POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC.

Custom-designed and standard extruders and downstream equipment for film (mono- and biaxially oriented), sheet, profile, and fiber. Extruders from lab scale up to 8-in. diam. with all accessories, plus computer-designed single- and multilayer flat and blown film dies. In-house engineering and machine shop.

Fully warranted, reconditioned machinery, plus installation, plant design, and start-up services. Post-consumer scrap recycling systems include installation and start-up.

NEW CASTLE INDUSTRIES, INC.

Add-on coextruders from 1 to 3 1/2 in. in almost any L/D. Electric or hydraulic drive. Custom features emphasized, such as designs for restricted spaces, multi-axis movement, special controls, and high-performance screws.

Custom reclaim extruders to 8-in. diam. use dual-diam. extruders and/or hopper crammers, depending on feed material.

Custom single-screw compounding extruders to 8-in. diam. provide for multiple venting, downstream addition, abrasive or corrosive additives, and crammers.

NOKIA-MAILLEFER, INC.

Manual and microprocessor-controlled wire and cable, fiber-optic, and tubing extrusion systems include dual-flyer payoffs, payoff stands, NM series single-screw extruders, fixed and manual centering crossheads, entry/exit caterpillars and capstans, multipass cooling troughs, vacuum-calibration troughs, dual automatic coilers, single and dual automatic take-ups, take-up stands, and cabling machinery. Options include diameter, capacitance, temperature, elongation and synchronization control systems.

MPL 32 system is for pipe and tubing for automotive and other engineering applications involving monolayer, multilayer, and shrinkable materials. Produces tubing from 0.16- to 1.26-in. diam. at 20 to 394 ft/min.

MPL 10 line produces medical and specialty tubing from 0.04- to 0.4-in. diam. of PVC, urethane, nylon block copolymers, and PE. Outputs from 98 to 984 ft/min.

NORMAG CORP.

See Synex Inc.

NRM EXTRUSION DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Recently acquired by Davis-Standard, this division supplies complete extrusion systems for foam, solid and coextruded sheet, cast film, pipe, profile, and reclaim.

Pacemaker IV single-screw extruders come in 2 1/2- and 3 1/2-in. diam. with standard L/D ratios of 24:1, 30:1 and 32:1. Microprocessor-based controls provide centralized, totally integrated control and monitoring of all product and process parameters.

Pacemaker III extruders available in 3 1/2-, 4 1/2-, 6- and 8-in. diam. with standard L/D ratios of 24:1 and 32:1. PLC controller with alarm and diagnostic functions, individual zone circuit breakers, and d-c scr drives with compact power unit. All components mounted on a single base and completely wired, requiring only utility connections.

Acculayer 2000 is a versatile sheet line designed for brpad range of materials and processes. Standard PLC-based alarm system, computer-compatible instrumentation, quick roll change, four-speed transmission, and convenience outlets. Has 3-in. conveyor rolls, 300 pli nip pressure (800 pli optional), and 36-144 in. finished sheet widths.

Also complete turnkey extrusion systems with extruder and downstream equipment, as well as total microprocessor control systems, including sheet and film gauging systems. Total reclaim systems, spare parts, feed screws, screw design, and extruder remanufacturing services. (See also Total Machine Control Systems.) (See ad p. 152.)

OEM INC.

Broad line of downstream extrusion equipment for pipe, window profiles, and plastic fencing. For PE and PVC pipe: vacuum-sizing tanks, extension cooling tanks, water-recirculation systems, pullers, saws, dump tables, hydrostatic testing equipment, bellers for both solvent-weld and gasket belling.

For window profiles and fencing: vacuum-calibration tables, cooling tanks, pullers, saws, puller/saw combinations, and dump tables.

Remanufacturing of all downstream equipment.

O/K INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Complete extrusion lines for blown film, sheet, and cable from Kuhne GmbH of Germany. Single-screw extruders to 5 in. provide outputs to 800 lb/hr. Complete downstream equipment includes dies, air rings, high-speed winders, towers, cutters, cooling rolls, and corona treaters.

HDPE blown film lines have 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.

Sheet lines produce flat films and sheet of PE, soft PVC, ABS, acrylic, TPU, and filled materials. (See also Recycling Systems.)

OLYMPIA TOOL AND MACHINE CO.

Custom-designed single-screw extruders, especially for medical tubing, wire insulation, profiles, high-temperature and fluoropolymer extrusion. Sizes from 3/4- to 6-in. diam. with L/Ds of 20:1 to 30:1. Control panel can be floor-standing (HXTA) or tucked under extruder barrel (CP). Manual or automatic air-cooled frictional controls, gear transmissions with oversized thrust bearings, choice of instruments and drive, and control panels meeting JIC-type standards. Optional water troughs, payoffs, takeups, conveyors, crossheads, straight-delivery heads, heated Clamps, casters, leveling jacks, bimetallic barrels with or without Inconel facing, and flame-hardened Hastalloy or Stellite-tipped screws. Barrier, two-stage FEP, and other custom screw designs available.

OMIPA EXTRUSION MACHINERY

Italian manufacturer offers complete extrusion and coextrusion lines for sheet, film and hollow profiles.

Extrusion lines for standard sheet (ABS, PS, HIPS, PP) in 1- to 15-mm thickness and width to 3 meters. Also lines for high-optical quality sheet (PMMA, PC, PS) in 1- to 15-mm thickness and width to 3 meters; Lines for thin sheet or film wound on reels (ABS, HIPS, PS, PET, PP) in 0.1- to 3-mm thickness and width to 3 meters. Lines for hollow profiles to 3 meters wide and 2 to 40 mm thick (PP, HDPE, PC, PMMA, HIPMMA). For foamed PVC sheet and panels (free foaming or Celuka process) from 2 to 30 mm thick and up to 1.6 meter wide.

Coextrusion lines for sheet and film in up to 7+ layers, 0.15 to 15 mm thick and up to 3 meters wide; and for hollow profiles to three layers. High-throughput lines for embossed cast film (diapers, hygienic and sanitary applications) in thicknesses from 18 to 800 microns thick and up to 3 meters wide.

Also special extrusion lines, polymer gear pumps, and automatic coiler for tubes.

PARKER HANNIFIN CORP. ZENITH PUMPS DIV.

PEP-II series gear pumps serve as a pressure booster/stabilizer on the discharge end of an extruder and for precise additive injection into the extruder barrel. Constructed of through-hardened, high-speed tool steels or 400-series stainless for corrosion and wear resistance.

PEP-II gear technology utilizes low-aspect-ratio "crowned-root" gears. With L/D ratio of 0.75 vs. industry standard of 1.0 for helical gears, PEP-II ensures polymers have less distance to travel, thereby reducing tooth pulsations. Crowned roots are parabolic-shaped undercuts, which offer less resistance to tooth evacuation flow and further tooth-pulse reduction. Company reports that the combination of crowned root and low-aspect ratio gearing provides superior extrusion performance, superior mechanical integrity, and greater efficiency than conventional designs. (See data sheet p. 165.)

PHILLIPS SCIENTIFIC CO., INC.

Custom hydraulic or pneumatic-powered ram extruders in vertical or horizontal format to extrude presintered, granular PTFE, UHMW-PE, and thermosets. Machines can supply 24-hr continuous, unsupervised manufacturing of rod, bar, tubing, custom profiles and T-seals, and are designed for turnkey start-up and easy maintenance. Multiple-cavity extrusion die technology available.

PTFE paste extruder for micro-capillary tubing with 0.002-in. to 0.006-in. wall and max. O.D. of 0.5 in., uses interchangeable barrel sizes.

PLACO MACHINERY INC.

Blown film extrusion equipment includes complete lines with coextrusion and single-layer dies. Dies with air rings from 1 to 80 in., oscillating or stationary. Extruder sizes from 1.5 to 6 in. with smooth or grooved-feed barrels. Internal bubble cooling and oscillation on entire machine or first pinch section. Take-offs and winders to 600 mm for agricultural film. Wide selection of auxiliary equipment.

PLASTICS EQUIPMENT MARKETING SERVICES

Production and laboratory scale extrusion systems for blown film, sheet, profiles, pipe, and compounding. Extruders in 1/2-in. to 6-in. diam., and complete downstream peripherals.

POLYTYPE AMERICA CORP.

Extrusion systems include coextrusion cast film lines and specialty equipment for biaxially oriented single- and multilayer films.

POMINI, INC.

Single-screw compounding extruders for hot- and cold-feed from mixer or reactor.

Hot-feed extruder receives material from reactors and delivers it in pelletized form. Range is 12 to 16 in. with max. throughput of 30,000 lb/hr.

Cold-feed extruder, generally cube-or pellet-fed, ranges from 6 to 15 in. with max. throughput of 10,000 lb/hr.

Mixer-fed extruder, located under the continuous mixer or internal mixer, creates pressure to pump material through a pelletizing die. Range is 2 to 20 in. with max. throughput of 50,000 lb/hr, with or without venting.

All extruders can be equipped with pelletizers in four versions: underwater, water-ring, dry-face, or strand-head.

LCM-AX, a combination of continuous mixer and twin-screw extruder technology, is a single-stage, axial-discharge machine consisting of two corotating and intermeshing screws with the central section featuring the typical rotor blade profile of company's LCM (long continuous mixer). Downstream of the rotor section is a "throttling valve" to control dwell time and specific energy input. Suitable for compounding a wider range of engineering thermoplastics without the need to reconfigure screw geometry. Allows easier inclusion of fiber reinforcements. Barrel and screw profile are modular (5 D each), allowing for three main machine configurations: 25:1 L/D with single hopper 35:1 L/D with double hopper, and 45:1 with triple hopper and two mixing zones. Turnkey, custom-designed extrusion lines with full automation can be provided. (See ad p. 232.)

PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Custom processing machinery includes single-screw extruders (3 1/2 to 12 in.), complete sheet and film lines, compounding lines, biaxial sheet lines, reclaim lines and pelletizing lines.

Also polymer gear-pump systems, heavy-duty crammer feeders, sheet and film takeoff systems, pelletizers, MD and TD orientators, coating systems, winding systems, slitting systems, control systems, heating and temperature-control systems, screen changers, and other ancillary products.

Remanufactured equipment includes single- and twin-screw extruders, sheet and film takeoff systems, reclaim lines, pelletizers, and winders.

RANDCASTLE EXTRUSION SYSTEMS

Two lines of small single-screw extruders:

* Microtruder - For benchtop (20 x 24 in. base) research applications, polymer synthesis, quality control and low-output production. Interchangeable 1/4-, 1/2-, and 5/8-in. barrels on the same transmission and using the same control panel offer typical outputs of 10-168, 82-1435, and 168-2040 g/hr respectively. Proprietary design allows feeding of low-bulk-density powders or pellets. Screw design offers good scale-up and mixing. Complete systems available for film, fiber, sheet, devolatilization, compounding/pelletizing and seven-layer coextrusion. Lab services available.

* Flextruder from 0.75- to 1.250-in. diam. - Typical max. outputs are 2 to 56 lb/hr. Grooved feed sections for feeding difficult feedstocks including powders, granulates, and lubricious materials. Complete systems include seven-layer coextrusion of film and sheet, feedblocks, and compounding/pelletizing. Lab services available.

R.D.N. MANUFACTURING CO.

Post-extrusion equipment for pipe, tubing and profile, as well as complete turnkey lines with die development and operator training. Individual components include dies, vacuum sizers, water baths, air tables, belt pullers, wheel pullers, embossers, traveling saws, fly-knife cutters, on-demand cutters, and dump tables.

REIFENHAUSER INC.

Complete extrusion systems for blown film production from one to five layers. Extruders from 35 to 250 mm. Oscillating or stationary dies from 50- to 2200-mm diam. with or without IBC. Sizing cages from 125- to 5100-mm diam. Takeoffs in stationary and oscillating design with adjustable height and multiple collapsing options. Series of surface winders, and takeoff/winder combinations, including reverse-wind capability in widths from 600 to 4500 mm. Designs range from simple tubing winders to short-cycle, automatic C&A winders, and high-quality computer-controlled sheeting winders.

Complete line automation (Reicofol) or factory control (Reicofac) available, as well as automatic gauge control (Reicoflow segmented air ring), which improves gauge variation up to 50%.

Single- and twin-screw extruders; complete systems for cast film and sheet, both mono and coex, plus monofilament, pipe, tube and coating lines. Single-screw extruders in sizes from 12.5 to 250 mm, twin-screws from 29 to 142 mm. Conical and parallel counterrotating and parallel corotating types. Standard temperature-controlled feed throats. Fluted feed throat available for single-screws. All machines feature easy access to gears and thrust bearings.

REOS INC.

Single-screw laboratory extruders for thermosets and thermoplastics, as well as extrusion dies, coextrusion dies and haul-off equipment. Applications are for color matching, specialty compounds for lab evaluation, and coextrusion of tubular film, pipe, and profiles.

ROLLEPAAL USA

Counterrotating parallel twin-screw extruders for pipe from 73 to 132 mm with capacities from 400 to 2500 lb/hr. Features include quick start-up, parallel screw design, high torque, high back-pressure (9000 psi), and hydrostatic thrust bearings. Downstream equipment includes tooling, vacuum and spray tanks, pullers, cutters and process control systems.

ROYLE SYSTEMS GROUP

Wide range of systems for wire and cable: telecommunications cable, power cable, automotive wire, fiber optics, and other specialty cable. Product line includes payoffs, accumulators, extruders, cooling troughs, capstans, takeups, computer-control systems, fiber-optic stranding, and fiber-optic coloring machine.

SAKAS, INC.

Downstream equipment for sheet, profile and pipe includes wheel pullers, embosser stands, pipe perforators, in-line hot-foil indent printers, profile saws, and sheet saws for up to 84-in.-wide sheet, including trimming and slitting heads. Coilers for 1/2- through 3-in. pipe range.

SENCORP SYSTEMS, INC.

Single- and tandem-foam extrusion systems for high output. Heat-exchanger system combines precise controls and efficient cooling with compact size, optimizing floor-space utilization. Single-screw extruders in 1- to 8-in. diam. with center-fed single or dual extrusion dies, and special high-performance dies. Various-size pull rolls, cooling mandrels and winders. Metering systems in single- or dual-gas models. Dual system combines C[O.sub.2] with a blowing agent, reducing the amount of blowing agent required. Also miniature laboratory lines.

SUPERIOR PLASTICS MACHINERY

Single-screw extruders in 1 1/2- through 8-in. diam. Complete systems for cast and blown film, sheet, coating, profile, compounding and film and sheet orienting machine direction and bi-axial. High-boy and low-boy mountings and custom designs. Complete lines and components including hoppers, stuffers, screen changers, film and sheet dies, air rings, oscillating nips, winders, unwinds, cutters and pullers.

SYNEX INC.

(New firm formed by merger of Normag Corp. and Extek.) Gear pumps and complete systems including drives, controls, stands, and adaptors. Gear-pump applications include sheet, cast film, profile, pipe, tubing, wire and cable, medical compounding, coatings, fiber, and rubber. Outputs from 0.13 to 41,100 lb/hr.

Also supplies screen changers and integrated gear-pump/screen-changer systems, which reduce equipment length and melt residence time.

TECHLINE EXTRUSION SYSTEMS

Complete extrusion systems for blown film (widths of 10 to 160 in.) for LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE and up to five-layer coextrusion. Custom-engineered components include single-screw extruders (for blown film, cast film, and profile extrusion) in diam. of 2 to 4 1/2 in.; manual screen changers; screws; single-layer and multilayer spiral blown-film die assemblies with diam. up to 60 in.; internal-bubble-cooling systems and high-output dual-lip air rings; rotators; take-off nip assemblies; high-speed automatic surface and turret winding systems with in-line slitting, web widths to 160 in., and roll diam. to 60 in.; fixed or adjustable towers; control panels; film treaters; post-gusseters; and any additional auxiliary equipment/replacement parts. Also provides custom engineering, updating, and planning services.

TELEDYNE READCO

See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.

TEX AMERICA, INC.

Represents Bausano of Italy, which supplies parallel twin-screw extruders and complete systems for extruding "Polywood" sheet of thermoplastic mixed with fillers such as sawdust, rice hulls and paper.

Also represents A.R.T. of Belgium, which supplies a patented adiabatic extruder to produce plastic molded products from curbside or post-industrial waste. Systems include ET process to form single-piece lumber in up to twelve different profiles in one production pass and MT process to form large molded products such as pallets in up to seven different profiles in one production pass.

THERMOPLASTICS ENGINEERING CORP.

Extrusion and coextrusion machinery for wire and cable, fiber optics, profiles, industrial/medical tubing and compounding/pelletizing.

Extruders range from 3/4- to 2 1/2-in. vertical and 3/4- to 8-in. horizontal. Cast feed sections designed for large cooling rates and easy feeding of pellets or powders. Feed screws are custom designed. Thrust bearings rated for over 10 years of working life. Special L/Ds and high-temperature machines available.

Upstream equipment includes payoffs with 16- to 110-in. reel capacity, dancer/accumulators, concentric tape dispensers and fiber binding heads. Downstream equipment includes water troughs for heating/cooling, capstans (wet and dry), takeups (dual or single reel), coilers, water strippers, pelletizers, strand dies and pinch rollers. Also off-line components such as respoolers, single- and double-twist cablers, quadders, stripers and rotating takeups.

Can design and set up full production lines such as fiber-optic buffing lines, cablers and pelletizing lines.

THEYSOHN CORP. See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.

TOMI MACHINERY MFG. CO., LTD.

Blown film systems with extruders of 40- to 125-mm diam. and die diam. of 20-1200 min. Conventional upward-extruding versions with rotating dies and air rings, and downward-extruding water-bath systems, optional coextrusion capability, automatic roll changing, computer controls, printers, slit-sealers, corona treaters, and bag makers. Extrusion laminating systems also available.

TOSHIBA MACHINE CO., AMERICA

Corotating twin screws for compounding, devolatilizing and reactive extrusion in sizes from 50 to 160 mm, all with segmented screw and barrel. Likewise equipped are counterrotating twin-screw compounders of 75 and 95 mm. Also a 55-mm conical twin-screw for PVC and single-screw extruders of 65- to 300-mm diam. and 25-36:1 L/D; complete downstream systems for cast film, biaxially-oriented flat film, sheet (including coextruded and embossed types), PS foam sheet, integrated sheet extrusion and thermoforming, pipe, and pelletizing. Automatic die control for flat webs available. (See also Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

VERSA MACHINERY CO.

See Killion Extruders, Inc.

VIDEX MACHINERY CORP.

Rebuilt and guaranteed extrusion systems for pipe/profile, sheet, blown/cast film, compounding/scrap reclaim, and wire and cable. Sizes from 3/4 to 12 in. Equipment can be test-run for final inspection and acceptance. Accessory equipment includes screen changers, vacuum pumps, screws, and materials-handling equipment.

VULCAN MACHINERY GROUP

Extrusion lines for profile and sheet consist of coilers, pullers, servo saws and cutters, cooling and vacuum tanks, conveyors, small sheet lines, winders and stackers. Tubing coilers and sheet winders offer automatic cut and transfer. Also provides turnkey systems. (See data sheet p. 163.)

WARNER SALES ASSOCIATES, INC.

Complete blown film extrusion lines with 45- to 120-mm extruders for LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE and coextrusion. Weigh blenders, color feeders, trim feedback, grinders, repelletizers, film-sealing machines for post-gusseting and slit-sealing, sideweld, bottom-seal, twin-seal, sine-wave, and "T-shirt" bags.

WAYNE MACHINE & DIE CO.

Yellow Jacket line of custom-built single-screw extruders ranges from 3/8 to 4 1/2 in. with L/Ds up to 36:1. U.S.-built 25-mm, 36:1 corotating intermeshing twin-screw extruders supplied for laboratory and production applications. Horizontal, vertical, floor-mounted, table-top, and coextrusion models. Complete systems for tubing, sheet, compounding, rod, wire, blown film and cast film, with optional microprocessor control. Complete coextrusion systems for all process types. Sheet take-offs are 8 to 24 in. wide, and pelletizers 2- to 6-in. wide. Lab and production blown-film towers. Custom new and rebuilt screws and barrels from 1/4 in. to 6 in. for all models of extruders. Specializes in high-temperature, corrosion-resistant fluoropolymer extruders and screw/barrel retrofits for existing extruders to run engineering thermoplastics.

High-torque vertical and table-top production-rated extruders feature double-reduction helical gearboxes with shaved, ground and hardened gears instead of worm or enveloping worm gearboxes. Helical box is said to be more efficient than the worm type, resulting in better power transfer to the screw, less wasted energy converted into heat from friction, and less abrasive gear wear than with worm drives. Table-top units from 1/2 to 1 1/4 in.; vertical single-post units in 1/2 to 1 1/2. in.; vertical double-post units in 2 and 2 1/2 in.

Custom-built downstream equipment includes servo and d-c pullers and cutters. Vacuum tanks, water troughs, air strippers, and dies for blown film, strand, tubing and other applications custom made. (See also Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

WELDING ENGINEERS, INC.

Counterrotating, nonintermeshing and corotating, intermeshing twin-screw extruders for compounding, reactive extrusion, devolatilization, latex conversion, and rubber dewatering and drying. (See also Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.)

WELEX INCORPORATED

For sheet, compounding, medical tubing, and most other applications, high-performance single-screw extruders from 1 1/4- to 8-in. diam. and L/D ratios from 24:1 to 40:1. Fixed ratio or change gear reducers, high-capacity air or closed-loop liquid cooling, and standard or microprocessor control systems. Sub-assembled extruders available.

Specializes in complete sheet extrusion systems and offers roll stack configurations to suit all sheet applications. Take-offs include silent chain drive, individual roll drive, all gear drive, and the new Unistack multiposition roll stack.

Coextruders supplied with modular feed blocks for new and existing extruders.

Gear pumps, when supplied with new extruders, have all controls integrated in the extruder panel. Also retrofit gear pump systems with free-standing control panels for all brands of extruders.

Options include screen changers, dies, air knives, antistatic baths, shears and winders.

Maintains a comprehensive spare parts inventory. Field service team assists customer requirements.

WERNER & PFLEIDERER CORP.

ZSK twin-screw, corotating, intermeshing extruders for compounding, filling, reinforcing and finishing of polymers in 25- to 380-mm diam. with L/D ratios to 48:1. Machines also used for processing reclaim, reaction, devolatilization and laboratory procedures.

Engineered systems for compounding plants, from engineering studies and design, to equipment specification, construction, installation and start-up.

Process assistance and pilot lab for process development and testing. (See also Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) (See ad p. 222.)

WILMINGTON MACHINERY INC.

Single-screw extruders and extrusion systems designed for special applications including coextrusion. Bore diam. from 1 1/4 through 12 in. L/D ratios from 20:1 to 48:1.

Computer controls have tailored software, equipment and process diagnostics, SPC and auxiliary-equipment control. Special bases for multiple extruders or special heights and mounts also available.

WlNDMOELLER & HOELSCHER CORP.

Monolayer, three-, and five-layer blown film lines for LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE and blends with extruders from 2.5 to 6 in. Varex line includes internal bubble cooling, grooved-feed throats, oscillating haul-off, and precision winders.

Besides standard dies from 4.7- to 49-in. diam., company offers its Optifil P2 automatic blown film die in diam. from 6 to 35 in. for monolayer films, 6 to 35 in. for three-layer films, and 16 to 20 in. for five-layer films. Optifil P2 die controls transverse-direction gauge variation automatically, producing transverse-direction tolerances approaching those in the machine direction. Optifil P2 automatic die can help reduce start-up times and raw-material consumption, while manufacturing high-quality films with increased flatness and minimal curvature.

To complement Optifil P2 automatic die, Optifil Plus process-control system regulates and monitors all product-related extrusion parameters. Available with varying degrees of automation.

W.M.D. MACHINERY CO.

Prandi "Double-Bubble" systems for extrusion and coextrusion of blown bi-oriented films of PP, PET, nylon, as well as barrier, heat shrinkable and other films in up to seven layers.

Also Prandi systems for extrusion and coextrusion of cast nonoriented and mono-oriented films of PP, PE, nylon and others.

Omicron extrusion and coextrusion systems produce blown, nonoriented films of LDPE, HDPE, PE, EVA, PC and others in two to five layers.

XTRUTEC ENGINEERING

Company specializes in complete extrusion lines, providing consulting, installation and alignment for cast film, blown film, coating, laminating, tubing, fiber optics, pipe and profiles. Single-and twin-screw extruders; high-speed winders with a cutting mechanism to prevent fold-over; automatic microprocessor-based controls; temperature and pressure controls; digital d-c drives; laser and nuclear gauges; central consoles for monitoring remote operations from a single location; blown-film dies and low-pressure air rings; low-friction blown-film collapsing frames; manual and hydraulic screen changers; gear pumps and "Geartruders"; static mixers for improving melt-stream uniformity; double-shell, spirally baffled cooling and heating rolls; and optical web-inspection systems to detect flaws such as specks, pinholes and printing defects.

ZENITH PUMPS DIV.

See Parker Hannifin Corp.

Pelletizers and Dicers

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ACCRAPAK SYSTEMS LTD.

See Lange Associates Inc.

AMERICAN LEISTRITZ EXTRUDER CORP.

Complete hot-face pelletizing lines for compounding, reacting, devolatilizing, and scrap reprocessing from under 50 lb/hr to 5000 lb/hr. (See ad p. 228.)

ANDRITZ SPROUT-BAUER, INC.

Vertical-ring-die pellet mill has v-belt or gear drive from 25 to 700 hp. Simple design of power train features two rugged bearings, main shaft, and die housing. Dies available in varying thicknesses and hole diameters, with drive-speed variations to pelletize a wide range of plastics.

BERINGER DIV. JOHN BROWN PLASTICS MACHINERY

WRP water-ring pelletizing systems feature a hot-cut, water-ring die-face pelletizing system that minimizes sensitivity to process conditions. Dry die-face cut and water-ring pellet quench do not freeze or slow the flow of polymer through the die. Easy start-up and low energy consumption are achieved because the knife assembly cuts molten polymer in air instead of cuffing a semi-molten extrudate underwater or a hardened strand.

Each cutting blade individually flexes and adjusts to the die-plate surface, eliminating sensitive blade adjustments. Centrifugal dryer removes surface water from pellets. Fast and simple cleanout. Throughput rates from 500 to 5000 lb/hr.

Cumberland strand pelletizers use a conventional strand die and water-bath cooling system. Utilizer 4[inches] is a lab-duty machine with a max. throughput rate of 300 lb/hr. An 80-dbA sound enclosure is optional for eight models of Quietizer strand pelletizers, which have throughputs from 300 to 12,000 lb/hr. Marathon series features long-running, wear-resistant components to pelletize abrasive filled thermoplastics; slant-cut rotor with 48 wedge-held knife inserts in tool-steel or carbide materials; throughputs from 500 to 6500 lb/hr.

BERSTORFF CORP.

Water-ring pelletizers from 50 to 16,000 lb/hr are said to be easy to start and operate and energy-efficient. Standard model and low-residence-time model for moisture-sensitive materials such as nylon.

Also underwater pelletizers from 6600 to 55,000 lb/hr and hot die-face and water-spray pelletizers for PVC to 8800 lb/hr. (See ad p. 230.)

BLACK CLAWSON CONVERTING MACHINERY CORP.

Six underwater models and three water-ring pelletizer models handle rates from 100 to 60,000 lb/hr. Small systems for reclaim, product development, and testing. Ultra-high concentrations of pigments and very high melt indexes can be handled.

Accessories include heated and non-heated die plates, cleanable pellet dryers, temperature-control panels, water-recirculation systems, and pellet heating. Modular construction for rapid disassembly and simple maintenance.

STEWART BOLLING

See Kobelco Stewart Bolling, Inc.

C.W. BRABENDER INSTRUMENTS INC.

Laboratory pelletizer cuts 1/8-in. or 1/16-in. pellets from one to four strands. Mobile stand, anodized-steel cutting chamber, hardened cutting blades, electrical safety, and optional 5-ft water trough.

CARL G. BRIMMEKAMP & CO., INC.

Pelletizing systems for up to 1400 lb/hr include underwater and dry-face pelletizers, and eccentric die-face pelletizers, as well as laboratory strand-type units. Washing systems can be provided for extremely dirty reclaimed materials.

BROWN PLASTICS ENGINEERING CO.

Strand pelletizers for small production, laboratory, or school use have a 2-in. face with driven pull rolls coordinated with a driven rotor. Plain or stainless steel. Also rebuilds pelletizers.

CALIFORNIA PELLET MILL CO.

Pellet mills from 2 to 500 hp for repelletizing scrap thermoplastics. Units operate by compressing fluff between two rotating steel rollers and a multiple-hole die. Frictional heat softens material so it coheres. Pellets are cut to length by means of adjustable knives. Bulk density of original fluff increases four to eight times. Pellets are 1/4 in. diam. and 1/2 to 3/4 in. long. Capacities from 500 to 18,000 lb/hr.

CLAY GROUP, INC.

Strand pelletizers with capacities up to 5000 lb/hr and underwater pelletizers with accompanying cooling and dewatering devices.

CONAIR JETRO THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Full line of pelletizers from economical laboratory units to high-capacity water-slide systems.

Strand pelletizers with rotor diam. from 6 to 12 in. and widths from 2 to 32 in. deliver outputs from 180 to 15,000 lb/hr. T-Series pelletizers feature easy-access cutting chamber for simplified maintenance and cleaning. Metric series is built with European drives and performance standards.

Waterslide pelletizing systems use an inclined water conveyor to condition soft strands prior to dry or wet cutting by a strand pelletizer. Systems improve cut quality and minimize dust and fines. Units include a self-threading feature to ensure fast start-up and minimize waste and strand breakage. Especially recommended for low-viscosity materials with poor melt strength. Wide selection of pellet dryers, classifiers, and transfer systems can be supplied with these systems.

Underwater and water-ring pelletizers offer cost-effective pelletizing of nonabrasive polymers at the die face. Wide variety of screen changers, either slideplate or rotary-continuous.

CONVERTING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL

Complete die-face pelletizing systems include die, cutter, and air- or water-cooling systems. Easy maintenance and output from 100 to 3800 lb/hr. Die design and patented water-cooling system are said to produce pellets free of strings, agglomerates, and fines.

D&S MANUFACTURING CO., INC.

A 9-in. dicer produces octahedral or cubical pellets from continuous plastic strips 1/8 in. or 3/32 in. thick x 9 in. wide. Simple guide-rail adjustment allows use of a 3-in. minimum strip width. Output can exceed 7000 lb/hr. Rotary cutter and bed knife may be changed in 30 min. Main base is a heavy-duty steel weldment to prevent vibration.

DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Underwater pelletizer systems from 500 to 20,000 lb/hr. Melt flow is directed downward through a horizontal die plate with cutting blades rotating in a horizontal plane. Blades are driven by d-c scr drive. Drive shaft, passing through the flow diverter, is aligned to maintain the blades squarely against the die-plate surface. Blades are easily removed for sharpening or replacement. When reassembled, precise alignment of the blades against the cutting face is said to be preserved. Complete assembly includes pelletizer and drive, spin dryer, water filtering and tempering system, and, if necessary, hot-oil system for the die plates. (See ad p. 152.)

EGAN DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Underwater pelletizing system is suitable for all polyolefins, ABS, and polystyrene. Horizontal unit features steam- or oil-heated die plate, hydraulic or d-c drive, easy-access water chamber, rigid-head and flex-head knife mounting, and micro-adjustment of knife position. Complete package includes water-tempering system. Machine parts in contact with melt are of stainless steel. Capacities from 2000 to 45,000 lb/hr. Pelletizer is carriage-mounted and easily adjusted for extruder alignment. (See ad p. 152.)

FARREL CORP.

Underwater pelletizers from 1000 to 80,000 lb/hr process LDPE, HDPE, PP and PS. Options include standard, heat-channel, and heat-exchanger pellet plates with steam or oil heating. Electric or hydraulic cutter motor.

Dry-face pelletizer for very temperature-sensitive materials or polymers where water contact is to be avoided. Also air-ring and jet-ring (water-ring) pelletizers. (See ad p. 224.)

GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.

Underwater pelletizers for 20 to 6000 lb/hr. Pelletizing systems include dryer, tempered-water system, control panel, and power panel. Competitively priced relative to comparable strand lines.

Centrifugal dryers sold as part of the system and separately can dry 20 to 100,000 lb/hr. Options include polymer diverter valves and quick-opening clamps. (See ad this page.)

HAAKE INC.

Laboratory pelletizer is supported by a movable, welded frame on which motor control is positioned for accessibility. Bottom steel feed roll is serrated for positive grip of extrudate strands, and top rubber feed roll is adjustable by a gap-adjustment knob. Cutting mechanism consists of one bed knife and four cutting blades on rotor. Has 3:1 variable-speed drive motor with d-c scr motor controller mounted on adjustable slide base.

HENION INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Line of 9- and 18-in. dicers, dicer cutters, bed knives, and adapters. Knife resharpening, repair, and machine rebuilding services. Pelletizer solid rotors and underwater pelletizer knives also available. Resharpening, repair, and Stellite welding services for solid rotors.

HUTCHEON MACHINERY, INC.

Used and rebuilt pelletizers and dicers, including strand, underwater, water-ring, and dry-face types. Sizes from single-strand lab units to 5000 lb/hr.

HYDRECLAIM CORP.

FF Series dual-diameter repelletizing systems for polyethylene film scrap use hot-face die cutting and air cooling to provide consistent pellet sizes at 1000 lb/hr. (See ad p. 340.)

JSW PLASTICS MACHINERY INC.

Underwater, hot-face, and strand pelletizers. Underwater pelletizer has die lined with abrasion-resistant material. Hot-face pelletizer capacities to 8800 lb/hr. Strand pelletizers throughputs to 7700 lb/hr. Strand dies incorporate polymer flow-control device. Also offers centrifugal pellet dryer. (See data sheets pp. 105-107.)

KILLION EXTRUDERS, INC. DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Strand pelletizers for lab or small-scale production in bench and floor models. Feed throats from 2 to 4 in., variable-speed drive, and heavy-duty design. (See ad p. 152.)

KOBELCO STEWART BOLLING, INC.

Underwater and dry-face pelletizing systems and custom-designed strand and strip dicing lines complement company's line of compounding extruders.

Underwater pelletizers and screen changers in capacities to 90,000 lb/hr. Patented water-cooled tie-rod design eliminates thermal influence on knife/die-face alignment. Smooth slurry flow eliminates fines accumulating on pellets due to stagnation. Die plates employ latest alloys and patented bonding techniques for maximal abrasion and corrosion resistance. Die plates with heat channels and heat-exchanger pipe maximize heating efficiency and minimize pressure loss. Die plates retrofit to any manufacturer's pelletizer. Bucket-type strainer gives large filtration area with minimum pressure drop.

LANGE ASSOCIATES INC.

Represents Accrapak Systems of Great Britain, which builds strand pelletizers for production and laboratory use. Feed widths to 32 in.

Latest 900 series production pelletizers feature overhung-rotor design for easy access to cutting rotor, feed rolls, and bed knife. Feed rolls are power-driven for consistently sized pellets.

Pelletizers for laboratory and sample batch processing available as bench-mounted, free-standing, or mobile units with feed widths to 3 in. Compact model has 5/8-in. feed width and variable-speed drive.

Integral strand cooling/pelletizing systems have strand cooling bath, strand dryer, and pelletizer on caster-mounted base supplied for lab use.

LCI CORP.

Pelletizer for converting recycled flake into free-flowing pellets with low heat history. Special features for recycling include gravity-feed inlet and positive roller drive. (See data sheets pp. 161-162.)

LEISTRITZ AG

See American Leistritz Extruder.

LITTLEFORD DAY, INC.

See Taylor-Stiles Div.

PLASTICS EQUIPMENT MARKETING SERVICES

Production and laboratory pelletizers of 2 in. and larger.

POMINI, INC.

Three types of pelletizing heads for use with extruders or gear pumps:

* Underwater pelletizer with outputs from 1000 to 50,000 lb/hr for polyolefins and PS. Options include heat exchanger and heat-channel pellet plates for steam or oil heating.

* Water-ring pelletizer from 1000 to 10,000 lb/hr for any grade of polyolefins.

* Dry-face pelletizer from 1000 to 8000 lb/hr for thermally sensitive materials such as cable compounds, PVC, and other non-water-compatible polymers.

Hydraulically actuated slide-plate screen changers available for any type of pelletizer or die. Turnkey, custom-designed strand or other pelletizing lines with full automation can be provided. (See ad p. 232.)

RANDCASTLE EXTRUSION SYSTEMS

Strand pelletizers include micro-pelletizer line, which makes pellets 0.02 x 0.02 in. and 0.06 x 0.06 in. for feeding small extruders in the 1/4- to 1/2-in. range. Pelletizer converts to a two-roll puller or torque winder. Cantilever design permits ready access to working components for cleaning and maintenance.

Also larger (2-in.-wide) two-function pelletizer. Both nip rolls have pneumatically adjustable pressure and are mechanically driven for pulling irregular or slippery strands. Quick-change components for fast cleaning or service. Quick-change parts also convert unit to a two-roll puller with both nip rolls driven for pulling rod, strips, tubing and profiles.

REIFENHAUSER INC.

PVC hot-face pelletizing systems include twin-screw extruder, die, hot-face cutter, transport blower, and pellet cooler. Production rates to 3300 lb/hr.

RIETER CORP. PELLETIZING MACHINERY GROUP

Strand pelletizers have capacities from 200 to 14,000 lb/hr. USG 150, 300, and 600 series of underwater strand pelletizers in horizontal or vertical configurations. Units lead the polymer strands into a cutter with 5-15 [degrees] inclination from horizontal or vertical. Strands are self-starting, and cooling time can be adjusted for hard-to-cool polymers. Horizontal pelletizer comes with fully automatic start-up system that allows die cleaning without stopping polymer flow.

For automatic dry-strand pelletizing, ATG 150, 300 and 600 series with water separator and air knife ensure that polymer strands enter the pelletizer water-free, eliminating downstream pellet dryer.

ASG series of strand pelletizers reportedly offer maintenance advantages, as well as long lifetime. Machines come in six widths from 50 mm (2-in.) to 640 mm (25-in.), available with mechanical speed variator and inverter drive.

Rotor resharpening, spare parts, and field service available. Custom materials of construction available for pelletizing special materials. Also casting heads, cooling baths, air knives, and preconveyors.

SANDVIK PROCESS SYSTEMS, INC.

Rotoform Process continuously forms melts at up to 600 F into small drops, which solidify on a steel-belt cooler into uniform, round pastilles in sizes from 0.8 mm to 50 mm. Process offers:

* No contact between product and cooling water, eliminating need for energy to dry pellets.

* Cooling water is not contaminated.

* No cutters are needed, lowering energy consumption and maintenance.

* Dust-free process.

Process can be used for products with melt viscosities up to 80,000 cp at temperatures under 600 F. Fast change-over between different products.

STERLING DAVIS-STANDARD

See Davis-Standard Corp.

TAYLOR-STILES DIV. LITTLEFORD DAY, INC.

Pelletizers in various widths designed for processing rod stock. Cutter head has up to 72 blades - either detachable straight knives or fixed helix blades.

Dicers and slitters for one-stage diced/pelletized particles from extrusions, slabs, or sheet stock. Rugged, double-mandrel rotary slitter produces strips; can be equipped with a rotary cross-cutter to become a dicer. Dicing cutters from 6 to 96 in. with up to 24 rotor fly knives.

VIDEX MACHINERY CORP.

Rebuilt and guaranteed pelletizers and dicers from lab size to 24 in. wide available with solid helical cutters for lower noise levels, or with conventional bolt-on knives. Dicers can make "octapellets" or cubes. Motors for pelletizers and dicers can be mechanical variable-speed, d-c/scr variable-speed, or a-c single-speed.

WAYNE MACHINE & DIE CO.

Yellow-Jacket heavy-duty strand pelletizers for laboratory and production applications in 2- to 6-in. models. The 2-and 3-in. models have eight-tooth steel rotor, and 4- and 6-in. models a 12-tooth rotor with resharpenable D-2 steel blades. All models feature a four-sided bed knife, which can be turned four times before requiring replacement. Other features are d-c drives from 1 1/2 to 5 hp, gear drive on rubber and knurled rollers for positive strand movement, easy clean-out, locking casters on stand, and 45 [degrees] dump chute.

WELDING ENGINEERS, INC.

Exclusive distributor for Gamma Meccanica's Italian-built water-ring pelletizing systems and side-mounting system for pelletizing in air or into water. Hot die-face cutting makes processing insensitive to polymer flow interruptions, while water-ring cooling chamber provides immediate quenching of pellets without agglomeration. Throughput rates of 100 to 14,000 lb/hr.

WERNER & PFLEIDERER CORP.

Variety of pelletizing equipment includes units that can be integrated with company's twin-screw compounders and systems adaptable to any reactor, autoclave, or extruder. Die-face units include high-volume underwater pelletizing system with integrated diverter valve, die, and screen-pack changer; and a water-ring pelletizer with die plate and cutter assembly.

Scheer strand pelletizing system, a self-stranding, forced-conveyance model, sandwiches strands between two belts for positive conveyance through the water bath, which reportedly eliminates problems of strand breakage and intermixing of strands.

Manually fed SGS-E line with capacities from 5 to 15,000 lb/hr is said to offer lower noise level, ease of maintenance, improved cleaning capability, quicker product changeover, and increased durability. (See ad p. 222.)

Urethane Processing Systems

ADMIRAL EQUIPMENT CO.

See Gusmer.

ADM-NORTH AMERICA

Continuous foam casting systems for PUR-foam pipe insulation, pipe elbows, and blocks come from ADM in Germany. Highly filled system is flame resistant. Pipe insulation is cast in 1-meter lengths. Blocks can be up to 3 meters long. In-situ foaming is applicable to central heating and air-conditioning systems, caps, and valves. Foam outputs of 1.1 to 44 lb/min at 3.1-61.8 lb/cu ft.

ADVANCED PROCESS TECHNOLOGY

Meter/mix/dispense equipment for two-, three-, and four-component elastomers and foams. "Flying Wedge" features variable ratio, digital-readout temperature control to 300 F, vacuum degassing, positive-displacement metering, and output rates from 50 g to 50 lb/min.

ASHBY CROSS CO., INC.

Meter/mix/dispense equipment for two-component reactive materials. Piston-metering units for encapsulating/potting, gasketing, molding, and sealing provide precise ratio control, using rotary flow-control valves for accuracy. Single- and double-acting systems feature no-purge static mixing or disposable dynamic mixing, which eliminates solvent flushing.

Gear-metering systems for PUR casting and RTM provide flow and ratio control using two independently controlled drive systems with ratio-control feedback loop.

Rapid prototype molding using resin injection with the Ashby Cross RTM system provides prototype shops with a flexible, accurate metering system that includes vacuum degassing, variable ratio and flow rate, and solvent-free dynamic mixing.

AUTOMATIC PROCESS CONTROL INC.

Multicomponent metering/mixing dispensers for casting PUR, epoxy, polyester, and silicone. Systems for low-volume batch applications to high-volume automated production. Positive-displacement metering systems for filled/unfilled materials, vacuum or atmospheric casting, preset shot or continuous pouring. Materials kept under vacuum and agitation for heating and outgassing. Dynamic or static mixers. Color and purge systems.

BASF CORP.

Meter/mix/dispense units for rigid and semi-rigid foams in densities from 0.35 to 10 pcf at 3 to 60 lb/min. Systems include dispensing gun and chemicals packaged in pressurized tanks. Autofroth system produces rigid froth foams for building insulation, refrigeration, and flotation. Autopak system produces foam-in-place, semi-rigid foams for industrial packaging.

BAYER CORP., HENNECKE MACHINERY

Broad line of standard and custom-designed PUR machinery includes bulk-handling facilities, blending systems, temperature-control and metering equipment, and laydown systems. Double-belt laminators produce up to 150 ft/min of rigid foam board. Stationary fixtures for refrigerator applications. Turntable and conveyor lines for flexible foam molding and other applications.

RIM and RRIM metering units and mold clamps to 250 tons. Metering equipment from 1 1/2 lb/min to 600 lb/min or more can include several proprietary impingement mix-head types such as the self-cleaning MQ head.

BINKS MANUFACTURING CO.

Complete systems and components for PUR, epoxy, or hybrid materials. Fixed- and variable-ratio proportioning systems deliver volumes from microshots to 60 lb/min; air- or hydraulic-powered. Manual or automatic spray systems use high-volume/low-pressure, airless, air-assisted airless, or conventional air atomization.

Foam systems offer high-volume spray, pour, or frothing, as well as microshots to fill voids. Standard packages or custom designs for low-volume special applications.

CANNON USA INC.

Broad line of standard and custom PUR equipment and turnkey systems. Several models of metering units; clamps from 2 to 800 tons. Turnkey systems include Capsotec for window encapsulation, Insotec for sound absorption, Stratotec for headliners, Compotec for SRIM, Rotoflex for flexible foam, Rimmodule for RRIM and polyurea, and Zero-Time Change for appliance cabinets. Also laminators and drum units.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY DIV. INVESTMENT HOLDINGS GROUP

Represents Mondomix Holland multi-component metering equipment with various types of systems for different viscosity characteristics, accuracy requirements, and overall process demands. Throughput capacities from 10 to more than 10,000 lb/hr. Materials in contact with resin components are all stainless steel. Metering-ratio accuracy is controlled by mass-flow meters with computer-monitored interlock responsive to the instantaneous demand of the production line. Temperature control available for all reactive components, including mixer rotor and stator.

Special mix-head design permits mechanical encapsulation of gases (in lieu of chemical blowing agents) for foam cell-size control down to submicron range. This mechanically encapsulated gas blend emerges preexpanded to final density, unlike conventional frothing equipment. Submicron-sized gas cells reportedly make up for poorer insulation properties of CFC substitutes.

DECKER INDUSTRIES, INC.

Low-pressure and high-pressure metering/mixing/dispensing machines for PUR foams and elastomers, including RIM. Low-pressure equipment has patented Pulse-Surge air/solvent purge timer that reduces purge solvent usage up to 70%. Output from 50 g/min to 240 lb/min. Mix ratios infinitely variable from 5:1 to 1:5. Process temperatures from 65 to 100 F, controlled within [+ or -]1 [degrees] F. Pressure, temperature, and throughput digitally displayed. Operating data can be interfaced with a PC.

RIM equipment features patented acute-angle, high-pressure impingement. Right-angle and straight mix heads have mechanical self-cleaning, fast hydraulic operation, and interchangeable/adjustable impingement ports.

Metering outputs from 8 to 120 lb/min and variable mix ratios from 5:1 to 1:5 by positive-displacement, axial piston pumps with static wet lube for polyol pump seals and recirculating wet lube for isocyanate pump seals. Variable-speed a-c motors have inverter drives. Closed-loop flow control has digital indication in g/sec. Heating and cooling for both components from 60 to 120 F. Heavy-duty hydraulic power package. Allen-Bradley microprocessor controls machine functions and multiple dispensing-time programs. Options include three-port, right-angle mix heads; SPC communications; dual-head switching station; ring lines; larger day tanks; automatic tank-refill systems; remote dispensing controls; and custom engineering.

EDGE-SWEETS CO.

Range of equipment for metering/dispensing plural-component urethane systems. Low-pressure equipment from 0.3 to 1000 lb/min. Patented valving system handles two to 20 metered streams.

RIM equipment for outputs of 50 to 800 lb/min. Economical sleeved mixing head comes in straight-head or "free-pour" design to allow impingement mixing into open molds without splashing. Custom equipment available.

Elastomer metering/dispensing capability includes continuous degassing.

Batching of materials systems and in-line feeding of metered dry fillers available on foam and elastomer systems.

ELASTOGRAN

See Linden Industries, Inc..

FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS CO.

Delta-Therm Eliminator dispensing equipment for rigid PUR foams is supplied together with custom and proprietary chemical systems. System dispenses under nitrogen pressure, instead of using pumps. Impingement-mixing cartridge is solventless and flushless. Chemical throughput controlled by fixed-rate flow controllers, which are pressure compensated to allow for changes in viscosity. Multishot timer allows user to preprogram up to 20 shot times in desired sequence. Total Time Accumulator determines total amount of foam dispensed to ensure better inventory control and planning. Optional digital ratio-monitoring system tracks component flow ratio and alerts operator to potential off-ratio condition by sounding an alarm and shutting down the system.

Delta-Therm nonrated and Class I rigid foam systems and Flexipol pour and spray foam systems are for applications such as reach-in coolers and freezers, display cases, flotation, ice machines, construction panels, refrigerated trucks, and picnic coolers. Other systems include Ureflex flexible foam and elastomer systems for molding, gaskets, seating, medical products, cushioning, sports equipment, footwear, encapsulants, and o-rings; Woodthane systems for decorative molding and simulated wood applications; and Ceilthane systems for industrial and specialty applications such as consolidation and structural enhancement.

FOAM ENTERPRISES

Custom formulates rigid, flexible, semi-rigid and elastomer urethane systems and distributes full line of low- and high-pressure dispensing equipment for pour, spray, and RIM. Complete turnkey systems include chemicals, equipment, and services.

GLAS-CRAFT INC.

Urethane spray, pour, packaging, and frothing equipment. Probler gun has patented automatic air purge, air-assisted trigger, and material shutoff valves, and fits all company's proportioners. Round or flat spray patterns. T-series units have outputs up to 30 lb/min and separate solid-core primary heaters with solid-state controls. Optional automatic temperature-controlled hoses allow up to 400-ft extension. Timing and fluorocarbon injection available on all models. Also variable-ratio proportioners (1:1 to 10:1) for 4 to 30 lb/min.

GRACO INC.

Foam spray systems with outputs to 30 lb/min incorporate Foam Cat proportioning pump, heaters, heated hose to 208 ft, and low-maintenance spray gun with mechanical or solvent purge. Selection of feed pumps for handling raw materials directly from original containers.

Froth systems in standard models to 60 lb/min; custom systems can go up to 300 lb/min, such as for barge filling.

Installs complete turnkey systems and custom designs plural-component systems for special requirements.

GS MANUFACTURING CO.

Two-component metering/dispensing system for 1:1 ratio materials such as urethane foams. Compact pumping unit for spraying, pouring or RTM. Little Willie gun is used either as external-mix airless sprayer or with internal-mix head attachment. Options include in-line heaters, heated hoses and digital timing systems. FSF-20-1-50 foam-spray gun comes complete with heated hose, external-mix spray gun, and drum pump.

Pack-and-Foam pour equipment for foam packaging features air-purge gun, 20-ft heated hoses, and direct pumping from drums.

GUSMER, DIV. OF PMC INC.

Integrated line of plural-component meter/mix/dispense equipment for spraying or pouring from 2 to 240 lb/min. Also high-pressure RIM metering units, mix heads, clamps, turntables, and multistation conveyors. Designs and builds turnkey operations and bulk-storage systems for chemicals.

RimCell series includes three models with outputs of 50, 100, and 240 lb/min and operating pressures to 3000 psi. Proportioner utilizes super-charged, high-pressure axial piston pumps for processing unfilled, nonabrasive, non-corrosive materials.

DeltaRim series includes four models with outputs of 40, 80, 120 and 240 lb/min and operating pressures to 3000 psi. Specifically designed to dispense higher viscosity filled and abrasive materials, polyurea, polyurethane, elastomers, SRIM, and other RIM systems.

H-2000 sprays or pours at pressures to 2000 psi and outputs to 30 lb/min. Variable ratio available.

FF-1600 air-driven, compact, lightweight unit is capable of up to 16 lb/min and pressures to 1600 psi.

H-3500 for both pour and spray dispenses at pressures to 3500 psi and to 20 lb/min.

Complete urethane processing lines may include:

* Bulk storage and blending, including fiber or filler.

* Mold carriers, including clamps, turntables, and conveyor systems.

* Auxiliary robotics, ovens, hydraulics, and materials-handling equipment.

* SRIM preforming systems. (See ad p. 201.)

H&G INDUSTRIES

Precision meter/mix/dispense and cartridge-filling equipment. The 527-A Mini Lab unit mixes and meters two-component, low- to high-viscosity materials. Air-operated with working pressure of 300 psi. Comes with model 100-A dispensing gun and manually operated static mixer.

HENNECKE MACHINERY

See Bayer Corp.

HI-TECH ENGINEERING, INC.

RIM equipment includes cylinder and pump metering machines, bulk-storage systems, mold clamps and complete production lines.

Sure Shot two-component cylinder-metering system has solvent-free operation, patented seal-access area, programmable controller, jacketed day tanks, hydraulic power system, temperature-control unit. It fits a variety of shot-type applications with outputs from 10 to 200 lb/min. Can accept fillers.

Precision Flow pump-type continuous-metering series has high-pressure pumps mounted in day tanks for cavitation-free performance; eliminates pump shaft-seal leakage and allows cooler and quieter pump operation. Mix-head boom doubles as a hoist to assist in pump maintenance.

Specialty equipment includes Accu-Flow low-flow-rate, continuous cylinder-metering RIM machine; Micro Shot laboratory series; Compu Shot series with closed-loop accuracy and integrated computer controls; Ultra Flow Rexroth-type metering machine; and rugged, cost-effective Tech Clamp series of self-contained, hydraulic RIM mold clamps.

North American licensee of MBMecanique (Romans, France) for low-pressure elastomer processing equipment. Processes two to five components at outputs of 0.4 to 150 lb/min. Stainless-steel construction, dynamic mixing head, multi-color capability, and Allen-Bradley PLC. (See ad p. 203.)

IFTA CANADA, INC.

Individual machines and turnkey systems from Impianti OMS S.p.A. of Italy include series 2001-C low-pressure foam pouring systems with computer controls, recycling mix heads, rotary mechanical mixers (6000 rpm), and outputs from 3 g/sec to 11 lb/sec. Standard models handle up to six components.

Series VHP high-pressure metering systems for foams, elastomers, and RIM have self-cleaning mix heads and axial piston pumps. Special version capable of rapid, automatic ratio changes for dual-hardness auto seating. The 2LC models with plunger-type metering cylinders permit use of fillers/reinforcements on both polyol and isocyanate sides. The most sophisticated models are hydraulic. Special models offered for nylon RIM.

Series EL elastomer pouring machines work at temperatures to 265 F, provide high-vacuum degassing and outputs to 100 g/sec at 1:1 ratio. Mechanically driven mixheads and self-balancing ratio and output control.

Rotary mold carousels and mold-support presses include tilting and other RIM-type presses. Continuous-pouring lines for flexible and rigid buns and blocks produce 220-1100 lb/min. Patented "Top Foam" lines produce blocks with square sections. Foam-core sandwich-panel lines include special versions for phenolic foams. Also Turnkey refrigeration foaming systems.

IMPIANTI OMS S.p.A.

See IFTA Canada, Inc.

INSTA-FOAM PRODUCTS INC.

Self-contained, factory-pressurized, disposable and refillable systems for pouring and spraying foams in a variety of densities. Applications include cryogenic, cold-storage, packaging, caulking/sealing, void-filling, flotation, and insulating irregular surfaces.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Information on a large range of Italian equipment for flexible and rigid foams, including low-pressure machines, high-pressure pouring, RIM and RRIM systems, and complete turnkey plants.

IVEK CORP.

Liquid mixing/metering/dispensing systems for urethanes, epoxies, additives, and other liquids. Complete systems with static mixers for low-flow applications. Solid-state electronics, stepping-motor drives, and maintenance-free operation.

KFD SALES & SERVICE, INC.

Klockner Desma RGE metering series with self-cleaning, low-pressure mix head requires no solvent flush. Meters up to six colorant streams and two or three reactant streams directly into mix chamber. Designs available for open pouring or injection into closed molds. High mixing quality even with wide differences in ratio and viscosities of components. High-production units can be interfaced with a range of turntable clamping systems.

KORNYLAK CORP.

Complete production lines and components for urethane and phenolic foams include continuous foam slab, bun, and log systems of 2-96 in. x 30-60 in. that operate at 5-60 ft/min; continuous foam-core and honeycomb-core panel systems 2 to 12 ft wide that produce 1/8- to 6-in.-thick panels at 2 to 200 ft/min; continuous scrap-foam rebonding lines; rigid and flexible foam molding fines; three- or four-component phenolic foam machines that meter, mix and pour or spray phenolics in viscosities from 5000 to 100,000 cp; and line of high-production cutters for rigid and flexible foams.

Turnkey packages include operator training, start-up, and assistance in chemical formulation and selection.

KRAUSS-MAFFEI CORP.

RIM and RRIM machinery for molding flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid urethane foam parts, as well as elastomeric and solid parts.

Rim Star machines range from 10 to 1600 lb/min. Lance-piston RIM and RRIM metering machines (type KK) give shot weights to 80 lb. Standard equipment includes color-metering units and blowing-agent blending/metering systems. Also filler blending equipment.

RIM and RRIM machines have patented self-cleaning impingement mix heads, which recirculate through injection nozzles to eliminate lead-lag problems. Two mix-head styles available: linear for closed molds, and UL for splash-free dispensing into open molds. All machines can be operated with multiple mix heads.

Also mold carriers, racetrack conveyors, turntables, mix-head manipulators, and robots. Machines and equipment controlled by PLCs and computer systems.

KYMOFOAM CO.

Low-pressure dispensing equipment for rigid, semi-rigid and flexible PUR foams (pour and froth systems), elastomers, epoxies and silicones. Standard and custom-built machines handle up to eight components with varying viscosity ranges and dispensing capacities from 1/2 to 800 lb/min. Low and high production of molded parts, flexible/rigid foam slabs, and boardstock insulation.

Metering systems with adjustable ratio from 1:1 to 100:1 have gear pumps with closed-loop recirculation, lightweight mix head with electrically or hydraulically driven mixer, and unique calibration design. Also one-shot, non-recirculating piston-metering systems.

LINDEN INDUSTRIES, INC.

Proprietary equipment designs and also licensed to manufacture Elastogran line of Puromat standard and custom plural-component systems. Specializes in:

* Turnkey automotive and non-automotive process lines, including stationary fixtures for refrigeration applications.

* Large RRIM lance-cylinder metering machines with high-pressure impingement and closed-loop control. Outputs to 25 lb/sec with 50% filler content.

* Nucleation and in-line density measurement.

* Flexible and rigid foam metering machines with outputs to 850 lb/min.

* Low-output, continuous-delivery machines for spraying or pouring, with hand-held, self-cleaning, light-weight guns.

* Specialized low-pressure metering equipment.

* Lab-scale metering machinery and data-acquisition software.

* RIM recycling equipment.

* RIM, RRIM, RTM, SRIM molding, booking and tilting presses.

* Controls and SPC packages.

LIQUID CONTROL CORP.

Twinflo PUR dispensing machine meters two or three components with Posiload volumetric piston pumps. Accurately repeats shots of 1 cc and up at speeds from less than 1 lb/min to 100 lb/min and dispenses viscosities from water-thin to heavily filled pastes. Ratios from 1:1 to 200:1. Standard and custom-designed units for filling open molds or injecting materials under constant pressure into closed cavities.

LME-BEAMECH, INC.

PUR foam dispensing systems have 300-800 lb/min capacity. Injector block has 16 ports, including a 2-in. resin port. All functions controlled and programmed from a single center. Systems supplied for flexible and rigid foam slab, foam boardstock, and sandwich-panel laminators.

Complete PU foam pour conveyor systems, automatic cut-off saws, and trimmer saws also supplied.

Rigid PUR foam laminator conveyors produce continuous foam board to 48 in. wide x 6 in. high on a double-metal-slat conveyor with top and/or bottom paper or other substrates. Laminators from 30 to 100 ft long and up to 20-psi operating pressure. Custom-built units available.

Edge-trim saws and cut-off units synchronized to conveyor speed for accurate cut. Foam-slab storage and multi-tier automatic handling systems cut foam to length using a belt and aluminum slat design. Other systems include automotive seat-pad routers, seat-pad dust-removal units, continuous-pattern routers for rolled material, and handling equipment.

MARCHEM CORP.

Mistafroth gun for froth foams and Mistamixer for pour-in-place and packaging foams. Mistamixer requires no purging solvent and handles packaging foam, pour-in-place foam or froth foam. It meters, mixes and dispenses foam at 5 to 15 lb/min. Mistafroth gun, for use with pressurized tanks, requires no electricity and has few moving parts. Also a line of rigid and flexible foam chemicals.

MAX MACHINERY INC.

Liquid mixing/metering systems for two or more components heat materials to desired process temperature, degas, meter with accuracy of [+ or -]0.5% of desired flow rate, mix, and dispense. Suitable for PUR, silicones, epoxies, and other liquids. Systems designed around user requirements using standard subassemblies.

METER-MIX, INC. SUB. OF ACCUMETRIC, INC.

Volumetric dispensing and mixing machines employ unique cylinders designed so that seals are not subject to metering-stroke pressure. Static or dynamic mix heads have valving systems that eliminate lead/lag problems. Also equipment utilizing positive-displacement gear and rotary piston pumps driven by d-c motors with digital control for precise ratio and metering accuracy. These machines can process up to five chemical components. Optional temperature control of chemical components.

MONDOMIX HOLLAND

See Construction Technology.

PRECISION CRAFT CORP.

Low-pressure PUR foam dispensing systems from Transtecnica of Brazil. Series of machines has boom-mounted mechanical mixing head. Shoe-sole systems with multimold carousel available.

QUIK-FOAM, INC.

Equipment for pouring industrial foam-in-place packaging and spraying insulation. Small portable unit uses nitrogen propellant and has two 10-gal refillable tanks. Larger unit pumps directly from 55-gal drums. All equipment has separate preheat and hose-heat controls, separate pressure controls for each side, and patented self-cleaning gun. PUR chemical systems include semi-flexible, flexible, and rigid foams.

RYNEL

Meter/mix/dispense systems for variable-ratio processing of plural-component liquid systems such as PUR, epoxies, polyesters, and silicones. Components or complete production systems created for a specific purpose. Indexing and fixtured equipment can be supplied as part of a system. Lab and pilot-plant to full-scale production capability. Equipment incorporates up to 80% solid fillers in urethane foams.

SEALANT EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING, INC.

Variable- and fixed-ratio meter/mix/dispense equipment with volumetric or timed shots, or operator-controlled volume and flow rates to 20 lb/min. Can be supplied with heated pressure tanks and gravity, pump or positive-displacement feed. Used with adhesives, sealants, and other reactive resin systems from water-thin to high-viscosity.

SEALED AIR CORP.

Several models of Instapak foam-in-place dispensing systems include semi-automated systems that handle rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams. Also offers family of Instapak PUR packaging foam chemicals.

URETHANE SERVICE, INC.

Equipment for processing multicomponent, thermoset materials such as PUR, polyesters, silicones, and polysulfides. Elastomers in a wide range of hardness and also syntactic or chemically blown foams over a wide range of densities. Filled and unfilled materials in viscosities from 30 to 2000 cp. With special techniques, materials in excess of 1 million cp can be processed easily. From dispensing less than 0.1 g of material up to large void-filling equipment that puts out over 400 lb/min.

Also equipment for pouring, casting, bead laying, frothing, potting, spraying, RIM, and RTM.

Self-cleaning impingement mix heads use no solvent purge. Disposable static mixers also eliminate solvent usage. Dynamic mixing heads furnished when required.

Reinforced Plastics Equipment

ACCURATE MACHINE TOOL

New Acc-u-wind filament winder has 60-in. carriage travel, traverse speeds up to 110 ft/min, spindle speed to 250 rpm, and 110 in.-lb of torque. Carriage rides on hardened ways and is driven by a ball screw, which offers position accuracy better than 0.003 in. Controls based on 486 PC. Options include addition of third and fourth axes to the basic two-axis configuration, resin baths, bulk delivery systems, and NEMA-12 enclosures for computer controls.

ADM-NORTH AMERICA

Representing ADM of Germany, company supplies continuous casting machines for polymer concrete, cultured marble, and epoxy electrical insulators. Logo line of machines includes four standard models for outputs of 4.4 to 44 lb/min. Resin, catalyst, and accelerator are metered by separate electrically driven pumps. Units have PLC controls and fast cleanout system said to consume little solvent. Options include lifting/turning system to feed molds, multi-color feeding, heating for filler and resins, and a densifier with continuous air evacuation for solid-surface countertops and the like.

Also supplies spray-up systems for gelcoat and chop.

ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. (AMI)

Prestovac vacuum-only RTM process uses vacuum rather than positive-pressure pumping to distribute resin throughout the mold. Process places precut glass mat in one mold half, pours a premeasured amount of resin onto the mat, puts the other mold half in place, and pulls a vacuum. Vacuum holds mold shut without need for clamps, evacuates air, and pulls resin throughout the mold without any glass "washing." Low-cost vacuum pump runs off shop compressed air and has no moving parts. Using only vacuum allows much lighter, less costly molds to be used. Even large molds can be lifted manually.

ADVANCED PROCESS TECHNOLOGY

Wide range of manual and fully automatic meter/mix/dispense equipment for plural-component RTM and RIM nylon, PUR, epoxy and polyester. "Flying Wedge" features variable ratio, temperature control to 300 F, vacuum degassing, positive-displacement metering, and output rates from 5 g/min to 70 lb/min. Systems process heavily filled (up to 75%), abrasive materials and untilled formulations for open casting, pressure injection into closed molds, high-vacuum potting, and filament winding.

ALTEK PREFORMER CORP.

Custom-designed, manual and robotic directed-fiber preform machines. Computer control can provide variable speed and direction of screen rotation, variable pressure drop, variable glass and binder delivery rates, and adjustable cure times and temperatures.

AUTOMATION DYNAMICS

Filament winding machines up to 12-ft diam. x 40 ft long, either mechanically synchronized or with full computer control. Mechanical machines are generally limited to three axes for high-speed winding in medium-to-long production runs. Computer-controlled machines have up to six axes, extreme flexibility, and ability for rapid product changeover. Also low-cost, lab-scale, full-featured, three-axis, computer-controlled winder.

Prepreg-tape production lines. Modular design allows choice of exact features needed. On-line or off-line hot-melt coaters can be incorporated.

Fiber delivery creels supplied for filament winding or prepreg-tape lines.

New line of three- and five-axis tape-placement machines can be built to handle thermoset or thermoplastic impregnated tow and tape.

BARON AUTOCLAVE CORP.

Prewired and pretested autoclaves for bonding and curing composites. Breech-lock, quick-opening door requires 60 sec to open or close. Features include heavy-duty door hinge, internally mounted blower motor, and custom control panels. Optional computerized process control.

BEDFORD REINFORCED PLASTICS, INC.

This pultrusion processor builds its own pultrusion machinery and supplies systems to other processors overseas and to U.S. firms only for captive production. System includes roving racks and mat creels, resin bath with resin recirculation, and die station with hydraulic lift table that provides die/puller alignment at the touch of a button. Tractor puller has variable speed from 5 to 48 in./min, 12,000-lb pulling force, variable clamping pressure, adjustable-position pulling cleats, and pneumatic raise/lower function on upper track system. Traveling saw table has pneumatic clamping.

Model 240 has 24 x 8 in. envelope; model 360 has 36 x 8 in. envelope; and model 480 has 48 x 8 in. envelope. Tooling and prototype production testing also offered.

BINKS MANUFACTURING CO.

Internal- or external-mix, high-transfer-efficiency guns for spraying resins, gel coat or chop; RTM systems; roller impregnators; and hand-held resin rollers.

Catalyst slave-pump or pressure-tank feed systems can be combined with various of air- and hydraulic-powered pumps.

Mat impregnators include an economical model with a hand crank to dispense mat from a roll between two impregnating rollers and onto a take-up roll. Resin is hand poured from a bucket into the adjustable gap between impregnating rolls. A more elaborate model can have an air motor and foot pedal in place of hand crank. Allows automatic pumping of continuously catalyzed resin through a perforated metal pipe mounted over the gap. Automatic flushing can be provided.

BINKS MANUFACTURING CO. POLY-CRAFT SYSTEMS DIV.

Spray-up systems for reinforced polyester and gelcoat, as well as custom-made equipment. High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP), airless and air-assisted/airless spray systems use lightweight guns designed for simplicity and easy maintenance. All spray guns have two catalyst orifices, allowing use of undiluted catalyst. Systems feature Unison precision catalyst slave pump or optional C-400-N catalyzer. Both are infinitely variable and totally linear in delivery, with no lead or lag.

Basic Gelcoater has pump with only three reciprocating parts; can support up to 0.031-in. fluid-tip orifice with no "winking" or pulsing.

Modular gel-coat system sprays up to 12 colors; mounted on 7-ft-long wheeled chassis, which is easily moved and eliminates costly in-house plumbing. Components include the HVLP G-755 air-assisted/airless gun and C-400-N catalyzer. External-mix gun requires no flushing after use. Supplied for each color is model P-15 pancake 15:1 pump with individual high-pressure filter, air controls, material pick-up assemblies, and quick-disconnect fluid hoses. Central silencer eliminates pump exhaust noise. Each station built as a closed loop with recirculating mode to prevent settling. System uses shop air and can be modified to allow spraying different colors at the same time.

For granite effect, model 205-1000 Grani-Tec gelcoat system can handle up to 60% solids. High filler loadings permitted by automatic recirculation mode, which eliminates clogging of spray nozzles and hoses.

THE BONNOT CO.

Preform extrusion machines for reinforced molding compounds.

I.G. BRENNER CO.

Fiberglass roving cutters in a variety of sizes and lengths to cut fibers 1/8 to 2 in. long. Most popular unit is model 800A with 4 1/2-in. and 7-in.-long cutter rolls.

Preforming machines, either single-station or rotary, with turntables of 24-100 in. diam. Directed-fiber or automatic plenum-chamber versions.

SMC machines 24 to 60 in. wide. Wetout by reverse wrapping over a series of drums with ribbed kneading rolls and hot-water recirculating system. Two, spindle windups and automatic resin feed to doctor knives are standard. Calender rolls are used for heavier materials. In-line resin mixers have two proportioning pumps and a rotary mixing head. Made for rapid disassembly and cleaning.

Corrugated-sheet equipment in sizes and capacities to customer requirements.

Filament winders in a range of lengths and diameters. Floor-mounted or overhead traverse rails. Simple chain-drive traverse recommended. Windings from circumferential to polar, with quick interchange from one to another.

Pultrusion machines with electrical platens and caterpillar pulling in various sizes and capacities.

CALIFORNIA GRAPHITE MACHINES

Unidirectional prepreg machines for aerospace composites in 12-, 24-, 48-, and 60-in. wide webs. One-meter wide models for sporting goods and other commercial uses. Resin filming machines of all sizes for precision film weights. Total prepreg plant equipment includes resin mixing vessels, data recorders, heating and chilling equipment, resin milling, impact mills, prepreg plant layout assistance, and field service.

CANNON USA INC.

Compotec RTM and SRIM turnkey system, designed to customer's specifications. It includes:

* High-production automatic pre-former requires no manpower except to unload. Makes parts from 40 x 32 in. to 112 x 80 in. Cycle times of 45-90 sec, including very fast transfer from heating to clamping station.

* High-speed press with shuttle bed handles large molds. Single- or double-shuttle design, total access to all platens, fast cycle time, control of position, variable tonnage to help control injection pressures, and large clamp forces.

* Variable-output closed-loop metering unit rapidly fills large parts to permit fast cure times. Closed-loop control of variable output for rapid filling of parts while controlling injection pressures. Can inject simultaneously with two mix heads from one metering unit. SPC data collection and analysis of all parameters.

CINCINNATI MILACRON AEROSPACE PRODUCTS DIV.

Composite tape layers for thermosets and thermoplastics are automated systems for measuring, cutting, and laying down courses of prepreg tape on flat or contoured surfaces. Multi-axis tape laydown head mounted on a beam that travels on overhead rails. "Natural path" software allows off-line programming and analysis of lay-up on a contoured surface.

Acramatic 975C control system offers 10 axes of coordinated control with individual acceleration and deceleration rate, and "Look Ahead" software to prevent laying down defective tape.

Viper Fiber Placement System (FPS), is a seven-axis machine that can place fiber tows along paths not achievable by manual lay-up or automated tape-laying systems. Fiber-placement head on a robotic arm heats tows until they are tacky, and compaction roller on a heavy-duty ram-type arm allows work on concave surfaces with minimal secondary debulking. Lays up to 24 individual, 1/8-in.-wide tows, and can cut and restart tows individually. Can lay up contoured ply shapes, follow serpentine ply paths, construct tapered shapes without material buildup, and create localized buildups if necessary.

Head of thermoplastic tape layer has three heating and two cooling compaction shoes. Heating shoes are cartridge-heated up to 1000 F. Capable of end cuts from +45 [degrees] to -45 [degrees]. Lays only flat panels, which can then be formed. (See ads pp. 10, 58-59, 126-127, 142, 146; data sheets pp. 91-97, 138-139, 159-160.)

COMPOSITE PROCESS EQUIPMENT

Pultrusion machines and FRP panel production machines with pulling capacities from 4 to 50 tons. Hydraulic units are said to be user-friendly and ruggedly built for low maintenance. Automatic flying cutoff saw and Computrac computer control with color CRT display. Records temperature, clamp pressure, pulling speed, run time, purge cycle, length of cut, length of pull, winding speed (optional), and resin formulas. Allen-Bradley control system regulates pulling speed to within 0.1 in./min. and temperature to 0.1 [degrees] F.

CONAIR GATTO THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Heavy-duty Cat-A-Puller takeoff, cutoff saw, and pneumatic dump table for pultrusion. Handles part envelope to 0.5.ft high x 1-ft wide. Continuous pulling forces up to 10,000 lb. Traveling saw available with abrasive or diamond blade for wet or dry cutting. Controls include d-c drives with optional all-digital drive. Load-cell force gauge available to display pulling force.

DESIGN EVOLUTION 4, INC.

RTM equipment includes custom-designed pneumatic presses, molds, mold shuttle systems, patterns, prototype, production, R&D programs, training, and consulting.

With high-speed ARTM manufacturing process, male and female tools are compressed in a pneumatic press. Male mold is permanently mounted to the top of pneumatic press. Two female molds equipped with V-grooved wheels exactly mate and align the tool sets, and are shuttled in and out of the press on guide tracks, which are permanently affixed to the press. Shuffle system reportedly increases production by 50%.

J. DIEFFENBACHER GMBH & CO.

See Girard Associates, Inc.

DURA WOUND, INC.

Model 10-C filament winder makes 2-to 48-in. pipe from 1/16-in. to 1-in. thick. Winding is controlled automatically, and can be run by one operator.

Model 20 tank winder for diam. up to 16 ft can wind helical patterns with up to 40 glass strands. Automatically fed resin dip bath. Digital control optional.

Cobra Model 11-A winder handles carbon, aramid, etc., for rocket motors and igniters.

New Cobra table-top digital-controlled filament winder can be equipped with an E-glass or graphite fiber-delivery system with heated saturation bath. Upgrades for computer control available.

Golf-shaft winder includes, mandrel and necessary attachments for winding multiple-angle graphite shaft.

EDGAR INDUSTRIES

Directed-fiber preforming equipment in a wide range of sizes and production capabilities.

ELECTROSTATIC TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Equipment to make prepregs via dry-powder application. Process eliminates solvents; speeds are reportedly faster and use less energy.

[EMC.sup.2] INC.

SMC impregnating machines, press loaders and unloaders, in-mold coating systems, and complete lines with cooling, automatic deflashing, drilling, milling and adhesive bonding. Also RTM metering equipment and complete automated turnkey systems. Trim presses up to 200 tons.

FINN AND FRAM, INC.

SMC machines feature wide cutters and dual-wire-mesh-belt wetout system for high glass content or heavy sheet. Machine is modular with several possible configurations. Dual fixed-spindle winders, bulk packagers (festooners), and combination winder/packagers available in several sizes. Open and closed dynamic in-line mixers and doctor-blade supply system.

Glass-roving cutters, 4 in. long to extra-wide, cut lengths 1/16 in. and up. Expendable razor blades and replaceable cot sleeves. Options include laminating equipment for circuit-board manufacture, and SMC charge cutters (slitter/blankers) that slit, trim, and cut to length with programmable controls.

Computer-controlled, continuous FRP panel lines produce flat, corrugated, or embossed panels. Sand or pebble surface can be added.

Single-station, directed-fiber, and semi-automatic preform machines for applications such as RTM.

GIRARD ASSOCIATES, INC.

Represents Dieffenbacher GmbH of Germany, which builds hydraulic high-speed presses and press-system auxiliaries. Presses from 300 to 5000 tons with bed sizes from 40 x 40 in. to 200 x 160 in. High-precision presses available with parallelism control.

Auxiliary components include automatic GMT conveyor ovens, CNC loaders for GMT or SMC charges (max. 6 axes), proprietary gripper technology (needle, suction or mechanical type) for GMT and SMC charge and parts handling, cooling stations for GMT and SMC parts, and quick-mold-change systems. Also cell controls with strategic emergency programs, master control systems interlinking several production cells via an intelligent network, product and process data-acquisition systems, and SPC and process data-analysis systems.

GLAS-CRAFT INC.

FRP spray-up equipment includes internal- and external-mix spray systems for gelcoat, spray-up and wet-out. Complete line of airless, air-atomized and air-assist/airless systems. LPA-II-AAC air-assist/airless spray gun with exclusive Air Assist Containment and SP-85 catalyst slave pump reportedly provides excellent transfer efficiency and extremely low emission levels.

"Soft Spray Applicator" (SSA) is a "sprinkler-type" coarse atomization nozzle.

RTM dispensing equipment includes LPI (Low-Pressure Injection) system with 4:1 pump, standard slave-pump catalyst proportioner, and capacity of 2.5 gal/min. Gun has one-button on/off control, cleanout ports on both catalyst and resin sides, pump-stroke counter, and reset switch. Low-pressure recirculation of catalyst and resin keeps fillers in suspension. Solvent and air flushing. Transparent window for observing material in static-mixing nozzle.

GRACO INC.

Plural-component equipment systems for metering, mixing, spraying or casting PUR, epoxy, polysulfide or filled polyester. Pumping units with mix ratios from 1:1 to 18:1 draw materials from catalyst and resin storage tanks, and deliver components to a static-mixing head where a transfer hose can be used to deliver mix to spray guns or dispensing valves.

GS MANUFACTURING CO.

Airless chopper, wet-out and gel-coat spray systems feature "no-flush" external mixing. They are said to offer simple operation, built-in safety factors, and fast, efficient production. Gun is lightweight (3 lb, 7 oz) with a single-finger, air-assist trigger control. Can be converted from chopper gun to gelcoster with removal of one bolt and change of tip. Chopper-gun mount has a swivel for instant alignment of glass and material spray pattern.

Does not need solvent flushing. Because of low pressures, gun can be operated within 6-8 in. of the mold and delivers 3 to 23 lb/min. Catalyst is safely used directly from shipping container, and is pumped through a reportedly easy-to-maintain pumping system. Systems can be stationary or portable.

'"True" airless or airless/air-assist MEKP systems. Compact Little Willie gelcoat unit with lightweight gun mounts on 5-gal pail. RC42 Rascal chopper system features lightweight gun, high-speed/high-torque chopper motor, and spring boom that has 5-ft vertical movement with adjustable tension.

Also high-volume wet-out systems, Multi Color Block for up to eight gelcoat colors, and Big Bertha high-volume chopper gun that can dispense up to 35 lb/min of laminate and handle six strands of glass.

Gemini variable-ratio urethane/polyester hybrid spray system features internal-mix Rascal hybrid spray gun with chopper, transfer pumps, variable-ratio proportioning system, in-line heaters, heated hoses, and portable cart with 12-ft boom.

RTM system is based on Little Willie gun with a static-mixing extension, 5:1 air-motor pump, and catalyst slave system. Mounts on 5-gal pail or wall; can be used with saturator or resin-roller attachments.

GUSMER, DIV. OF PMC INC.

Variable-ratio DeltaRim impingement-mixing RIM machinery for RTM and SRIM dispensing at 40 to 240 lb/min. Double-acting Continuous Delivery Cylinder (CDC) pump system provides uniform flow and unlimited shot sizes. (See ad p. 201.)

HI-TECH ENGINEERING, INC.

High- and low-pressure RTM metering/mixing equipment and clamps, RIM and large LD-SRIM systems.

High-pressure RTM series has hydraulic cylinders with component metering capacities from 500 to 20,000 cc each, typically paired in a 4:1 or greater size ratio. Process controls for all machine functions, with optional full computer interface and SPC package. High-pressure impingement mix head has external recirculation and can be modified for high-temperature applications to 400 F.

Silenzer series RTM meter/mix/dispense equipment has precise variable-ratio control. All fittings attach through the lid of the tank system, so a standard 5-gal pail can be set inside the tank for ease of material changeover. Metering accuracy assured by precision gear pumps slaved together for control of ratio and in-mold delivery pressure. Various sizes of gear pumps allow ratio selection from 1:1 to 100:1. Pumps available in mild steel and stainless steel.

Duraflow cylinder-type RTM machine processes polyesters, vinyl esters, epoxies, and urethanes. Large-volume resin cylinder mechanically linked to low-volume catalyst cylinder. Quick-change linkage varies ratio in four discrete increments from 20:1 to 200:1. All-pneumatic operation, material recirculation, special cylinder design with equal flow in both directions, and large free-flow material path. (See ad p. 203.)

INGERSOLL MILLING MACHINE CO.

Special machinery for automated fabrication of composites. In conjunction with Hercules Corp., Ingersoll provides a full range of processes, from hand lay-up auxiliaries to custom-built pultrusion equipment, automatic tape layers, and advanced fiber-placement systems.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Information on equipment for reinforced plastics spraying, spiral winding, pultrusion, and hand lay-up available from Italian companies.

JAECO PUMP CO.

Plunger and diaphragm-type metering pumps for RTM or other systems. Electronic and pneumatic controllers.

C.A. LAWTON CO.

CompForm automated preforming process for RTM and SRIM applies binder resin to precut mats, reacts binder without heating the reinforcement or mold, molds the preform, and attaches structural components such as ribs or cores. It uses a "directed-energy" technique of curing the preform binder with either microwave or uv energy. Curing energy is applied right in the forming tool, which has a plastic skin that is transparent to both forms of energy.

LINCOLN INDUSTRIAL, A PENTAIR CO.

Air-operated pumps for transfer and spray-up of FRP fluid materials from 55-gal drums, 5-gal pails, or bulk tanks. Pumps operate inside or outside containers to move product to mixer or spray head. Pump accessories include primers, pressure primers, hose, control valves, measuring valves, mixing and metering equipment.

LINDEN INDUSTRIES, INC.

Plural-component metering/dispensing systems, mold-carriers, and clamps for SRIM and RTM. (See Urethane Processing Systems.)

LIQUID CONTROL CORP.

Polyester resin/catalyst metering system for continuous or intermittent feed of catalyzed mix in RTM or filament winding. Variable-ratio control of 0.6 to 4%, outputs to 100 lb/min, filler loading to 70%, and use of most common catalysts. Multiflow series machines proportion, mix, and inject epoxy and PUR into closed molds. Can be used to meter, mix and dispense SMC paste.

Computer-controlled model with dual lance-piston cylinders driven by electric servo motors provides highly uniform, pulsation-free mold filling. Remote monitoring and quality documentation available.

LITTLEFORD DAY, INC.

SMC and BMC mixing components and complete compound production systems supplied through association with RP/C Corp.

C.A. LITZLER CO., INC.

Prepreg fabric saturation systems for fiberglass, graphite, and aramid. Complete systems include letoffs, splice presses, precision metering rolls, curing ovens, compaction rolls, and windups. Pollution-control incinerators and d-c drives and instrumentation included.

MAGNUM INDUSTRIES

Spray-up equipment includes an airless/air-assist chopper gun. Trigger reduces operator fatigue and eliminates lead/lag between catalyst and resin.

ATG-3500 gelcoat/wet-out gun also incorporates patented airless/air-assist technique and reportedly gives superior pattern control on gelcoat without tails. Air trigger allows feathering into tight recesses without flooding and eliminates possibility of spraying catalyst without gelcoat. Both guns are light and balanced for easy maneuvering.

Putty dispensing machine handles any type of marine putty at viscosities to 3,000,000 cp. Slave arm meters catalyst in 0.1% increments. Putty and catalyst mixed and dispensed through a mixing block and chamber.

Self-balancing, internal-mix chopper system automatically balances catalyst pressure when spray pressures or outputs are changed. Self-balancing, internal-mix gelcoat system operates in much the same way as the chopper, resulting in reportedly superior mixing.

Three-component, internal-mix foaming polyester system meters both catalyst and blowing agent, which are mixed with resin at the gun.

Internal-mix resin-roller impregnator mixes resin and catalyst at the roller and introduces catalyzed resin inside the perforated roller, where it is evenly distributed.

MASS MACHINERY, INC.

Autoclaves for curing composites can be supplied with data loggers and instrumentation for manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic operation using microprocessor or host computer.

OEM INC.

Heavy-duty pullers for pultrusion.

PATENTECH CORP.

Specially designed spray-up system, including a mixer for resin and filler, is expressly designed for handling high filler loads to enable maximum resin extension. Rotational casting equipment also available.

Low-cost McD mixer/catalyzer/dispenser system for highly filled thermoset resins pumps 5 gal/min at 19,500 cp.

POLY-CRAFT SYSTEMS

See Binks Mfg. Co.

PRECISION CRAFT CORP.

Equipment from Transtecnica of Brazil includes RTM systems with pump that mounts directly on the resin pail, slave-arm catalyst pump, and injection gun with static mixer.

Spray-up system for gelcoat and chop includes reciprocating pump and HVLP (high-volume/low-pressure) gun with airless/air-assist atomization and external mixing.

Wheeled vacuum-pump cart for vacuum bagging can draw vacuum from up to 10 inlets simultaneously. Vacuum to 28 in. (710 mm) Hg. Pump output of 4 to 50 cfm. Quick-release shutoff valves.

P.S.H. INDUSTRIES, INC.

R-2 spray gun for polyester and epoxy gelcoats and laminating resins is said to eliminate air bubbles and holes in mold making. Gun dispenses from paper or plastic cups, which can be discarded to avoid time-consuming clean-up.

PULTREX LTD.

Pultrusion machines range from 1-ton pulling load and 7 x 2 in. product envelope to 12-ton, 40 x 14 in. All models have electronic PLC control and include automatic flying cut-off saws. Automatic data logging and computer process control optional.

Filament winding machines for general and special purposes available with mechanical drive or up to six axes of CNC control. (Nonaxis symmetrical program generation software also available.) Machines are modularly designed in sizes to 14-ft diam. x 40 ft long. Tension and resin systems, and full data logging and process monitoring available.

PULTRUSlON TECHNOLOGY DIV. MMFG

Pulstar automated, modular pultrusion systems with product envelopes of 8 x 4 in. to 30 x 8 in. are hydraulically powered and microprocessor controlled. Sequencing with PLCs. Input or output modules can be added and simple software changes made with a hand-held programmer.

Resin impregnation station has powered, vertically adjustable table for fast setup. Die station is electrically heated, has powered top platen to provide easy access for in-process maintenance or start-up, and powered bottom platens to provide centerline control over product to reduce warpage. A 34-in.-long platen with two heating zones handles dies up to 36 in. Optional 56-in.-long platen system with three heating zones. All platens have a pregel cooling zone at the entrance to permit temporary shutdown without gelling the profile.

Reciprocating clamp-puller system has adjustable pressure. Automatic flying cut-off saw mounted below table is orbitally operated and has a manually adjustable envelope.

Gelstar thermal analyzer can monitor cure conditions on-line inside the die. Off-line, it can perform automatic SPI gel and cure tests and print out results.

Also auxiliary equipment and tooling for a complete pultrusion operation, plus technical assistance, product design, composite design, prototyping, and manufacturing technology.

RADIO FREQUENCY CO. LAROSE RF SYSTEMS DIV.

RF preheaters and bonders for thermosets include model 671, which increases speeds on pultrusion lines; model L-200, which reduces press cycle times and improves surface characteristics in SMC molding (Charges to 80 lb can be preheated in 45 sec.); and model L-230 preform preheaters for phenolic and epoxy preforms in compression/transfer molding.

Model 5100 thermoset bonders for SMC automotive body panels join parts in seconds.

Complete stock of spare parts for thermal preheaters.

RETEK CORP.

Standard and custom-designed filament winders include overhead- and rear-carriage types programmed via IBM-compatible PCs. Winders use PAC-5 programmable controller from Automation Systems Inc., along with Retek filament-winding control software. Standard mandrel diam. are 16 and 24 in. for overhead-carriage machines and 16 to 48 in. for rear-carriage machines. Custom-built creels also supplied.

RP/C CORP.

Represents a group of companies that provide equipment for all phases of SMC, GMT, or RTM manufacturing from individual components to integrated manufacturing cells. Group can provide design specifications for equipment needed and total turnkey installation and performance responsibility. Components and suppliers include:

* Mixing equipment, metering systems, and self-contained meter/mix cells for SMC sheet production from Littleford Day.

* Energy-efficient, short-stroke presses for SMC/GMT in sizes from 500 to 5000 tons. Special presses for RTM have booking platens and large bed size, combined with lower tonnage.

* Hydraulic press rebuilding, and hydraulic and control upgrading from Mohawk Industries.

* In-mold coating systems from [EMC.sup.2].

* Composite molds from Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering.

* Quick-mold-change systems for compression presses from Orchid Automation.

* Infrared charge-heating ovens for GMT from Blasdel Enterprises.

* Automatic press loaders and unloaders, large gantry robots for parts transfer, and self-contained robotic cells from ISI Robotics. End-of-arm tooling and an "intelligent vacuum-management system" from ISI Automation Products Group.

* Compliant automation devices for abrasive deflashing from Robotics and Automation Corp.

* CNC routers from Accu-Router; 37 x 61 in. three-axis model up to 6 x 12 ft five-axis version. Repeatability within 0.002 in.

* Hot-air and RF bonding equipment and tooling from Nemeth Engineering.

* Robotic adhesive dispensing systems from [EMC.sup.2].

* Secondary tooling and fixtures from D&F Corp.

* Automated, high-speed RTM systems from [EMC.sup.2].

* Parts washing and painting systems from Blasdel Enterprises.

* High-speed, noncontact laser dimension-checking systems from Perceptron.

* Size-reduction equipment for reclaiming thermoset parts from Hi-Torque Shredder Co.

RTM SYSTEMS, INC.

RTM equipment includes low-pressure injection machinery for internal mix (Megaject and LPI) or premix (Hypaject) injection of polyester, vinyl ester, phonolic, epoxy, hybrid, etc. Newly introduced low-cost epoxy injection unit.

Full line of mold building supplies and accessories: in-mold heater cloth and heater power packs, high-temperature core materials, vacuum generators, in-mold sensors, clamps, seals, sprues, and spree plugs.

Conducts training courses in composite RTM tooling technology.

SANDVlK PROCESS SYSTEMS, INC.

Double-belt presses convey resins and reinforcements through a controlled time/temperature/pressure cycle to produce continuous sheet products (fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastic and thermoset laminates, composites, and foams). Products can be up to 56 in. wide. Cure times to 10 min., cure temperatures to 500 F, and line speeds to 90 ft/min. Auxiliary equipment includes loaders, cutting devices, take-up and let-off rolls.

SEALANT EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING, INC.

Low- to high-pressure meter/mix/dispense equipment for epoxy, PUR, silicone, or polyester. From economical, air-powered bench-top unit to Program-a-Bead III units that interface with robots. RTM is a major application.

SIEMPELKAMP CORP.

Hydraulic presses (single- and multiple-opening) and complete plants (automatic layup, conveying, pressing, trimming, inspection and packaging lines) for high-pressure laminates (decorative, industrial-grade, and copper-clad laminates for printed circuits).

SS SPECIALTIES, INC.

JX-AA-2QT polyester gelcoat system is a lightweight, airless/air-assisted gun with 8:1 ratio pump suitable for tooling gelcoat and for multiple colors. In 2-qt or 2-gal sizes.

Also fiberglass spray-up systems and RTM and polyester putty machines.

STOUGHTON COMPOSITES, INC.

This pultrusion processor (a joint venture of Stoughton Trailers, Inc. and Alcoa) maintains small Pultrusion Machine Manufacturing Div., based on assets and technology derived from the former Goldsworthy Engineering company. Stoughton Composites builds pultrusion machines for its own use and sells them to others on a limited basis. As in late-model Goldsworthy machines, these systems have microprocessor control, closed-loop speed control, precision cutoff, and reciprocating puller/grippers in double, triple, or quadruple configurations. Type I machine has 8 x 24 in. envelope and 10,000-lb pulling force. Type II has 24 x 36 in. envelope and 40,000-lb pull force. Type III has 8 x 48 in. envelope and 20,000-lb pull force.

TENNEY ENGINEERING, INC.

Autoclaves from compact lab models to large production units with instrumentation to control temperature to 850 F, pressure to 800 psig, vacuum, etc. Hydraulically operated door with locking ring and remotely located instrument panel standard. Blower motor mounted in a water-cooled, encapsulated "bubble" enclosure on exterior wall eliminates need for shaft seals.

THERMAL EQUIPMENT CORP.

Turnkey autoclave systems monitor part vacuum throughout cure cycle. Computer control system has cycle editor with more than 24 controllable parameters, including part-heat rate, guaranteed soak, exotherm detection, pressure rate, vacuum levels, and alarms.

UNITED MCGILL PPD CORP.

Autoclave systems operate at up to 1200 F and 2000 psi with electric heaters and inert-gas pressurizing medium. Vessels can have patented door assemblies, hydraulically operated cylinders, fans, electric heaters, cooling-coil heat exchangers, and internal track. Other components include preassembled and piped vacuum supply platforms for quick field installation, control panels for temperature and pressure cure cycles, process-variable recorders with graphic display, and vacuum-monitoring and recording panels to ensure part quality.

Mini-Bonder is a lab-sized autoclave for R&D and limited production.

URETHANE SERVICE, INC.

Plural-component machines for pouring, casting, bead laying, frothing, potting, RIM and RTM. (See Urethane Processing Systems.)

VEKTRONICS, INC.

Prepreg tape-laying equipment. Composite Processing Cell precuts prepreg tape for specific part geometries and stores it in a cartridge in an off-line tape processor. Cartridges supply an existing tape machine or company's low-profile, gantry-style tape layer or "split-axis" rotary table. Software package defines course geometry from part-definition input by operator or downloaded from a database. Ultrasonic bed cutter can be stand-alone or integrated with CPC-610 tape layer.

VENUS-GUSMER, DIV. OF PMC, INC.

Engineered systems for polyester and fiberglass open-mold and closed-mold processes range from individual machines to complete turnkey plants. Patented H.I.S. (hydraulic injection system) uses internal, airless, low-pressure mixing and is incorporated into an extensive line of reinforced thermoset plastic systems:

* Hand-held spray-up units such as chopper guns, saturators and gelcoaters with a variety of accessories and support equipment. Pro Line includes the Pro Gun Chopper and Pro Series Gelcoater.

* Resin injection and RTM units for low-pressure filling of closed molds include economical H.I.S.-based Hydrajectors, EPO1, EPO2 and EPO3 meter/mix series, and hydraulic-pump powered RAM for advanced composites. PC-based process monitors available for Hydrajector and EPO series, and specially designed computer monitor for the RAM. Pneumatic and hydraulic RTM presses available with shuttle action if required.

* Casting units for open molds or cavity filling.

* Automated reciprocators for high-volume production of FRP sheet products and contoured shapes.

* Impregnators for mechanized wet-out of woven roving and lay-up into large molds. Four-roll and seven-roll models in numerous configurations, including an 18-in. portable bridge crane and gantry for taping boat stringers and bulkheads.

* Filament winders for automated production of large-diam. tanks and pipe. Optional computer monitoring and controls.

* Panel machines for automated, high-volume production of flat, embossed and corrugated panels.

* Abraders that prepare the surface of panels to hold a secure bond.

* Laminating rollers with "thin-fin" design for rolling out saturated woven roving.

* Cultured-marble machines include Precision Cast for mechanized production of polyester marble matrix.

* Resin concrete machines for mixing coarse aggregate with polyester.

* Solvent recovery system for distilling solvents.

* Polyester foam units for low-fume spraying of polyester foam.

* Filled resin systems for mixing and dispensing with fillers.

* Composite specimen preparation system (router and bridge saw) for producing samples of various shapes and sizes for numerous standard testing procedures. (See data sheet p. 221.)

VERMONT INSTRUMENT CO.

Bench-type laboratory filament winders have mandrels up to 12-in. diam. and 48 in. long. Change gears for helical winding, variable-speed drive for circumferential winding, capability for NOL ring winding, preset counter, and electronic speed control.

NOL ring winder has controllable overlap and speed and fixtures for NOL ring testing. Available with console, including pump and recording manometer.

Bench-type laboratory pultruders can make 1/8- to 1/4-in.-diam. rod. Torsion-test equipment measures properties of rod for quality-control monitoring of resin, cure temperature, and reinforcement surface treatment. Heated-die, infrared, ultraviolet, and microwave curing systems.

Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems

AARON EQUIPMENT CO. DIV. OF ARECO, INC.

Ribbon and double-cone blenders in stainless and carbon steel for mixing resins and powders or colors. Double-sigma blade mixer in carbon steel 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. 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 at up 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 are jacketed for steam, water, or oil heating to 100 psi at 300 F.

PAUL O. ABBE, INC.

Mixers include Rota-Cone tumble blender, ribbon and paddle blenders, Forberg-II mixer, and sigma-blade mixers for pastes and high-viscosity mixing. Specializes in custom mixing equipment with ancillary equipment such as load cells, bag dump, and dust control.

Also ball mills for production and laboratory applications.

ACRISON, INC.

Model 350 multipurpose blender for continuous mixing of dry materials features two concentrically mounted augers that operate at different speeds. 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 available.

ADMIRAL EQUIPMENT CO.

See Gusmer.

ADVANCED PROCESS TECHNOLOGY

Electrically heated, agitated vacuum/pressure tanks for batch heating, degassing, and mixing in sizes from 2 to 75 gal.

AEC/WHITLOCK

Blending systems for free-flowing materials include volumetric, gravimetric, batch-weigh and loss-in-weight systems. SMA, WVB and LMA volumetric blenders continuously blend up to six materials at rates up to 5000 lb/hr/ingredient. Can be machine-mounted or floor-mounted.

For more precise blending, WWB series batch-weigh blenders and WLB series weight-loss blenders have microprocessor-based controls to deliver accuracies better than 0.5 to 1%.

Blenders can be integrated into complete handling systems, including pneumatic conveying, drying, and storage equipment. (See ad p. 328.)

AMERICAN BARMAG CORP.

Distributes Mixaco mixing equipment, from universal mixers to container mixers and high-speed heating/cooling mixers.

AMERICAN LEISTRITZ EXTRUDER CORP.

Corotating and counterrotating twin-screw extruders and complete hot-face pelletizing lines for compounding and scrap reprocessing. Screw diam. from 18 to 135 mm for outputs from under 11 lb/hr to 8000 lb/hr. Machines are modular and have segmented screws.

Universal laboratory extruder has attachments for single-screw and three twin-screw modes of operation. Convertible 18- and 27-mm twin-screw extruders for lab and medical applications have throughputs of 1 to 15 lb/hr and 10 to 100 lb/hr, respectively. Operate in corotating intermeshing and counterrotating intermeshing modes. Segmented barrels are electrically heated and internally cooled by air or liquid. Machine is self-contained on a roll-around flame. (See ad p. 228.)

ANDREWS PRODUCTS INC.

Add*Too line of intensive nonfluxing blenders mount on processing equipment. An arm or paddle integrates liquid color into pellet or powder flow. Units operate at up to 450 F and capacities to 2000 lb/hr.

ANDRITZ SPROUT-BAUER, INC.

Solids mixers for granules or powders permit limited liquid addition of additives such as plasticizers and colorants.

Ribbon mixer for heavy-duty mixing has counterflow action for thorough mixing in a short time. Available with heating/cooling jacket.

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

Vertical screw mixer blends regrind scrap with virgin pellets.

APV CHEMICAL MACHINERY, INC.

Corotating, self-wiping, twin-screw extruders with rates to 10,000 lb/hr. CP-1000 series low-torque extruder is suitable for low- to medium-viscosity materials in applications requiring temperature control. MP-2000 series for medium- to high-viscosity materials in applications requiring high free volume for higher filler loadings. HP-4000 series high-torque extruder used primarily for high-molecular-weight, high-viscosity thermoplastics.

Have segmented agitators for varying configuration, and segmented barrels for up to 48:1 L/D. Barrel sections can be equipped with side feeders, venting systems, liquid injection ports, and barrel-valve assemblies. Process temperatures can be controlled by liquid heating and cooling media on CP-1000 units, and by electric heating and liquid cooling on MP-2000 and HP-4000. Relay-logic or microprocessor control of compounding lines, plus host-computer supervisory package.

Ancillary components include pre-blender, feeder systems, vacuum systems, strand or underwater pelletizers, and classifying and drying systems.

APV GAULIN, INC.

Supplies homogenizers and reciprocating high-pressure pumps.

BALL & JEWELL DIV., STERLING, INC.

Tumble Master dual-drum tumbler is constructed of heavy-gauge steel. Mixing capacity to 300 lb/drum. A 1-hp drive is standard. Timer package is offered to control mixing cycle. (See data sheets pp. 322-323.)

LOUIS P. BATSON INC.

Colormax equipment includes floor-mounted blenders and on-machine blenders for mixing up to five materials on top of the hopper. Mini Multi Flow blender, a compact hopper-mounted unit, blends three materials without separation.

Gravimetric Multi Weigh blender augments standard range of volumetric Multi Flow blenders. Utilizes up to eight metering modules supported on individual load cells for simultaneous loss-in-weight control.

BEPEX CORP.

High-speed, high-shear continuous mixer blends solids with solids, liquids, or gases. Six sizes from 8- to 30-in. diam. Adjustable shear and impact action. May be jacketed for heating and cooling. Paddles are adjustable to vary retention time.

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 gentle mixing action, recommended especially for mixing small amounts of critical ingredients with large amounts of matrix material. Batch or continuous operation.

Also supplies a unit for mixing and extruding paste and plastic materials. Continuous mixing and kneading action on materials discharging through an orifice plate that provides size and mixing control. Jacketed for heating or cooling.

BERSTORFF CORP.

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

Single-screw extruders up to 24-in. come in melt- and pellet-fed homogenizing, devolatilizing, straining, pelletizing, and specialty designs.

Single-screw, vertical/horizontal tandem extruders up to 14 in./16 in. combination mix highly filled PVC and polyolefins. Also specialty designs for scrap reclaim of commingled plastics.

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

Multiple-screw (10 and more) extruders for high-surface-area devolatilization and reactions. (See ad p. 230.)

BLACK CLAWSON CONVERTING MACHINERY CORP.

Pelletizers and single-screw extruders, homogenizers, devolatilizers, and compounders in standard sizes from 2 1/2 to 20 in.

STEWART BOLLING

See Kobelco Stewart Bolling, Inc.

C.W. BRABENDER INSTRUMENTS INC.

Prep Mixer is a high-shear, fluxing, intensive mixer for lab or pilot-plant mixing. Mixing capacity approx. 1/2 lb. Liquid or electrical heating.

Two-roll Prep Mill with 4-in. diam x 8-in. work area is also for lab use. Roll gap adjustable from 5 to 195 mils; drive speed adjustable to 30 rpm.

Twin-screw continuous mixer for high-shear mixing at up to 10 lb/hr has counterrotating, intermeshing 1.65-in.-diam. (42mm) screws.

BRAN & LUEBBE, INC.

Pumps for liquid metering/proportioning and systems for in-line blending of two or more liquids. Units handle pressures up to 50,000 psi and viscosities to 100,000 cp at outputs to 23,000 gal/hr.

CARL G. BRIMMEKAMP & CO., INC.

Distributes Collin 7K-50 laboratory twin-screw extruder from Dr. Collin GmbH of Germany. Operates counter- or corotating with a single gear change. Segmented screws and barrels. Closed, vented, and feed-port barrels in numerous configurations. Screw diam. is 50 mm, processing lengths from 9:1 to 18:1 L/D, and max. output is 50 lb/hr. Optional measuring equipment and microprocessor controls.

BUSS AMERICA, INC.

Buss-Kneader continuous, reciprocating single-screw compounders mix and disperse thermoplastics and thermosets. Uses 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 blending reinforced plastics.

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. Systems process plasticized and nonplasticized PVC.

CHEM-MIXX TECHNOLOGY DIV. TRA-CON INC.

Metering, mixing, and dispensing equipment for epoxies, polyesters, and urethanes includes static mixers of stainless-steel and/or disposable construction.

CHEMINEER-KENICS

Motionless mixing elements include Thermogenizer for extrusion. It 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 to 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.

Static mixers reportedly achieve uniform, controlled degree of shear and flow. Unique element shape reportedly provides lower-cost mixing than competitive formats.

COLORMAX

See Louis P. Batson Inc.

CONAIR FRANKLIN THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Eighteen models of AutoWeigh gravimetric blenders precisely weigh and blend up to eight different materials in batch sizes of 2.2 to 39.6 lb. Blend from 10 to 5000 lb/hr. Mount directly on the machine or can be used as floor-mounted, central blenders. Blending in 2.2-, 4.4-, 8.8-, or 19.8-lb batches with 0.1% accuracy. Controls provide self-compensating, batch-to-batch metering adjustments to ensure accuracy.

Gravicon loss-in-weight blenders offer a lower-cost method of gravimetric blending up to four materials at up to 5000 lb/hr with 0.5% accuracy.

Autocolor Plus performs on-machine, self-loading, volumetric batch metering and blending. Fixed quantities of virgin material and regrind are mixed with up to two metered amounts of colorants or additives. Microprocessor-controlled models have 600-lb/hr or 1200-lb/hr throughput.

Conomix Plus continuous, high-throughput, volumetric blenders. Two to four ingredients blended at 600 to 2700 lb/hr per metering auger with accuracy of [+ or -]1% or better.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY DIV. INVESTMENT HOLDINGS GROUP LTD.

Distributes Plas Mec (Italian) line of Turbomixers and auxiliary components for temperature regulation and vacuum mixing in capacities from 176 to 1760 lb/loading. Capacities from 200 to 2000 liters.

Horizontal ribbon blenders for cold mixing of temperature-sensitive materials and special systems for heating/cooling with mixing. Also lab systems and automatic systems for charging mixers and for "containerizing" finished blends.

CORNELL MACHINE CO.

Versator solid/liquid blender can mix, blend and defoam two or more components. Recommended for coatings and pastes, it disperses one or more finely divided solids into liquids and will simultaneously deaerate. Disc in vacuum chamber revolves at 900 to 6000 rpm. Handles broad viscosity range.

CUSTOM SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

Laboratory and pilot-plant mixing extruders. Screwless extruder uses elastic-energy storage characteristics of polymer melts for mixing and extrusion. Residence time is said to be short (typically 20-31 sec), and amount of shear applied to the melt can be varied.

Two models available: one with 2-in.-diam. rotor and 1/4-in. die, and the other with 3/4-in.-diam. rotor and 1/8-in. die. Temperature controls for rotor and die and water-cooling channels on feed hopper. Handles pellet, powder, flake or crumb.

DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

D-tex twin-screw corotating and counterrotating intermeshing extruders come in 30 to 128 mm with outputs from 50 to 8000 lb/hr and lengths to 56:1 L/D. Three rotation modes: both counter and corotating without gearbox modifications, standard corotating, or standard counterrotating. Barrel ports for downstream solids addition or devolatilization.

Sterling single-screw compounding extruders handle cold- or hot-feed additive blending. Hard-to-feed material can be introduced either by ram stuffer or screw auger to force-feed materials at the extruder throat, or through a sidearm addition where the material is metered into the molten polymer stream beyond the extruder's melting section. Applications include color concentrates, filled systems, alloying, and scrap reclamation.

Cavity Transfer Mixer for continuous blending in sizes 25 to 450 mm (built under license from Rapra of the U.K.). Rotor with spherical cavities is attached to the end of the extruder screw; its stationary housing 75 mounted between extruder barrel and die. Resulting circulating and cutting motion provides distributive mixing. Material flow has little restriction because unit has no pins, dams, or other obstructions. Reduction of material distortion through the die and residual stress is achieved because the unit establishes even heat distribution. Mixer has no "dead spaces," resulting in quick changeover of polymers.

Papenmeier high-intensity mixers for PVC and ABS are manufactured by Repiquet in France (recently acquired by Davis-Standard). Sizes from laboratory models to full production machines for over 8000 lb/hr. Mixer/cooler combinations have increased cooling area for reduced cycle times. (See ad p. 152.)

DRAISWERKE, INC.

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

Drais turbulent mixer/reactors for high-speed mixing, kneading, and reaction processes 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 designs with capacities from 2.5 to 40,000 liters.

Drais Gelimat high-intensity mixer with 1 to 250 liters capacity uses friction energy to heat product for mixing and melting and completes a cycle in 15-25 sec. Mixer can process PVC, PP, PE, UHMW-PE, ABS, and PVDC. Material can be directly discharged into an extruder, mold, or roller mill and pelletized. Batch and continuous models.

DUPLEX MILL & MFG. CO.

SIX types of Kelly Duplex mixers:

* Vertical spiral mixers in 100 to 1500-cu-ft sizes blend free-flowing granular or fine materials.

* Horizontal paddle mixers in 2- to 360-cu-ft batch sizes for fast blending of regrinds, slurries, and powders. Said to be particularly effective for mixing PE and color pigments for rotomolding. Units provide positive discharge and are said to be easy to clean. Air-purged shaft seals help prevent contamination.

* 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 capacity from 50 to 12,000 cu ft/hr combines mixing and conveying of bulk materials.

* Continuous twin-rotor paddle mixers blend solids with solids or liquids at rates from 100 to 3000 cu ft/hr.

Kelly Duplex batching and mixing package allows material to be automatically batched, mixed, and stored, then fed directly to extrusion machinery.

ECLIPSE SYSTEMS DIV. TECHNOLOGY GENERAL CORP.

Air-motor and electric-powered agitators/mixers from 1/6 to 5 hp (direct drive or gear-reduction unit) accommodate all mixing viscosities. Models for use in 1- to 5000-gal vessels (open, closed, pressure, or vacuum type). Stainless-steel couplings, shafts, and propellers standard. ANSI and Tri-clover flange mixers configured for top, side, or bottom entry. Air-driven models are explosion and shock proof, and immune to burnout. Electric models available with explosion-proof motors and inverters for speed control.

EGAN DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Single- and twin-screw compounding extruders offered with microprocessor controls and strand, underwater, or water-ring pelletizing systems. Complete test and demonstration capabilities at technical center in Somerville, N.J. Twin-screw corotating, intermeshing compounders have capacities of 100 to 2500 lb/hr and segmented barrel and screw elements. Special adaptations of Egan'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. (See ad p. 152.)

ERIE MILL & PRESS CO.

Laboratory and production two-roll mixing and warm-up mills have working faces from 6 x 13 in. to 26 x 84 in. and up to 120 in. long. Can be furnished with standard sleeve bearings or roller bearings, as well as chrome-plated and drilled rolls, motorized adjusting screws, air-operated scraper knives, and tilting stock guides. Drives are constant-speed a-c or variable-speed d-c. Rolls can be drilled for cooling and heating.

FARREL CORP.

Twin-rotor continuous mixer is used for polyolefin color masterbatching and homogenization and compounding of 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 adjustment of discharge temperature. Nonintermeshing short-rotor design provides fast product changeover and easy cleaning. Farrel CP (Compact Processor) combines the continuous mixer with a hot-fed extruder to provide a versatile, space-saving system.

Also manufactures Banbury twin-rotor intensive batch mixer and FTX corotating twin-screw extruder. The latter has patented polygon-shaped mixing elements. Because there is no intermeshing of mixing elements, FTX line reduces high shear stress and localized high temperatures common to kneading-disk machines. Design of mixing section ensures a longer residence time for complete and thorough mixing. Line is available in output from 88 to 3960 lb/hr. (See Compounding, Mixing, Blending Systems.) (See ad p. 224.)

FINN AND FRAM, INC.

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

FOREMOST MACHINE BUILDERS INC.

Machine-mounted or free-standing volumetric and gravimetric blenders.

Upright Duplex volumetric blenders blend up to 6000 lb/hr of virgin resin, regrind, colorants, and additives in pellet, powder, or flake form. Units include holding bins, metering augers or vibrators, and cascading chute or mixer.

Mini- and machine-mounted blenders for the same range of materials as the Duplex series are designed for direct mounting on process-machine throat. Continuous mixers are optional.

Gravimetric blenders include LWB and BWB series for either loss-in-weight or batch-weight continuous blending. Floor or on-machine mounting. Microprocessor controls provide accuracy to [+ or -]0.05% by weight. Continuous inventory monitoring of all ingredient throughputs is standard. Feed and control options include plantwide data acquisition and material-usage control with central microcomputer. Custom and proprietary systems include options such as liquid feed by weight.

Also pellet and powder feeders, both volumetric and gravimetric, for mixing and feeding additives. (See ad p. 329.)

FRANKLIN MILLER, INC.

Hurricane propeller mixer in capacities from 25 to over 10,000 gal will mix any viscosity in a short time. Larger units with 2-ft and longer shafts. Propellers available in either turbine, flat, curved, paddle, ribbon, or anchor types. Carbon steel, Iconel, Monel, or other construction.

Direct gear-drive or belt-reduction drive. Propellers are top-entering with. 1/2- to 25-hp gear motors and prop sizes from 6 in. to 10 ft diam. Special units have variable-pitch props and variable speeds, variable shaft lengths, and electric, air, or hydraulic motors, including submersible types.

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

Tumble blenders, dryers, and formulators for powders. Semi-continuous Porta-Hopper combines speed of continuous blending with versatility of batch operations. Formulator combines multiple steps in materials handling and blending to reduce time, labor, and worker exposure. Full laboratory for process development and product testing.

GUSMER DIV. OF PMC INC.

Blending systems for reinforced and nonreinforced liquid systems such as urethanes. Components include storage tanks, valves and piping, weighing and blending stations, control circuitry, and material-conditioning units for liquid chemicals and fillers. Tank sizes up to 30,000 gal in both mild and stainless steel. Optional electronic packages permit central monitoring and control. (See ad p. 201.)

HAAKE INC.

Rheomix 600 intensive mixers for a wide range of applications generate data on shear, temperature, and torque. Capacities from 70 to 100 cc. Also available in Rheomix 610 liquid-heated version.

Rheomix 3000 closed, high-intensity mixer provides up to 300-cc mixing capacity for viscosity and stability tests.

HAMILTON AVTEC INC.

Modular gravimetric blending system automatically weighs as it loads itself with one or more pellet or powder materials and weighs minor ingredients (pellets, powders, or liquids) as they are metered into a scale hopper. Blending is done in either a supplied dynamic mixer or a separate ribbon or high-intensity mixer. These larger systems deliver 400 to 8000 lb/hr of blended materials.

Model 1200 D weigh blender is 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 weigh blenders have [+ 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 can 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, Kans. Units blend virgin, regrind, color concentrate, and other granular materials at 3000 lb/hr and more. Hampel also distributes machine-mounted proportioning equipment from Plastore and Labotek for mixing colorants, regrind, and other additives.

HAYES & STOLZ INDUSTRIAL MFG. CO.

TR Counterpoise mixers are a new type of ribbon mixer with two independently driven, nonintermeshing ribbon assemblies that are said to provide faster but still gentle mixing. Adaptable to fill levels of 10-75%. Energy savings of 40-60% over single-shaft mixers are claimed. Sizes of 16 to 252 cu ft with drop-bottom or slide-gate discharge option.

Also paddle mixers, stainless-steel models, and other types.

HENDERSON INDUSTRIES

Supplies complete compounding systems include scales, feeders, and controls. Designs powder scales, liquid scales, conveyors, and minor-ingredient systems. Custom systems use industry-standard components.

HENSCHEL MIXERS AMERICA, INC.

High-intensity mixers and coolers for PVC dryblending, manufacture of color masterbatches, and various powder mixing processes. Mixers come in bowl capacities from 9 to 2000 liters. Coolers come in 20 to 8000 liters and vertical or horizontal construction. Cooling cones in center of vertical bowl supplement the cooling jacket and offer increased surface area for heat transfer. Horizontal coolers have clamshell lids for easy cleaning.

Henschel Universal mixer is a bowl-type mixer with high-speed choppers in the wall and bottom mixing tool. It produces a vortex flow pattern to ensure short cycle time and homogeneous blend. For easy cleaning, the mixing tool is keyed on the shaft but not bolted down. Mixer blends dry ingredients and makes color masterbatches using less energy than a high-intensity mixer. Capacities vary from 25 to 2800 liters. (See ad p. 227.)

HOCKMEYER EQUIPMENT CORP.

Concentric shaft mixer with a high-intensity and slow-speed mixing blade blends dry materials into viscous liquids.

High-speed mixers with high-shear mixing blades handle low- to medium-viscosity range.

Horizontal mixer has mixing blade designed for low-intensity mixing of highly viscous products. This design lends itself to efficient batch unloading. Positive-displacement pump can be supplied already mounted on the machine.

HOSOKAWA MICRON DIV.

See Micron Powder Systems.

S. HOWES CO.

Horizontal ribbon mixers in 5 to 220 cu ft capacities with a variety of ribbon configurations, and vertical mixers from 12 to 1500 cu ft in mild and stainless steel.

Horizontal ribbon mixer has relatively gentle mixing action, utilizes folding action of outer and inner ribbons mounted on a common shaft. Outer ribbon transports product one way while inner ribbon reverses flow pattern. Mixers are used to blend pellets, powdered resins, pigments, and reclaim. Liquid-spray nozzles and heating/cooling jackets can be used when plasticizers are added to a dry mix.

Low-intensity vertical mixers for compounding and pellet mixing have a central vertical screw that transports product from the lower portion of the mixer cone up through the product mass and discharges at the top. Mixer uses centrifugal force, flingers on the screw-conveyor outlet, and internal baffles for mixing.

HTC CORP.

Static-mixer components for injection nozzles.

HUTCHEON MACHINERY, INC.

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

HYDRECLAIM CORP.

Hydracolor color-concentrate and dry-colorant metering units and blenders are controlled by solid-state digital counters to maintain ratio between virgin and color. Also Large central blenders to 15,000 lb/hr.

RWIMB ratio-weigh blenders feature weighed virgin and regrind metering/conveying. When a preset weighed batch is dumped into the mixer, correct amount of additives is precisely metered at the same time. Menu-driven microprocessor control and RS485 serial port for communications available.

The 400 series accumulative weigh blenders have menu-driven computer controls. Several of these units can interface with each other for total plant inventory control. Model 402B batching loss-in-weight blender available with powder feeders.

Patent-pending 470 Ulti-Meter eliminates need for mixers. Materials are weight-loss metered continuously at the same rate as the extruder consumes them. Design provides "first-in/first-out" (FIFO) feeding to the extruder and eliminates segregation of virgin pellets and additives. Controls allow color changes on-the-fly by initiating 100% virgin feed while hoppers and auger assemblies are changed over to another material. Unit can then switch over to the new recipe without halting production. Because material in residence is very small, color change is effected within minutes. Microprocessor controls auger speeds to within one rpm. Hand-held remote-control keypad can be located conveniently by the operator station. (See ad p. 340.)

IKEGAI AMERICA CORP.

PCM intermeshing, self-wiping twin-screw extruders utilize segmented screws and barrels so that L/D ratio and working of materials are easily adjustable. Screws are driven in either corotating or counterrotating direction. Screw diam. from 29 to 125 mm.

IMS CO.

Heavy-duty drum tumblers feature 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-hp motors handle 30- or 55-gal drums and up to 280 lb per holder. Also offers space-saving, single-drum corner unit. Most units available with low-cost chain drive or longer-lasting, maintenance-free belt drive.

For high-volume, high-speed blending, Hurricane large-capacity mixers mix 350 or 850 lb in 15 min. Platforms, bag breakers, and air takeoff available. (See ads pp. 22, 315.)

INCOE CORP.

Two models of motionless mixing nozzles for injection machines: one is solely a motionless mixer, and the second is a combination mixer/melt filter to remove contaminating particles from resin. 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 melt in a gentle action to promote thermal homogenization and mixing.

Mix Pac filter is similar in construction, except melt must first pass through a tubular filter before passing through the mixing balls to the mold. (See ad p. 245.)

INDCO, INC.

Portable liquid mixing equipment includes laboratory stirrers, high-speed lab dispersers, 5-gal mixers, and drum mixers (direct- and gear-drive) to handle materials from 55 to 5000 gal. Also mixing propellers, paddles, blades, and pail openers.

HD series of heavy-duty bung mixers handles 55-gal batches of heavy materials that are beyond the range of direct-drive mixers. Electric, pneumatic, totally enclosed, and explosion-proof motors available. Standard electric motors are 420 rpm; standard air units range 70 to 700 rpm. Folding propellers collapse for entry through 2-in. bung and open to 8-in. diam. for mixing. Propellers are adjustable on the mixing shaft.

INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS INC.

Vertical blender for batch mixing pellets, flakes, and regrind with dry colorants and additives can be loaded with an auger, flow-through bin, or vacuum loader. Up to 30 cu ft can be mixed in about 15 min.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Information supplied on complete systems from 30 Italian manufacturers that offer blenders, turbomixers, roll mixers, and internal mixers.

IVEK CORP.

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 cc/min. Mix proportion of A to B is selectable in 0.1% increments. Parameter changes are accomplished via digital thumbwheel switches without stopping the unit. Constant volumetric flow rates are maintained even when liquid proportions are changed. Solid-state electronics, stepping-motor drives, and valveless ceramic pumps reportedly provide accuracy, reliability, and long life.

JAECO PUMP CO.

Propeller-type liquid mixers in side-entering and top-entering models with single or dual propellers. Portable Jaecomix units have up to 3-hp motors. Square, three-bladed, and steep-pitch propellers in steel, stainless-steel, and plastic construction. Shafts and propellers can have rubber or plastic coatings.

JAYGO, INC.

Conical-screw blenders for pellets, powders, and pastes in mild or stainless steel have conical hopper chamber with internal screw mixer that helps discharge product through bottom of the cone. Jacketed units for heating, cooling, and vacuum operations available.

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

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

Extrumix sigma-blade, double-arm batch mixers discharge product horizontally with an extruder screw. Size range is 1 to 1000 gal. Handle highly viscous materials up to 10 million cp.

Also supplies ribbon blenders.

JIFFY MIXER CO.

Jiffy all-purpose, heavy-duty mixers with vertical and horizontal blades do more than just stir. Two vertical blades confine mixing action within the mixing head while the horizontal opposing blades force material from the upper and lower areas of the container inside the head. Leading edge of lower horizontal blade scrapes bottom of the container to bring all settled particles into the head. The ring prevents damage to the blades and puncturing of container walls.

Mixers operate with both electric and air-driven chucked power tools and fit all 1/4- to 3/4-in. tools.

JSW PLASTICS MACHINERY INC.

CMP-X series of corotating twin-rotor continuous mixers with gear pumps is based on the company's CIM (continuous intensive mixer) technology. Standard models range from 65- to 340-mm rotor diam. Largest model has max. rotor speed of 206 rpm, 8000-hp drive, and throughput to about 70,000 lb/hr. Clearance between screws and barrel wall can be adjusted by a slot-control mechanism.

Tex twin-screw counter- or corotating extruder has change lever at the side of the gear box, segmented screw, and block cylinder. Sizes to 305-mm diam. Largest unit, Tex 305, has 8000-hp gear box and output of 44,000 lb/hr. (See data sheets pp. 105-107.)

K-TRON COLORTRONIC K-TRON NORTH AMERICA

K-Tron Colortronic gravimetric and volumetric blenders for injection molding, blow molding, and extrusion. Synchronous feeding with continuous blending does away with mechanical mixing and potential for material segregation.

Gravimetric units provide continuous, high-accuracy, in-line weigh blending of up to eight ingredients. Pellets and powders fed at total throughput of over 5000 lb/hr. Stable, high-resolution digital weighing of each ingredient. Stainless-steel ingredient modules provide easy sampling and fast cleanout. Special feeder modules for regrind and fluff. Full-featured, microprocessor controls provide RS485 serial communications link to host computer or to data recorder. Extrusion control packages also available: weight/length control for profile and wire/cable coating, or weight/area control for blown film, cast film, and sheet.

Volumetric continuous blenders automatically meter and mix pellets, granules, powders, and liquids directly on injection and blow molding equipment. Units incorporate discs instead of augers and disassemble for quick clean-out. Synchronous feeder design permits continuous blending without use of mechanical mixers. Models for 250 to over 2000 lb/hr. Optional microprocessor control provides recipe storage, "auto calibrate" mode, totalizer functions, and interface capability.

K-TRON SODER K-TRON NORTH AMERICA

K-Tron Soder volumetric and gravimetric feeders and controls for compounding include patented Smart Force transducer weigh modules, which provide weigh-feeder resolution of 1:1 million. Feeder controls easily interfaced with user's PLC/DCS and may be configured for continuous or batch processes.

Full line of weigh-belt and loss-in-weight feeders. K2-Modular feeders feature Powersphere feeder module for fast cleanout, good mass flow, and consistent screw fill. Powershift feeder-drive system permits widest range of feed rates - to 500:1 turndown.

K2-Volumetric feeders offer same Powersphere and Powershift features as K2-Modular loss-in-weight feeders and may be upgraded to loss-in-weight units. All volumetric feeders come with DigiDrive all-digital control, an easy-to-use microprocessor control that includes "no-flow" alarms.

New compact loss-in-weight feeders for low feed rates, laboratories, and installations where headroom is a problem. Available in single-screw, twin-screw, and vibratory models with interchangeable scales. Designed for feeding powder colorants at rates as low as 0.001 [ft.sup.3]/hr. Also new Smart Flow Meter for metering dry bulk materials at high flow rates (to 220,000 lb/hr) with accuracy of 1%.

KILLION EXTRUDERS, INC. DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Single-screw compounding extruders in screw diam. from 0.75 to 3.0 in. with 36:1 L/D and vent for devolatilization. Second stage of two-stage screw has mixing elements for laminar, dispersive, and distributive mixing. These include multiflighted sections, mixing pins, gear-type mixers, and fluted mixing sections.

Additional features include injection ports along the barrel for downstream feeding of additives, and separate control panel for easy access to machine during maintenance and clean-up. Strand and die-face pelletizing systems available. Machines may be interfaced with downstream equipment to compound in-line with extrusion. (See ad p. 152.)

KOBELCO STEWART BOLLING, INC.

Represents Kobe Steel and offers continuous and batch compounding and mixing equipment.

NEX-T and Mixtrumat continuous two-stage, twin-rotor mixers with transverse-discharge extruder screw are used for polyolefin masterbatching, homogenization, compounding rigid and flexible PVC, engineering resins, and reinforced or rubber-modified polymers.

NCM continuous mixer has three-bladed segmented rotors for quick reconfiguration. Long-L/D rotors provide intense mixing for difficult compounds. Also LCM continuous mixer with 10:1 L/D rotors and two-stage mixing, vent, and gate control; and LCM-G system with gear pump and pelletizer for high-capacity, post-reactor mixing, homogenizing, and pelletizing.

Hyper KTX deeply intermeshing, co-rotating twin-screw extruder for high-torque, high-performance compounding. BB Mixtron twin-rotor, batch-type intensive mixer has patented rotor design and high-performance, low-lubrication dust stops.

Economix twin-rotor batch dispersion mixer/kneader is a low-profile, self-contained, floor-mounted unit that eliminates need for platforms or mezzanines. Mixing chamber flits 140 [degrees] for fast, easy discharge and cleanout.

Also custom-designed two-roll mixing mills; MP-100 batch-mixer computer-control system for precise automatic mixing control; complete turnkey compounding lines; pilot plant/lab for evaluation and testing; and remanufacturing and rebuilding services.

KOCH ENGINEERING CO.

Motionless mixers improve mixing in injection machines and extruders. Combination static mixer/heat exchanger is designed for cooling high-viscosity materials, isothermal control of exothermic/endothermic reactions in plug flow, rapid preheating for flash devolatilization, and heating of thermally sensitive materials. Various configurations include SMX jacketed monotube design for heating and cooling; SMXL multichannel shell-and-tube design for rapid heating; and SMR tubular design with large heat-transfer surface in a single flow channel.

KOMAX SYSTEMS, INC.

Complete mixing systems control addition of colors, lubricants, uv stabilizers, and other liquid additives after the extruder. AddMaster 1200 provides the reservoir, pump, and special heaters to supply additive to the injection point while profiling the additive temperature to end up close to that of the polymer melt stream.

Equalizer modular motionless mixer ensures complete mixing of additives in melt stream. It consists of stackable modules, which are assembled into their own barrel. Together with an Equalizer, the SIDD (Special Injection and Distribution Device) allows additives, usually of much lower viscosity and flow rate than the main flow, to be introduced into the melt stream.

TEDD (Temperature Equalization and Distribution Device) is used in blown film dies to enhance gauge control. Two- or four-module assemblies are installed in the throat of the blown film die or die adapter.

KRAMER INDUSTRIES, INC.

Drum tumbler for dry-color blending uses end-over-end tumbling motion for mixing. Material is held in removable bins.

LABOTEK INC.

Resin/additive blenders provide 0.1% to 1.0% metering accuracy of color concentrate and additives. Mini-Master-batcher (MMB) and MMB Mixer with Con-Evator vacuum hopper loader and Ratio-Selector provide automatic loading, metering, and mixing of resin, regrind, color concentrate, and a second additive if required.

Conti-Master compact machine with two to five metering stations feeding into an inclined screw mixer offers same accuracy as the MMB with capacities of 500-6000 lb/hr. Automatic loading of stations is provided by three-phase vacuum motor/blower units mounted in the remote-control unit.

Mini-Conti-Master microprocessor-controlled metering/mixing unit for virgin plastics, regrind, and additives in granular form has up to five dosing stations, high dosing accuracy by means of stepper motors, and max. capacity of 180 liters/hr (approx. 240 lb/hr). Unit has built-in microprocessor. Data on material bulk densities and desired mixing percentages is entered; proportions are calculated automatically; and machine is adjusted accordingly. Detachable keyboard can be removed and the Mini-Contimaster will remember programmed data so the same keyboard can be used to program other units. Automatic conveying by means of a single vacuum blower.

LASITS-ROHLINE SERVICE, INC. L-R SYSTEMS

Line of auger-feed, vibratory-feed, weigh-scale, and loss-in-weight blenders for two to eight materials have capacities to 20,000 lb/hr. Also additive feeders and proportioning loaders.

LCI CORP.

Thermoprofiler motionless mixer for extrusion and compounding blends low- to high-viscosity materials and color additives without streaking and reduces temperature differentials downstream to less than 3.5 [degrees] F.

Smartblend gravimetric, cumulative weigh blender for multi-ingredient blending provides blend ratios with accuracies by weight of 0.25% or better. (See data sheets pp. 161-162.)

LEISTRITZ AG

See American Leistritz Extruder.

LIGHTNIN A UNIT OF GENERAL SIGNAL

Series 50 in-line motionless blender in standard 2- to 6-in. pipe sizes blends liquid additives into high-viscosity materials. Also does liquid/liquid solvent blending. Blender elements can be indexed in 12 1/2 [degrees] increments for optimum results.

LINCOLN INDUSTRIAL, A PENTAIR CO.

Air-operated proportioning pump (1:1) mixes fluid compounds of plastic materials and discharges them into molds or containers.

LINDEN INDUSTRIES, INC.

RRIM filler blending systems blend "B" component (polyol) of urethane, polyurea or polyester RRIM systems with fillers, internal mold release, and carbon black. Applications include automotive fascias, doors, fenders, and side moldings, as well as bathtubs, sinks, and other molded parts. Mixer sizes from 25-gal lab unit to 980-gal system.

Capacities for blending slurries up to 4500 lb/hr. Automatic filler unloading from gaylords prevents material loss and ensures clean, dust-free environment. Liquid components received from bulk-storage tanks or drums. Weight-metered components ensure accurate and consistent ratios. Orbital-arm, conical-screw mixer provides efficient mixing. Slurry is automatically transferred to temperature-controlled holding tank. Recirculation/transfer pump and pipe loop conveys slurry to RRIM stations. Load cells interfaced with a programmable controller ensure accurate control. Process is displayed graphically on a CRT with SPC capability.

Custom-designed, modular polyol in-line blending system can blend three to six components. Controls (486 PC plus Allen-Bradley PLC) are menu-driven. Sensors continually monitor ratio precision.

LIQUID CONTROL CORP.

In-line motionless mixers blend multi-component liquid streams in sizes from 3/16 to 2 in. Posimixers are available in 3/16-, 1/4- and 3/8-in. and 13mm I.D. with various numbers of elements in disposable assemblies. Also in 5/8-in. O.D. stainless-steel tube mixers with plastic elements or in 1-in. pipe mixers with plastic elements. Other motionless mixers have removable or welded elements and stainless-steel tube or pipe construction.

LITTLEFORD DAY, INC.

FKM medium-intensity batch mixer and KM medium-intensity continuous mixer use gentle, mechanically fluidized mixing action developed with plow-shaped mixing elements. Rotating in a horizontal cylindrical vessel, mixing elements force the product into a 3-D motion, which individually exposes each particle's surface area for mixing, coating, lubrication, coloring, and absorption.

In applications where heat transfer is critical, jacketed Littleford mixers combine particle-surface exposure and constant movement, which produce intimate contact of all particles with heat-transfer surfaces. Supplementing the gentle mixing action of the plows are integrally mounted, but individually powered, high-speed choppers. By providing intermediate shear action, choppers, when activated, disperse pigments and plasticizers, and deagglomerate or create uniform suspensions of fine powders in viscous liquids. Widely used for plastisols, flexible PVC compounding, color concentrates, SMC and BMC mixing. Capacities from 3 to 619 cu ft.

Littleford W series high-intensity mixer delivers rapid and homogeneous mix. Mixing action by two impellers mounted on a single shaft in a dust-tight vertical mixing cylinder. Imparts high shear and uniform vertical flow. Balancing of high shear with product movement develops intense particle-to-particle friction without localized overheating.

Two-part mixing-impeller system achieves high-intensity whirlpool mixing action. Movement in this action is both vertical and horizontal for complete mixing and a uniform batch. Impellers are wear-edged for long life and held in place by a fast-acting lock nut, which makes them easy to remove. Widely used in rigid and flexible PVC compounding and color concentrates. Capacities from 4 to 44 cu ft.

MAGUIRE PRODUCTS INC.

Color and additive metering equipment includes auger feeders for pelletized color and regrind, pumps for liquid color, weigh-scale blenders, premixers for color and natural material, resin and color loaders, magnet drawers, and other related accessories. (See ad p. 236.)

MARION MIXERS, INC.

Paddle- or ribbon-type nonintensive mixers provide batch or continuous mixing of dry materials (such as pellets with powders or fiberglass), liquids with solids, and slurries or pastes. Close clearance between agitator and tank ensures complete discharge. Drop-bottom mixers also available.

Optional fillet-weld sanitary construction for thorough color cleanout. Mixers made from carbon steel or stainless steel with optional heating or cooling jackets in lab sizes up to large production units.

High-speed Marion mixer with choppers is an intensive, nonfluxing mixer that fluffs compacted synthetic fibers used in molding compounds, disperses pigments into plastic powder, and heats and disperses plasticizers into PVC. Available U-shaped or semi-cylindrical.

MATCON USA INC.

Matcon-Buls tumble blender gives gentle, homogeneous blend of materials with no degradation of product. Blender accommodates Matcon-Buls Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), in which product can be transported, blended, and subsequently stored. Blender is an electrically powered cage into which the filled container is loaded. Offset axis of rotation causes a complex pattern of particle movement within the container.

Batches can be blended in 2 to 20 min. Because the system discharges material on a first-in/first-out basis, there is no separation of product after mixing or during discharge. Blenders are ruggedly built to ensure safety and can be made fully automatic under the control of a PLC. Available in a range of sizes and supplied in mild-steel or stainless construction.

MAX MACHINERY, INC.

Liquid blending systems for two or more components heat materials to desired process temperature, degas them, meter with accuracy of [+ or -]0.5% of desired flow rate, mix, and dispense. Suited for blending of urethanes, silicones, epoxies, and other liquids. Systems are custom designed using standard subassemblies to construct "roll-in-place" turnkey units.

McNEIL & NRM, INC.

See Davis-Standard Corp.

MICRON POWDER SYSTEMS

Conical mixing vessels have orbiting arm and rotating screw element that follows the cone wall. Reported advantages include reduced mixing times, high mixing accuracy, and reduced power consumption. Nauta mixers for dry solids, pastes, and viscous liquids come in a variety of materials and finishes.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AMERICA, INC.

Single-screw mixing extruders have hexagonal-barrel mixing section of 50 to 135 mm. Corotating twin-screw extruders range from 45 to 125 mm. (See also Extrusion Systems.) (See ad p. 69.)

MOREHOUSE-COWLES, INC.

High-shear, single-shaft dissolvers; multishaft mixers for high-viscosity products; vapor-recovery units; and laboratory development mixers. Rental units available. Specializes in custom-designed mixers and reactors.

MORIYAMA CORP.

See Skinner Engine Co.

MORSE MANUFACTURING CO.

Drum rotators and tumblers agitate up to 1000 lb of material in ordinary closed drums or other cylindrical containers. Applications include remixing settled material and blending liquids, solids, or solid/liquid mixtures. Some models use rolling action and others end-over-end tumbling. Some have self-loading capability. Portable and stationary models use fixed- or variable-speed drives and various electric or air motors.

MOULD-TEK INDUSTRIES, INC.

VBL-300 pellet blenders mix up to four pelletized ingredients or free-flowing regrind, come with low-level alarms in each compartment, and have throughputs to 1500 lb/hr. Normally manufactured with a vacuum take-off box; also available with gaylord clearance and machine-mount bases.

Xactablend continuous gravimetric blender has computer control for metering by weight loss. System is menu-driven with all variables such as process rate and individual ingredient volume entered through a simple function-key terminal. Memory for 25 different recipes makes repeat setups simple. Messages and instructions displayed on easy-to-read backlit LCD. Continuous analog weight-loss signals from each material hopper mounted on an individual load cell are received by a computer, allowing precise blends by weight regardless of bulk-density variations. Process rate is accurately matched by constant monitoring of the mixing chamber's high-level proximity sensor. When mixing chamber initiates a demand signal, the computer runs all ingredient feeders at required rates until satisfied.

Xactabatch weigh-scale batch blender is for two to six ingredients. Microprocessor control uses two load cells mounted on a single weigh-scale hopper, weighs each ingredient dispensed, and deposits the total batch into a mixing chamber. PLC is standard.

MTI-AMERICA

Distributes vertical high-intensity mixers from MTI Mischtechnik of Germany. Lab mixers range from 1.5 to 35 liters and production models from 75 to 2080 liters. Uses include PVC dryblending; densification and sintering of ABS, PE and PP; and color masterbatching. Also offers MTI's line of horizontal mixers from 100 to 8000 liters.

MUNSON MACHINERY CO., INC.

Rotary mixers and ribbon blenders with volumes from 1 to 500 cu ft in carbon or stainless steel. Low energy consumption plus low-intensity mix action to help maintain batch uniformity. Special intensifying attachments reduce mixing time.

High-intensity continuous mixers continuously blend, coat, agglomerate, and homogenize powders, solid/liquid mixes, slurries, and sticky materials. Three basic sizes include Model 83 (84-in. diam., 36-in. long), Model 124 (12-in. diam., 48-in. long), and Model 165 (16-in. diam., 60-in. long). Internal agitator can use paddles for mixing and better clean-out; pins for increased residence time and mixing intensity; or combinations of both. Drives have multiple v-belt drive for high-speed applications, and gear reducer for low-speed applications. Variable-frequency controllers available. Options include internal liquid addition port or spray outlet, special sizes or configurations, and replaceable wear liners or modifications for abrasive materials.

NATIONAL BULK EQUIPMENT

Portable solids mixer with 8-in.-diam. vertical auger mixes a batch in as little as 10 min. Seven models have 14-gauge steel construction, two-way entry, hinged covers, 8-in.-diam. slide-gate discharge, safety lock, and 60-min timer.

Horizontal screw blender with output capacity from 4000 to 12,000 lb/hr is for precision metering and blending of virgin materials and regrinds. Has positive a-c drives, automatic shut-off, adjustable regrind ratio, optional color-concentrate bin, and loading by blower, vacuum, or gravity. Materials-handling systems designed to fit specific applications.

O.A. NEWTON & SON CO.

Plastics Div. custom designs complete bulk-storage and materials-handling systems for compounding. Lines can include conveying equipment, roll mills, tumblers, blenders, dicers, granulators, and pelletizers.

NOVATEC INC.

Gravimetric blending systems include an inexpensive gain-in-weight batch blender, a loss-in-weight batch blender, and a continuous loss-in-weight blending system. All incorporate a maintenance-free suspension that eliminates need for error-inducing mechanical devices such as flexes, tie rods, and check links. Repeatable weighing accuracies from [+ or -]0.1% for hatching blenders to [+ or -]0.5% of full-scale capacity for continuous loss-in-weight system. Each system can blend two to eight or more materials without degradation or stratification. Modular construction provides easy access to all blender parts and speeds cleanout and changeover. Micro, processor controls standard. Continuous loss-in-weight system available with 12-color CRT display.

AFCB (auger-feeder cascading blender) reportedly can satisfy 99% of pellet-blending requirements without an expensive weigh feeder. Up to four materials are proportionally fed ([+ or -]196) into cascading section of the blender. After falling through a series of pyramids, resultant blend is completely homogeneous. No further blending is required in the catch hopper. Energy costs are low because there are no moving agitator parts. Cleanout is simple because the static cascading section is removable. Throughput capacities up to 3960 lb/hr at a bulk density of 45 lb/cu ft. Standard features include surge bin with a 100-lb capacity, floor stand, level controls, two, position take-off box, control panel, and bottom slide gate on feeder for easy calibration. Warning lights, extra-large surge bins, vacuum loaders, regenerative blowers, and probe box optional. (See ad p. 326.)

E.T. OAKES CORP.

Custom-built continuous and batch mixers reportedly offer increased production, greater yield and uniform quality for applications including emulsification, aeration, dispersion, dissolution, and reactions. Flow rates from 0.1 gpm to 100 gpm and pressures up to 1000 psi. Materials of construction include 303 SST, 316 SST, Hastelloy and Carpenter 20. Microprocessor controls maintain constant flow rates, formula ratios, and final product density. Lab test facilities and mixer loans available at nominal charges.

PACIFIC ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

Weigh Master gravimetric blending systems handle powders, granules and pigments, in addition to nonfree-flowing materials such as talc, calcium carbonate, and regrind. Combines up to eight ingredients with accuracies on both major and minor ingredients of 0.25%. Accuracy is provided through standard or custom software packages, which can be interfaced to CIM protocol. All systems are completely SPC and SQC compatible, and can access production data; they come equipped with automatic material cleanout, changeover systems, and ability to store up to 99 recipes.

Conceptual, electrical and mechanical engineering for turnkey resin conveying and blending systems, installation, start-up, and training.

PATTERSON-KELLEY DIV. HARSCO CORP.

Twin-Shell blender makes homogeneous mixes of liquids with solids and micro-ingredients with carriers. Mixer has a v-shaped design and gently blends the complete load, regardless of particle size or density, while optional intensifier bar is used for intimate dispersion and low-energy-input agitation. Working capacity from 1 to 2000 cu ft.

Zig-Zag continuous blender can handle the same mixing applications as Twin-Shell and, in many cases, surpasses it in batch-blending accuracy. Working capacity from 20 to 5000 cu ft/hr.

PLAS MEC CO.

See Sonic Corp.

PLASTIC PROCESS EQUIPMENT INC.

Heavy-duty drum tumblers mix resins and additives such as dry colorants and lubricants. Three models feature heavy-duty gear drive for smooth, continuous drum rotation without the jerking action and premature wear common to chain- or belt-drive tumblers. Models from 2-hp Double Drum Tumbler with 300-lb capacity to 1/3-hp Mini-Double Drum Tumbler with 50-lb capacity. Optional control panel. (See ad p. 337.)

PLASTICS EQUIPMENT MARKETING SERVICES

Blending, mixing, and materials-handling equipment for extruders, blow molders, and injection molders can handle powders, flakes, regrinds, and pellets. Also high-intensity mixers and coolers for compounding and color preparation.

PLASTORE, INC.

Plasticolor on-machine proportioning unit mixes color concentrate, regrind, or other free-flowing, nonbridging materials with the main material. Unit is mounted on the production machine under the main supply hopper and can also be combined into mixing stations for up to eight materials. Mixing station is mounted on machine throat, making batches of material independent of the production machine. Controls regulate speed of the auger. Four sizes of feeders offer capacities from 2.4 oz to 4500 lb/feeder/hr.

POLYNETICS, INC.

Volumetric and gravimetric blenders for extrusion and in-line film-scrap recycling systems.

POMINI, INC.

Intensive, twin-rotor batch mixers and LCM long continuous mixers precisely control mix quality in processing operations such as densifying, direct color compounding, pigment master-batching, polymer alloying, and compounding with fillers, plasticizers, and foaming agents. Resembling a twin-screw extruder, LCM is a continuous mixer with two nonintermeshing counterrotating, wing-type rotors. The 10:1 L/D mixing chamber has two distinct mixing zones with independent temperature control. Transport of material, dispersion of ingredients, and preheating take place in first zone. Melting, mixing, homogenizing, and discharging of the compound, once it has reached a predetermined temperature, are carried out in second zone.

LCM-AX is an in-line combination of long continuous mixer and twin-screw extruder in one machine barrel. It is designed for process flexibility. Screws are corotating and intermeshing, and have a mixing zone with the rotor-blade profile of the LCM. Downstream from the mixing zone is a hydraulic throttle valve, which controls dwell time and specific energy input. With this control flexibility, a wide range of polymers and engineering plastics can be compounded on the same machine without the need to reconfigure screw geometry. With a secondary feed zone downstream from the rotor section, glass fibers and other delicate reinforcements can be safely added and uniformly distributed without breaking the fibers.

Turnkey, custom-engineered batch or continuous compounding lines can be provided complete with upstream and downstream support equipment and customized automation. (Se ad p. 232.)

PREMIER MILL CORP.

Specializes in wet-process technology utilizing mills and mixers: horizontal/vertical media mills, colloid mills, in-line mixers/dispensers, single- and multiple-shaft mixers (vacuum/pressure/jacketed capabilities), and double planetary vacuum mixers. All available from lab scale to full production units. Company's engineering arm, Integrated Process Systems, can provide any level of process control/automation up to fully automated turnkey systems. Lab facility available for testing.

PRESSURE PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES

Dyna/Mag magnetic-drive mixer is suited for leak-tight and noncontaminating mixing, stirring, or blending. Magnetic drive transmits torque through a corrosion-resistant pressure housing to an inner stirring shaft without need for mechanical seals or packing. Torque is transmitted through use of two magnet sets. The driven magnet set is totally encapsulated in the mixer shaft. The driver magnet set is located in a rotating outer housing containing a ball-bearing assembly.

Magnetic-drive mixers provided from stock in 316 stainless steel, Hastelloy C-276, or other materials. Magnetic drives in three sizes with operating pressure of 6000 psi at 650 F.

PROCESS CONTROL CORP.

Continuous, low-intensity mixers/blenders feature gravimetric blending for improved accuracy.

BG series continuous gravimetric blenders blend up to eight ingredients at up to 5000 lb/hr. Operator enters desired blend ratio by weight or selects one of 400 stored recipes. Blender meters ingredients from weighed hoppers (using loss-in-weight control) through a proprietary cascade mixing chamber where homogenization occurs without any moving parts. Blended mixture then flows as a "plug" through a tube directly above the extruder throat, eliminating chance of demixing. Features include increased computer speed and memory, factory-wired weigh and drive systems, SPI standard interface, easy access for machine cleanout, integral loading platform, and clear plastic doors on each hopper.

BC series offers similar features in a central blender; BE series includes all features of BG blenders plus gravimetric extrusion control; XB series combines compact size with high accuracy for low-throughput applications; and AutoBatch provides gravimetric blend accuracy in a batch blender for off-line applications. (See also Metering & Feeding) (See ad p. 342; data sheets pp. 379-384.)

PROCESSALL, INC.

Horizontal, fluidized-bed mixers with plow-shaped agitators process BMC, SMC, plastisols, organosols, and other dispersions. Sizes from 4 to 25,000 liters. Minor ingredients can be premixed and agglomerated for easier handling and minimal environmental exposure. System preheats and mixes product, and a liquid binder is added to bind particles together. A cooling step follows to seal particles and enhance flowability.

High-intensity vertical mixers with matching horizontal coolers compound PVC and other resins. Sizes from 130/300 to 600/1800 liters. Horizontal/horizontal combinations to 8000 liters.

Also refurbishes high-intensity mixer blades and medium-intensity horizontal-cooler mixing elements. Maintains staffed technical center.

P.S.H. INDUSTRIES, INC.

Gyro Plastic Mixers in several sizes mix liquid resin compounds of any viscosity in batches from one pint to 16 gal. Said to be highly effective for resin pastes. Low-cost vacuum chamber and pump remove air bubbles. Chamber accommodates up to 5-gal containers and comes with mixing buckets, mixers, and rubber gasket. To ensure high vacuum of 27-29 in., unit is available with 1/3- and 1/2-hp pumps; larger pumps available for special applications.

PURNELL, INC.

New company offers high-intensity mixers for PVC dryblends and other uses, from lab size (3 liters, 3.3-lb batch) to 1680 liters and 2075-lb batch capacity. All U.S.-built, with variable-speed a-c or d-c motors and standard swing gate for easy cleanout.

Also offers vertical and horizontal cooler/mixers built by Reliance Industries, Missouri City, Texas. Horizontal models from 28.3 liters (137-lb batch) to 5601.3 liters (6923-lb batch). Vertical models from 4.6 liters (6.6-lb batch) to 1300 liters (1430-lb batch).

Also ribbon blenders and mixer refurbishing.

QUADRO, INC.

Quadro Comil conical screen mill is said to be especially suited to heat-sensitive materials and to dispersing wet and dry materials before extrusion or other processing steps in order to reduce preblending time and improve final blends.

Mill features low rpm, centrifugal acceleration, vortex flow pattern, and 360 [degrees] discharging screen. It reportedly eliminates overworked material and heat by friction. Fines, dust, heat, and noise are said to be reduced.

Five sizes and 14 configurations with capacities from 250 to 50,000 lb/hr and relatively low-hp motors.

REGENCY SALES, INC.

Laboratory two-roll mills and intensive, high-speed mixers. Electrically heated models operate to 570 F. Optional water-cooled models or oil- and steam-heated models. Mixer LMX-5 with 5-liter capacity and model LMX-10 with 10-liter capacity are easy to clean, have two-speed motors, and can be optionally equipped with water-cooling chambers.

RELIABLE RUBBER & PLASTICS MACHINERY CO.

Two-roll laboratory mills in 3 x 8 in. to 8 x 18 in. sizes have fixed or variable-speed drives and other options. All parts are standard and readily available.

Lab-size intensive mixers hold approx. 2 1/2- to 5-lb batches, with 25-hp, four-speed or d-c drives.

Also offers rebuilt equipment: two-roll mills, Banbury mixers, ribbon blenders, and sigma-blade mixers.

REOS INC.

"Mighty Mixer" intensive powder mixers have capacities from 8 to 200 liters. Units have easily removable mixing bowls and mixing tools, are easy to clean and capable of short cycles. Productivity is typically three times that of fixed-bowl mixers. Tip speeds are infinitely variable and equivalent to shaft speeds up to 3000 rpm.

CHARLES ROSS & SON CO.

Double Planetary Mixer is a heavy-duty, intensive, nonfluxing mixer for polyester premixes, plastisols, and pigments. Two stirrers in the tank rotate individually on a common axis. Most viscous materials can be handled. Jacketing available.

Kneader Extruder batch mixer combines mixing and extruding, operates with higher hp, and provides more mastication action. High-hp motor permits polymer dispersion at low temperature, minimizing degradation. Capacities from 1 to 1000 gal. Applications include polyester premix and color concentrates. Jacketing available.

Shear Roll Compactor, a new continuous two-roll mill, is used for high-intensity dispersion of difficult-to-handle materials. Models available for up to 5000 lb/hr.

Three types of motionless mixers improve homogeneity of the melt stream in injection molding machines and extruders: LPD for lower viscosities where pigments are added, ISG for high viscosities, and Blendex-modified ISG for batch or continuous solids/solids blending.

SCOTT TURBON MIXER, INC.

High-shear and low-shear, batch or continuous centrifugal mixers/dispersers for liquid/solid systems are based on proprietary mixing elements on a rotating shaft. Units are custom built for applications such as SMC paste mixing and PVC plastisols. Versions can be floor-mounted, cart-mounted, top-mounted, C-clamp mounted, horizontally or vertically oriented. Vacuum deaeration available.

SEALANT EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING, INC.

Dynamic and motionless-mixer systems blend plural-component epoxy, silicone, urethane, and polysulfide-type materials while dispensing. Disposable mix chambers available for use where cleaning solvents are prohibited.

SEMCO, INC.

Bulk pneumatic conveying systems include in-tank blenders and powder blenders.

SKINNER ENGINE CO.

Batch-type intensive twin-rotor mixers with capacities to 1000 lb for color masterbatching and compounding. Features include two- and four-wing rotors (intensive or Shaw/Skinner Intermix, tangential or intermeshing types), self-purging dust stops, drilled or cored sides, slide or drop door, and special internal surfacing for wear resistance. New or rebuilt machines, chambers, sides, and replacement parts available. From Moriyama double-bladed batch dispersion mixers with floating pressure lids that mix all types of elastomers. Mixers feature tilting mixing chamber for easy cleaning and color change. Common bed plate allows simple, space-saving, low-cost installation. Units range from 0.5-liter lab size to 300 liters and include motor, operator panel, and recorder for mixing temperature and amps. Lab model twin-rotor batch mixer has variable-speed drive and heating capacity to about 450 F.

SONIC CORP.

Sonolator in-line homogenizer, used in custom-designed systems to emulsify or disperse liquids, converts kinetic energy of a high-velocity liquid stream into intense mixing energy. Dual-feed systems instantaneously convert two independent liquid streams into one fully homogenized product. This process can reduce batch mixing.

Colloid mills mix, mill and homogenize in a single pass. Undispersed material is forced into a cavity formed between a spinning rotor and fixed stator; centrifugal force propels material to the outside of the rotor, causing intense hydraulic shearing and grinding of undispersed phase. Three different angles on the rotor ensure maximum disruption of the material as it moves through the mill.

Also portable propeller mixers from 1/4- to 10-hp.

Sonic now sells and services intensive mixers and coolers for PVC dryblends from Plas Mec Co. of Italy. Plas Mec's TRM Turbomixers have temperature control and automated timing. Units from 300 to 3000 liters can blend up to eight batches/hr. HEC horizontal coolers and RFO vertical coolers handle up to eight batches/hr and range from 800 to 4500 liters. Sonic stocks commonly replaced spare parts.

Plas Mec also manufactures DGL gravimetric dosing units, CRS resin-feeding units, and bag-weighing scales.

SPROUT-BAUER

See Andritz Sprout-Bauer, Inc.

STERLING, INC.

See Ball & Jewell Div.

STRANCO

PolyBlend blending system measures, blends, and feeds dry, liquid, or emulsion polymers. It can be programmed for dosing and dilution rates, dwell time, energy amount, and energy distribution over time. Automation of system is said to eliminate costly and messy batching.

TAH INDUSTRIES, INC.

"Apple Core" spiral motionless mixers mix thermosets such as epoxies, urethanes, or polyesters. Mixer features a series of left- and right-hand spiral elements with knife edges. This patented-feature is said to ensure longer life and 30% greater flow rate. Available in 1/8 to 2 in. diam., in plastic for low-pressure applications and metal for high pressure.

Low-cost Stata-Tube motionless mixers are made from tough, solvent-resistant plastic in sizes from 1/8 to 2 in.

TELEDYNE SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT READCO PRODUCTS

Continuous processor/compounder uses twin-screw, corotating, self-cleaning element to continuously mix high-viscosity, pasty materials. Also can handle low-bulk-density materials from 2 to 20,000 lb/hr.

High-intensity internal mixers with corotating, self-wiping blades are capable of intense dispersion. Capacities to 800 lb/hr with fill factors as low as 50%.

Containerized batch mixers blend powders to achieve ingredient distribution, pigment extension, and particle-size reduction via impeller-forced processing. Batch sizes from 1 lb to 9000 lb.

Agglomeration systems for environmental and chemical pelletizing and briquetting. Lab facilities for compounding, blending and agglomeration testing to develop process solutions.

THEYSOHN CORP.

Corotating, intermeshing twin-screw compounding extruders have screw diam. of 30 to 140 mm. Drives from 20 to 2000 hp provide torque of 150 to 35,400 lb-ft.

Segmented screws and barrels (hinged clamshell opening on some sizes) offer flexibility of configuration. Standard controls mounted in free-standing cabinet or on machine base for smaller models include multichannel temperature controllers with digital display of set and actual values. Optional microprocessor controller offers color CRT, graphic displays of measured data, automatic start-up routines, master/slave control of main and auxiliary systems, storage of production data, and interface to higher-level factory-control systems.

THORESON-McCOSH INC.

Acra-Color solids blender blends virgin or regrind with color concentrates or powdered additives. Capacities from 100 to 10,000 lb/hr. Can be machine- or floor-mounted. Floor-mounted models may be arranged to blend materials for several molding machines or extruders.

Also Intelli-color computerized gravimetric blending system for applications to 1000 lb/hr. (See ad p. 332.)

THYSSEN HENSCHEL

See Henschel Mixers America, Inc.

TOSHIBA MACHINE CO., AMERICA

Corotating twin-screw extruders for compounding, devolatilizing, and reactive processing in sizes from 50 to 160 mm with segmented screws and barrels. Similarly equipped counterrotating twin-screws of 75 and 95 mm also available. (See also Extrusion Systems.)

TRA-CON INC.

Offers a hand mixer for use with company's premeasured packages of plural-component epoxy resin, acrylic, urethane, and silicone systems.

TRI-CLOVER INC.

Tri-Blender stainless-steel blenders combine liquids with other liquid, dry, or gaseous ingredients. Dry ingredients dispensed through inlet hopper at up to 350 lb/min; liquid is simultaneously pumped into outer tangential diffuser at up to 150 gal/min. Vacuum created by the blender draws ingredients into eye of the impeller. Dry ingredients are kept separate from liquids until both reach the impeller. Advantages are said to include minimum foaming and lumping.

UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS INC.

Volumetric metering and blending equipment for granular, pellet, or liquid materials. Solids-metering units include patented dispersion chambers and mount on processing equipment. Off-machine units available for central blending have digital count, pneumatic transfer systems, and outputs from 0.25 to 10,000 lb/hr. For centralized control and monitoring, optional microprocessor controls integrate into company's Plastics Machinery CIM Network.

WB series gravimetric batch blender mixes pelletized additives such as virgin, color and regrind, delivering accuracy better than 0.25%. Up to 5000 lb/ hr throughput with two to four hoppers. Material change is almost immediate, making short runs more profitable. Microprocessor control stores up to 100 recipes, totalizes material, and displays take-away rate. (See ad p. 345.)

U.S. STONEWARE CORP.

Grinding, mixing, and blending equipment includes mills in capacities from 0.1 gal through 210 gal. Tumblers and rollers for different sizes of drums and containers can use material suppliers' containers, eliminating the need to load, unload, and clean a fixed container.

VENUS-GUSMER, DIV. OF PMC, INC.

Liquid resin mixers include:

* Temperature-controlled, semi-automatic high-shear mixer with integral, 235-gal vat able to handle over a ton of material.

* High-shear mixer for corrosion-barrier additives, abrasion-resistant fillers, and highly thixotropic resins.

* Collapsible-blade mixer with blades that fold up to fit through a 2-in. bung, then open up to provide complete mixing of fillers and additives while still in the original drum.

* Bung-hole mixers for mixing additives into polyester resin while still in 55-gal drums.

* Five-gallon pail mixer for mixing medium-viscosity materials such as polyester resin. Supported by bracket so mixer may be left in place.

* Hand-held pail mixer for mixing high-viscosity materials such as gel coat. Allows reaching into corners of pail for complete mixing.

* Filler mixing vat mixes heavy fillers with resin for use in pouring, casting, or resin injection.

* Double-stage filler mixing vat for heavy production allows continuous addition of fillers and resin to premix vat without stopping production. (See data sheet p. 221.)

VIBRA SCREW, INC.

Vibra-Blender continuous blender for dry bulk materials uses controlled vibration supplied by patented gyrator to fluidize material as it enters the mixing trough. Rotating paddle in trough tumbles the mix and folds it back on itself. Operates at speeds to 600 cu ft/hr.

VIDEX MACHINERY CORP.

Rebuilt and guaranteed high-intensity mixers; horizontal and bowl coolers; ribbon, double and twin-shell blenders. Complete extrusion compounding systems also available.

WALTON-STOUT, INC.

Proportional blenders for virgin, regrind, and color concentrates and pneumatic conveying systems for pellets or powder. Also weighing equipment and batching control systems.

WAYNE MACHINE & DIE CO.

Yellow Jacket table-top and horizontal floor-model single-screw compounding extruders with optional microprocessor controls in sizes from 1/2 to 4 1/2 in. and throughputs of 0.5 to 800 lb/hr.

American-built corotating twin-screw extruders for production and lab applications. Screws suitable for polymer alloys, coloring, filling and reinforcing, devolatilization, liquid addition, and pelletizing. Extruders feature segmented, reconfigurable, intermeshing screws. Barrels in top-vent, side-feed, glass-feed, and liquid-injection configurations. Ancillaries include side feeders, gravimetric feeders, and dies. Control systems with PID discrete controls or full microprocessor systems with PLC integration.

Special extruders for high-speed compounding with screw speeds to 350 rpm for single screw and 500 rpm for twin screws. Single or double vents for devolatilization. Pelletizers from 2- to 6-in. wide.

Builds turnkey lines and manufactures high- and low-shear mixing single screws for any make of machine.

WEAN INDUSTRIES

Twin-rotor intensive batch mixers compound PVC, PS, PE, and ABS masterbatches, among others. Interlocking rotors continuously knead the batch between the rotors instead of smearing it against the chamber wall. Unit has increased wetted area to improve heating and cooling efficiency. Large feed hopper provides access for feed systems. Dust seals prevent contamination.

WELDING ENGINEERS, INC.

Corotating and counterrotating, intermeshing and nonintermeshing extruders for compounding and reactive processing in high- and low-speed models. Segmented screws and barrels offer flexibility of configuration. Standard controls in free-standing cabinet include multichannel temperature controllers with digital display of set and actual values. Optional microprocessor controller offers color CRT, graphic displays of measured data, automatic start-up program, master/slave control of main and auxiliary systems, storage of production data, and interface to factory control systems. Supplies integrated systems with feeders, pelletizers, drives and controls.

WERNER & PFLEIDERER CORP.

Complete twin-screw compounding systems designed for specific material or processing requirements. Also PK shear-cone mixer for plasticized PVC, KP two-stage compounder (twin-screw and single-screw) for heat- and shear-sensitive materials, universal-type internal mixers with or without discharge screw, and intensive internal batch mixers of both tangential and intermeshing rotor designs.

Engineered systems for compounding plants, from engineering studies and design to equipment specification, construction, installation and start-up. Process assistance and pilot lab for process development and testing. (See also Extrusion Systems.) (See ad p. 222.)

WHITLOCK

See AEC/Whitlock.

THE YOUNG INDUSTRIES, INC.

Horizontal ribbon mixers from lab size to 1500 cu ft capacity blend free-flowing solid/solid or liquid/solid mixes. Standard units have double ribbon-type agitators. Paddle and trowel agitators optional. Jacketing also available.

Twin-shaft mixers for continuous blending feature twin agitators with adjustable paddles. Options include jacketing, vacuum or pressure troughs, and variety of construction materials.

Gravity blenders handle 15 to 7500 cu ft of powders, pellets, etc. Ingredients are dropped through multiple ports to blend.

ZEPCO

Disposable motionless-mixing tube blends multicomponent reactive liquids. It can be used with company's metering/dispensing equipment or other conventional machinery.

Injection Molds

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

A-1 TOOL DIV. LOVEJOY INDUSTRIES, INC.

Molds for thermoplastics, structural foam and thermosets, from very small to 15-ton blocks. Specializes in larger molds for appliances, housewares and automotive. NC machining and CAD/CAM.

ABA MOLDMAKING DIV. ABA-PGT INC.

Specializes in high-precision, fully hardened injection molds, especially for fine-pitch gears, and also for medical components, cosmetics, cams, drums and pulleys. Services include product consultation and design, from fast turn-around prototyping to high volume, multicavity production.

ACCURATE MOULD CO.

EDM facilities, engraving and duplicating. Conventional edge gate, hot-runner molds, and mold design. Jig boring, gun-drilling, and surface grinding.

ACRO TOOL CO., INC.

Designs and builds injection molds. General machining of mold accessories, fixtures and jigs. Precision CNC lathe, engraving, milling, grinding and model-making facilities.

ADVANCE MOLD & MFG., INC.

Precision production molds designed on CAD. Most components premanufactured for faster deliveries.

ADVANCED TOOL TECHNOLOGY, INC.

High-quality injection molds built with 3-D CAD engineering, CNC EDM equipment and CNC milling machinery. Thorough testing of mold design and production process.

AGGRESSIVE TOOL & DIE, INC.

Molds for thermoplastics in all shapes, configurations, and sizes, including very large molds.

AKROMOLD, INC.

Specializes in medium to large molds for injection and other processes. Serves waste-management, housewares, business-equipment, appliances, building-materials, aircraft, and automotive industries.

Offers 2-D CAD, 3-D CAD/CAM, large CNC machining, grinding, polishing, small and large EDM, large CNC EDM, sawing, gun drilling, CMM inspection, and mold tryout. Can lift up to 34 tons.

ALLCRAFT MOLD

Designs, builds, and repairs precision injection molds for thermoplastics and thermosets, using CNC machining. Also automatic molds and short-run tooling.

ALLIED PLASTIC MOLD, INC.

Builds molds with automatic unscrewing, cam action, hot runners, and insulated hot probes. Also high-production multicavity tooling. Applications from cosmetics and pharmaceutical packaging to household items, cassette cases, watch boxes, and toys. Complete in-house design and CNC machining.

ALLMAND ENTERPRISES

Design and construction of prototype and low-volume zinc-alloy tooling for injection molding and structural foam. Industries served include automotive OEM and aftermarket, computers, heavy trucks, marine, and recreational vehicles.

ALPHA MOLD INC.

General-purpose custom manufacturer of thermoplastic and thermoset injection molds, including short-run and prototype tools. CAD/CAM and CNC machining. Stereolithography, product development, mold design, and repair services. In-house injection molding capacity up to 500 tons for limited runs.

AMERI-PORT MOLD REPAIR, INC.

Specializes in repair and rebuilding of foreign and domestic molds. Builds prototype and production molds in aluminum or steel, and aids in product development, utilizing CAD/CAM.

AMERICAN PLASTIC EQUIPMENT

Injection molds for thermoplastic toys and housewares.

ANSON MANUFACTURING, INC.

Designs and builds injection molds primarily for thermoplastics. Also structural foam tools. Industries served include electronics, housewares, automotive, and dairy. Engraving, duplicating, polishing and repair services.

APAC INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD.

Molds from Hong Kong reportedly save tooling cost and time. Mold manufacturing, design services, q-c, and mold testing. Engineering drawings and progress reports can be provided. Molds are sampled in Hong Kong and shipments are made when buyer approves sampled parts.

ARE-KAY TOOL INC.

Designs and manufactures high-precision and high-production steel injection molds. Insert, automatic unscrewing, and encapsulating molds. Experienced in medical and automotive industries.

ARLEN TOOL CO. LTD.

Injection molds for automotive, audiovisual, and high-technology industries. Tooling for 200- to 2000-ton presses.

ARTAG INC.

Designs and builds prototype, pilot-run, and production molds for thermoplastics. Samples molds for up to 400-ton machines.

ASHEBORO MOLD & DESIGN INC.

Designs and manufactures thermoplastic injection molds for machines of 28 to 300 tons. Single-cavity prototype to multicavity production. Specializes in ECNs and repairs of existing tooling.

ATCO PLASTICS, INC.

Precision injection molds built with in-house CAD/CAM, CNC machining, and CNC EDM. Engineering assistance for part design, and complete molding capability, specializing in engineering thermoplastics.

ATOLS TOOL & MOLD CORP.

Complete mold design and construction, including full CAD/CAM capability. Mold sizes from 50 lb to 75 tons.

AUTOMATIC MOLDED PLASTICS, INC.

Precision molds for all thermoplastics. Hot-runner, subgated, three-plate, automatic unscrewing, and collapsible-core molds. Full service from engineering design to molded samples. Molds for 28- to 1500-ton injection machines.

AVEDON ENGINEERING, INC.

Injection molds weighing up to 10 tons. Also molds for small machines. Five-axis CNC EDM, CNC machining centers, and duplicating equipment, including mirror-image capability. Full design services plus finishing and assembly for business-machine, medical, and other high-technology industries.

AZTEC TOOL CO., INC.

Designs and manufactures precision multicavity molds using CAD/CAM and CNC EDM. Product development, prototype tooling, high-output production molds, and mold testing. Molds for cosmetic packaging, medical, and precision products.

B&B MOLD & ENGINEERING, INC.

Production and prototype tools for thermoplastic and thermoset injection molding. Mold repair and design, and product development services.

BAUMBACH ENGINEERING CO., INC.

Custom injection molds for thermoplastics. Also product development, mold design, repair and tryout.

GLENN BEALL ENGINEERING, INC.

Detailed engineering of piece-part drawings using Pro E Cad, low-cost preproduction, mold design and construction, and short-run molding of parts.

BERMER TOOL & DIE, INC.

Specializes in design and building of optical-quality lens molds as well as insulated hot-runner and three-plate molds. Wire EDM, CNC machining centers, Moore Jig grinding, and optical polishing. Mold tryout prior to shipping (40- to 400-ton capacity).

BEVERLY PATTERN INC.

Thermoplastic and thermoset molds for injection molding and structural foam. Short-run tooling available. Product engineering, mold design and repair, model making, cavity casting, hobbing, engraving, and duplicating.

HARRY L. BRAUN CO.

Complex-action, close-tolerance molds to 4000 lb for electronics, medical, aerosol, gears, communications, instruments, and valves. Mold design, CAD/CAM, sampling, first-article inspection, and mold repair.

BROADWAY COMPANIES, INC.

Specializes in close-tolerance molds for high-volume production. Mold engineering, construction, repair, prototype development, model making and CAD. Markets served include soft-drink packaging (PET preforms and base cups), fine ceramics, automotive electrical parts, connectors, small motor components, and circuit breakers.

BUILD-A-MOLD LTD.

Full service for medium-size to large tooling weighing up to 50 tons. Design and development using CAD/CAM. Also prototyping, full-service model shop, molding tryout on presses to 1000 tons, and full quality inspections. Specialties include lost-core and gas-injection technologies.

BURBAK COMPANIES

Prototype and production injection molds.

BURGER ENGINEERING INC.

Small- to medium-sized injection molds, utilizing CAD/CAM. Hot and insulated runners, thin-wall, automatic unscrewing, and multimaterial molds. Part design and prototyping services, and prototype or production tools of steel, aluminum, or cast epoxy.

CAC MOLD CORP.

Builds and designs injection molds for presses to 1500 tons. All types of standard and hot-runner molds, including stack, two-color, shuttle, collapsible-core, thin-wall container, and unscrewing molds. Three-station CAD/CAM system drives four CNC vertical machining centers, CNC lathe, and CNC EDM. Also grinding equipment, conventional smaller milling machines, boring mills, lathes, and pantograph. Four conventional EDM machines produce a variety of core and cavity configurations.

CACOOSING INDUSTRIES, INC.

Custom thermoplastic moldmaking services: 1) aluminum tooling for prototype and small production runs; 2) basic Class 3+ tooling for 10,000 to 100,000 pieces/year; and 3) advanced Class 1 and 2 tooling for large volumes, using CNC and EDM machining.

CACO-PACIFIC CORP.

Precision, multicavity molds for injection and injection blow molding, especially hot-runner and stack molds. Multimold programs a specialty. Molds fully engineered and built to close tolerances for dimensional accuracy, parts interchangeability, mold longevity, and ease of maintenance. Molds tested and debugged in test facilities with machines of 100-500 tons. CAD/CAM mold design, complete mold-base department, CNC programming and machining, EDM, ID/OD and jig grinding. Separate mold-repair department. Markets include medical, magnetic media, homecare products, food and beverage packaging (including closures), camera accessories, writing instruments, personal-care products, automotive, electronics, and quality packaging.

CANAM TOOLS LTD.

Designs and builds small to large injection molds and structural foam molds to 15 tons, using CAD/CAM. Serves automotive, appliances, and housewares. Specializes in hot-runner and valve-gated molds for prototype or production.

CANAMATIC MOULD CO. LTD.

Thermoplastic and thermoset molds. In-house capabilities include CAD/CAM and NC - EDM. Markets serviced include communications components, business-machine casings, dot-matrix ribbon cartridges, electronic enclosures, pool and spa accessories, and automotive components.

CAPTIVE PLASTICS, INC.

Specializes in building molds for unscrewing closures and other packaging components. Three tool shops and complete design facilities. Automatic cavity duplication, 2-D tracer lathes, EDM, precision-forming grinders, tape-controlled lathes, jig-boring machines and pantograph engraving units.

CARSON TOOL & MOLD, INC.

Designs and builds precision injection molds. CAD/CAM design and programming coupled with CNC machining centers and EDM. In-house mold sampling to 450 tons. Specializes in molds for appliances, housewares, electronics, textiles, packaging, and automotive. Runnerless and hot-runner molds, automatic unscrewing, cam-action, and insert molds.

CATALINA TOOL & MOLD, INC.

Specializes in close-tolerance, high-production, multicavity molds for thermoplastic injection molding, including automatic unscrewing and hot-manifold molds. Utilizes CAD/CAM (Pro/Engineer) to help meet quick deliveries. Mold design, sampling and qualification, tryout, and short-run molding.

CAVAFORM, INC.

Custom-made, cold-formed mold cavities in 420 stainless steel and other tool steels. Also cold-formed Cavaclad cavities and core pins. The latter are bimetal, one-piece formed cavities or cores, using beryllium copper or Ampcoloy materials for superior external or internal cooling, but with tool-steel molding and wear surfaces.

Applications include medical products, cosmetics, writing instruments, and caps or closures. Tolerances to 0.0002 in. and surface finishes of 4 to 6 micro-in.

CHICAGO MOLD ENGINEERING CO.

Thermoplastic and thermoset injection molds for recreational, automotive, appliance, agricultural, medical and telecommunications industries. Molds from smallest "MUD" unit up to 60 x 120 in. and weighing over 75,000 lb. Computervision CAD/CAM system uses CADDS-5 software with solid modeling as well as conventional surfacing from wire-frame database.

Complete mold-repair services. Machining services include NC machining, gun drilling, and jig grinding.

CLARICH MOLD CORP.

Molds for thermoplastic and thermoset injection molding. Mold design and repair, engraving, and duplicating.

COLONIAL MACHINE CO.

Injection molds primarily for housewares, appliances, business machines, and materials handling. One of the largest suppliers of molds for plastic pipe fittings and electrical fittings. Specializes in automatic unscrewing molds. In-house engineering department with CAD/CAM design and programming, coupled with CNC machining centers.

COLUMBIA PRODUCTS, INC.

Line of standard injection mold bases, cavity-retainer sets, and mold-plate items. Also custom mold bases. Special machining capabilities include blind and through bores and pockets (finished or rough), gun-drilled holes, and guided ejector assemblies.

COMET DIE & ENGRAVING CO.

Injection molds for thermoplastics and thermosets. Hobbing, texturing, engraving, and duplicating. CAD/CAM, design facilities, and pattern shop to make models for duplicating.

COMET TOOL CO., INC.

High-precision, close-tolerance injection molds for thermoplastics. Serves consumer and healthcare markets, including cosmetics, food and beverage packaging, and pharmaceutical and medical components. Molds designed and fabricated in-house using CAD/CAM and complete CNC programming and machining. Custom-designed mold construction tracking system manages scheduling and monitors job progress.

Specializes in high-volume, multicavity automatic unscrewing molds for closures - dispensing, tamper-evident and child resistant. Also manufactures stack, thin-wall container, runnerless, and cam-action molds. Complete refurbishment services for molds to 10,000 lb.

Production molding up to 350-ton capacity. Fully computerized, climate-controlled ASQI metrology lab helps to maintain quality and accuracy. Company is working toward fulfillment of ISO standards.

CONDOR TOOL & MFG., INC.

Injection molds for thermoplastics and thermosets. Two CNC mills can handle 24 x 48 in. mold bases. Most programming and some design are aided by CAD/CAM. Multiple cavities and finishes with a minimum of carbon manufacturing is standard, as well as unscrewing molds, custom sleeves, and soft and hard core pins.

COURTESY CORP.

Mold & Tool Div. designs and builds high-speed injection molds and complete turnkey systems. Specialties are multicavity, hot-runner, stack, and automatic unscrewing molds. Five-axis EDM and CAD/CAM-compatible CNC machining centers are utilized. Engineering staff offers complete part and product development assistance from prototype through production. Services are backed by two injection molding plants, which contain 90 presses from 55 to 550 tons.

CREST MOLD TECHNOLOGY INC.

Designs and builds precision molds, especially for small parts. Design done at five stations using Cadkey software. Surface and cutter paths generated using Autosurf, Automill, and Master CAM. Four-axis CNC EDM and CNC milling accommodate close tolerances required in company's specialty of multicavity hardened and ground, high-production molds.

CRISCI TOOL & DIE, INC.

Complete design and mold building, utilizing CAD/CAM, CNC machining centers, and CNC vertical and wire EDM. Serves all industries, including medical, automotive, and high-technology. All molds sampled and debugged prior to shipment.

CSD INTERNATIONAL INC.

Represents Machines Boucherie of Izegem, Belgium - offering high-precision injection molds and hot-runner systems. Specializes in bi-component molds.

DAMEN TOOL & ENGINEERING CO.

Specializes in designing and building high-production, long-running tooling. CAD used to design products and molds. CAD/CAM system, three-axis CNC EDM, three-axis CNC mills, NC lathe, jig grinding, and a full complement of manual machines. Mold sampling up to 500 tons.

Also line of quick-mold-change systems with manual and hydraulic clamping systems. Systems custom-designed to fit machine and loading requirements.

DECAL MOLD CORP.

Contract moldmaker specializing in CNC machining. Mold design and repair and product engineering services.

DELTA TECH MOLD, INC.

Designs and builds precision, high-quality injection molds, including cold-runner, hot-runner, and stack molds for high-volume programs. Max. size is 30 x 40 in. Multicavity tooling with interchangeable cavities and cores. CAD/CAM and CNC machine centers and mold-filling analysis completed in-house, along with sampling on presses from 75 to 400 tons for mold debugging. Industries served include closure, electronics, medical, pharmaceutical, packaging, automotive, and consumer.

DEL-TOOL CO., INC.

Designs and builds all types of high-precision molds, including two-color for thermoplastic molding. Can produce molds weighing 5000 lb. Complete design services. CNC machining and CAD/CAM, CNC sinker and wire EDM, and hole-shooting EDM.

DELUXE DIE MOLD INC.

Designs and builds medium- to large-size molds up to 40,000 lb using CAD/CAM and CNC machining at Elmhurst, Ill., facility. Plant at Clintonville, Wis., designs and builds small precision molds. Custom molding available at both locations.

DEM-CAV TOOL AND MOULD INC.

Conventional edge-gate, hot-runner, insulated-runner, rotating, and thermoset injection molds. Also prototype molds. CNC machining and CAD/CAM. Specializes in automotive and housewares.

DENBY MOLD CO.

Designs and builds injection molds up to 15 tons. CAD/CAM facilities.

DIAMOND TOOL & DIE CO.

Molds to 10,000 lb for appliances, business machines, and automotive. Camming and lifter molds requiring fully automatic operation. Complete mold-design, CAD/CAM with Unigraphics software, CNC machines, and mold tryout.

DIE-MOLD TOOL LTD.

Specializes in automatic tooling for all types of thermoplastic pipe fittings. Custom CNC machining, product development, and mold design.

DIETOOLING CORP.

CAD designs, builds, and repairs small- to medium-size molds. EDM, duplicating, welding, CNC milling, and close-tolerance CNC contour turning to Rc 60. Mold component and first-article inspection on CMM. Refurbishes or upgrades existing molds.

D-M-E CO.

Over 10,000 combinations of standard mold bases and a variety of mold plates, retainer sets, and cavity-insert blocks and rounds. Pre-engineered ejector pins, runnerless and sprueless molding systems, mold-heater temperature- and process-control systems. (See ads Cover II, p. 262.)

DOLLINS TOOL, INC.

Designs and manufactures precision, multicavity molds for high-volume parts. Specializes in thin-wall containers, lids, cups, and mugs. Complete repairs, overhauls, and mold testing.

DUERR TOOL & DIE CO., INC.

Designs and builds precision injection molds for thermoplastics. In-house injection molding from 3-oz, 75-ton machines to 165-oz, 700-ton.

DURAMOULD LTD.

Injection molds up to 500-ton capacity. Uses CAD/CAM and handles electronic files. Insert molding, encapsulation, two-shot, and unscrewing molds. Complete testing and dimensioned part submission on all tools up to 300-ton capacity.

DYNAMIC ENGINEERING, INC.

Molds from miniature to 6000 lb for applications that include medical and electronics. Services include prototyping, production, and pretesting.

ECHO MOLDING, INC.

Designs and builds steel, beryllium-copper, and aluminum injection molds for machines up to 400 tons. Tooling, EDM, and repair services.

ELECTRA FORM, INC.

Designs and manufactures precision injection molds. PET preform molds for beverage and food packaging, and custom molds for automotive, medical, electronic, and consumer goods. Technical service, mold repair, and mold refurbishing for worn molds and components.

ELECTROMOLD/GRIFFITH ENTERPRISES

Makes cavities using a special electroforming process said to result in very precise detail and high accuracy. Can repair or modify steel mold parts. In-house design, internal/external grinding, and EDM.

ELECTRONIC DEVELOPMENT LABS, INC.

Designs, manufactures, and rebuilds hot-runner, insulated-runner, cam, unscrewing, and beryllium molds. Full 3-D CAD/CAM for design and development of parts and molds. Toolroom can manufacture or rebuild molds to 30 x 30 in. and is equipped with forklifts, overhead 5-ton trolley, conventional EDMs, CNC EDM, CNC mills and lathes, grinders, etc. Injection molding capability to 450 tons.

E.T.M. TOOL & MOLD INC.

Designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling from prototype through production, utilizing CAD/CAM. CAD systems use Tool Chest and Cadkey software and run on Apollo DN3500 workstations. Systems accept all major automotive formats, including full IGES, and are totally integrated with CNC duplicators and boring mills.

EUCLID ENGINEERING CO.

Complete moldmaking services from design to finished part for molding machines with 1- to 30-oz capacity. Contour work is a specialty. EDM, hard chroming, duplicating, and CNC machining.

FERLAND MOLD CO. INC.

Specializes in precision, high-production, automatic molds, primarily for thermoplastic electronic and medical parts. Also short-run tooling and production of precision injection molded components for electronics and consumer products. Mold design, repair, tryout, and product development. Total manufacturing capabilities include design, moldmaking, injection molding, and assembly.

FERRIOT INC.

Manufactures custom injection molds. Services include product and development assistance, mold engineering with computerized applications, rapid prototyping, in-plant mold tryouts, models, prototype tooling, beryllium-copper castings and duplicating patterns, finishing and cast cavities. Equipment includes high technology CAD/CAM equipment. Ability to link customers computer data with our existing computer systems. All workstations are networked with NC machines.

GENERAL MACHINERY CO. DIV. OF WHEATON INDUSTRIES

Mold Group now offers injection molds for small caps and closures to other molders. Two-shift operation with high-speed CNC. Engineering provided by third parties to ensure total project security.

GLUCO, INC.

Injection molds complement company's line of molding machines. Single- and multicavity molds in hardened tool steel for molding thermoplastics, polyurethane, and silicone elastomers. Timed nozzle shutoff pins facilitate molding of liquid and highly crystalline materials, and may be projected into molds to interface with cavity walls for runnerless molding. Turnkey services include design, construction, testing, and debugging.

G.M. TOOL CORP.

Injection molds to 20,000 lb. In-house CAD/CAM design and programming, continuous-tape equipment (32 x 72 in. capacity), 3-D duplicating, CNC machining, EDM, benching, polishing, and die welding. Industries served include automotive, toy, computer and medical.

GOUGLER INDUSTRIES

Specializes in medium- to large-size molds up to 12 tons. Services automotive, military, consumer, and aerospace markets. Complete model and mold design services.

GPT AXXlCON BV

Design, engineering, and manufacture of precision, high-performance molds for audio/video, automotive, electronics, computer, aircraft, and related markets.

GR TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.

Serves as single source for development and execution of injection molded mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies, coordinating any project from concept to production. Uses concurrent engineering and design-for-manufacture and assembly (DFMA) techniques to produce products and components quickly and cost-effectively. Services include preliminary technical and financial analyses, concept and product development, complete simulation capabilities, modeling and prototyping, tooling design and construction.

GREENEVILLE TOOL & DIE CO.

Designs and manufactures precision molds up to 4000 lb. Specialties are connector and automatic molds. Product development, mold repair, and engraving.

THE HANSON GROUP, LTD.

Designs injection molds for business machines, electronics, automotive, toys, sporting goods, packaging, appliances, furniture, and agriculture. Can handle multimold programs. Hot-runner, runnerless, and unscrewing molds. Precision grinding, milling, CNC machining and validation, CAD/CAM, deep-hole drilling, duplicating, and EDM. Molds for insert and structural-foam molding. Product development and mold-testing facility has six injection machines (75 to 400 tons), including three 150-ton shuttle presses for insert molds.

HANSON MOLD

Designs and builds general-purpose thermoplastic and thermoset injection molds: insert, unscrewing, multiple-slide, prototype, cold-runner, runnerless, and automatic molds. Industries served include automotive, appliance, off-road equipment, and business machines. In-house product development, mold tryout, model making, and duplicating.

HASCO-INTERNORM CORP. WEST

Daughter company of Hasco-Normalien of Germany offers standard mold bases and components manufactured in the U.S. All mold bases built on modular principle, making all mold plates interchangeable, which enables the mold-maker to design a custom mold base with standard parts. Complete range of custom work is offered for special mold bases. Mold components include ejector blades machined and ground from one solid-steel blank, nitrided and through-hardened; early-return systems; friction pullers; ejector sleeves nitrided on the OD and ID or through-hardened; and "auto-sealing" plugs for heating/cooling channels.

HEINZ PLASTIC MOLD CO.

Precision injection molds designed and built for pharmaceutical, aerospace, electronics, optical, telecommunications, appliance, automotive, and packaging industries using CNC machinery. Prototypes, mold tryouts, and production molding.

HOLLAND PLASTICS CORP.

Molds include multiple-side-action, two-color, stack, unscrewing, and collapsible-core. Complete and current CAD/ CAM capabilities for producing complex shapes and difficult tolerances.

Complete range of services includes product and mold design, mold and die construction, mold testing, and processing. Markets served include automotive, office furniture, fiber optics, agricultural, electronics, marine, and toys. Operates 13 presses from 40 to 300 tons.

HULL CORP.

Complete range of manual, semi-production, and full-production molds for equipment from small lab machines to 500 tons or larger, including cold-runner/ cold-manifold types for thermosets. Also modifies existing molds for use on new machines and rebuilds worn or damaged molds. (See ad p. 18.)

HUNTER MOLD & MFG. INC.

Designs and builds molds for thermoplastics and thermosets. Automatic tools, product engineering, mold repair, model making, engraving, and duplicating.

HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.

Designs and builds hot runners and molds, specializing in thin-wall containers, PET preforms, closures, house-wares, and industrial containers.

INCOE CORP.

Designs runnerless molding systems. Cast-heater mold and machine nozzles; complete injection half of runnerless molds; and temperature-control systems. (See ad p. 245.)

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Provides information on Italian injection molds made by 1000 small- and medium-sized companies for all industries.

IVANHOE TOOL & DIE CO.

Utilizing CAD/CAM, designs and builds high-production, precision injection molds for packaging, medical and technical markets, especially where interchangeability is desired. Specializes in multicavity, hot-runner, automatic-unscrewing, and proprietary collapsible-core molds. Multiple-mold projects for single or multiple components. Expertise in molds for parts with internal or external threads.

JANLER CORP. PLASTIC MOLD DIV.

Specializes in runnerless, rotating-core, and stack-mold systems for thermoplastics and thermosets. Has built a 2 x 16 unscrewing stack mold. CNC equipment including machining, centers, EDM machines, and three-axis wire EDM, as well as ample complement of milling, grinding, turning, boring, cutting, profiling, and duplicating machinery. Product development, mold repair, tryout, and debugging.

JOWA ENTERPRISES INC.

Designs and manufactures molds utilizing CAD/CAM. Three dedicated CAD stations, two dedicated CAM stations, and two CNC mills. Tool room equipped to handle wide range of mold and tool requirements. Typical molds built include hot-runner, three-plate, stripper, unscrewing, shuttle, and two-color types for thermoplastics and thermosets.

KELLEMS & COE TOOL CORP.

Specializes in on-time delivery of molds for thermoplastics and thermosets. Short-run tooling, in-house product development, mold design, mold repair and tryout.

KFD SALES & SERVICE, INC.

Injection molds to fit its injection machines from 500 to 7500 tons. Molds produced for packaging machines to 650 tons. Industries served include closures, medical and pharmaceutical, and other high-volume, thin-wall applications.

R.C. KING MOLD & MACHINE

Designs and builds injection molds. Mold repair and duplicating services.

KINGSTON PLASTICS CO.

Designs and builds injection molds and complete turnkey systems for automotive, electronics, healthcare, hardware, sports, recreation, construction, medical and optical applications. Part- and product-development assistance from prototype through production.

THE KIPPGROUP

Specializes in tool design and construction, and custom injection molding in a class 100,000 cleanroom. Also specializes in supporting the medical-device Industry and offers a wide range of experience with materials and processes customized for that industry. Capabilities include mold design, mold construction, process-capability studies, design of experiments, cleanroom injection molding, cleanroom assembly, and cleanroom decorating.

K.N.T. PRECISION INDUSTRIES LTD.

Utilizing CAD/CAM, designs and builds injection molds for automotive, appliances, communications, industrial components, military, cosmetics and toys. Services and refurbishes existing molds; provides technical advice and expertise for all tooling demands.

KRAS CORP.

Specializes in molds for presses from 12 to 250 tons. Also encapsulation systems, EMMI spiral flow, ASTM test jets, flash-test molds, prototype hand molds, mold reworking, and same-side gating conversion.

KRAUSS-MAFFEI CORP. INJECTION MOLDING DIV.

Complete injection molding systems, comprising machine, mold, and parts-handling equipment. Clamp sizes range from 45 to 4400 tons. Systems are primarily for high-volume medical applications: compact discs, jewel boxes, automotive applications, electrical components, and consumer products.

L&H PRECISION TOOL & MOLDING

Injection molds for thermosets and thermoplastics. Specializes in multiple-action, close-tolerance, hot-runner, and stack molds. Pantograph and EDM machinery permit pattern-making from drawings or prototypes.

LEIDEL CORP.

Designs and manufactures thermoplastic injection molds for cosmetics, packaging, and medical industries. Automatic unscrewing or stripped-thread closure and overcap molds. Also molds for small, high-precision engineering components requiring cam actions and/or automatic unscrewing with various gating and hot/cold-runner requirements. CAD engineering, CNC, ram EDM, CNC turning and four-axis milling, cylindrical and surface grinding, multiple-start contour-thread grinding, and inspection and mold testing.

LEOMINSTER TOOL CO., INC.

Designs and manufactures injection molds for thermoplastics and thermosets. All types of molds, including hot-runner, manifold, three-plate, and stripper-plate in sizes up to 36 x 54 in. and weights up to 5 tons. CNC, EDM, duplicating, welding, mold repair, design, and tryout.

LIBBY-OWENS-FORD CO.

See Modern Tools Div.

LIBERTY MOLD & DUPLICATING CO.

Designs and builds precision injection molds for thermoplastics and thermosets. Prototype tooling, multicavity production molds with interchangeable cavities and cores, hot-runner systems, and automatic unscrewing molds. CAD system, CNC machining, EDM, hobbing, duplicating, engraving, mold repair, and mold polishing. Industries served include closures, electrical, medical, cosmetic packaging, photographic equipment, and writing instruments.

LINCOLN MOLD & DIE CORP.

Builds unscrewing, cam-action, stack, runnerless, and collapsing-core molds. Also molds for tamper-evident closures. Complete design facility utilizes nine-station solids-based CAD/CAM system. CNC equipment fully integrated through a local network. SPC data collection implemented via computer software on coordinate-measuring machine and optical comparators. (See ad p. 247.)

LOWRY MFG., INC.

Designs and builds thermoset and thermoplastic injection and structural foam molds. Specialties include standard three-plate, hot-runner, insulated-runner, subgated, cam, stripper-plate, and interchangeable-cavity molds. Molds made from cast and machined aluminum or chrome-plated, heat-treated steel. EDM, CNC, CAD/CAM, duplicating, pantograph, and standard tool-room equipment.

MAJESTIC TOOL & MOLD LTD.

Manufactures and repairs injection molds using CAD/CAM, CNC milling centers, and CNC EDM.

MAR-TECH, INC.

Engineers and manufactures injection molds and support equipment for its line of molding machines (3 to 25 tons). Specializes in small-piece and insert molding, turnkey packages, and fully automatic integrated molding systems, including silicone LIM systems.

MARLAND MOLD INC.

Injection molds for thermoplastics (including structural foam) and thermosets for presses up to 500 tons. Also hot-runner and automatic unscrewing molds. NC milling, turning, grinding (surface, cylindrical, and centerless), jig grinding, wire EDM, plunger-type EDM, benching and polishing, assembly, and inspection. CAD/CAM, optical comparators, computerized coordinate measuring, and Con-Tracer.

MASTER INDUSTRIES, INC. MASTER MFG. DIV.

Specializes in sculpted contour shapes for injection molded thermoplastic auto-interior trim. Mold design, repair, tryout, model making, and cast cavities.

MASTER PRECISION MOLDS, INC.

Products include a series of nine test-specimen molds and multicolor, multi-material molds. Automatic unscrewing, stripper-plate, and triple-plate molds; positive-return ejection, cam action, shuttle times, and runnerless designs. Design, construction, and tryout for both standard and runnerless applications. Licensed to supply tooling for Quick-Change systems of Master Unit Die Products, Inc. (See ad p. 249.)

MASTER UNIT DIE PRODUCTS, INC.

Supplies Quick-Change tooling systems based on companion insert molds inter-changed in a single frame that remains in the molding machine. Frames available in one-, two-, and four-insert mold configurations. Adapter frame with companion ear plates bolted to an existing standard mold base gives that standard base quick-change capability. Water-manifold system allows quick connection to water source. (See ad p. 251.)

MB MOULD & DIE CO.

Molds (generally aluminum) for PVC, TPE, and polyurethane. Various die-sinking machines available. One is a two-headed reverse image that can put on shrinkages. Pressure casting in aluminum and model/pattern making. Applications primarily in footwear.

MERCURY TOOL & MFG.

Designs and builds injection molds in sizes to 8000 lb, including hot-runner, unscrewing, collapsible-core, and structural foam molds. CAD systems fully integrated with CAM systems used to program CNC.

MIDLANTIC TOOL CORP.

Mold design, manufacturing, and repair for thermoplastic and thermoset injection tools.

MILLTOWN TOOL & ENGINEERING

Small precision molds for injection molding thermoplastics. Automatic tooling, product engineering, repair, tryout, engraving, model making, and duplicating.

MINCO TOOL & MOLD INC.

Product design, mold design, mold building, validation of tooling, molding, and secondary operations, including assembly. Unigraphics CAD/CAM system. Industries served include automotive, communications, business machines, and medical.

MODERN MOLD & TOOL, INC.

Specializes in multicavity and hot-runner tooling. Short-run tools also manufactured. Product development, mold repair, tryout, model making, engraving, and duplicating.

MODERN TOOLS DIV. LIBBY-OWENS-FORD CO.

In-house design with CAD/CAM. Die models, fixtures, epoxy tooling, special machines, and molds for thermoplastics and thermosets. Large CNC duplicators, orbital EDM, 60-ton crane capacity, three coordinate-measuring machines, and six CAD/CAM stations.

MOLD-A-MATIC INC.

Medium- to large-size molds up to 40 tons. CNC and conventional machining from prototype to production. Program management for large or multiple-tool projects plus followup of secondary tooling, soft prototype molds, master models, duplicating casts, fixtures, gauges and tryouts. In-house CMM checking for quality assurance of tools or molded parts.

MOLD BASE INDUSTRIES INC. (MBI)

Custom injection mold bases and machining services, standard injection bases, cavity sets, plate items, and self-lube components.

MOLD MAKERS, INC.

Designs and builds injection molds. Three-dimensional EDM and precision grinding for smaller conventional, tunnel-gate, or hot-runner molds requiring high precision.

MOLD-MASTERS SYSTEMS OF AMERICA

Builds runnerless molding systems for thermoplastic injection molding and mold-base top-half assemblies with thermocouple and power plugs wired for easy assembly. Short-run and automatic runnerless molds, and development services. (See ad p. 242.)

MOLD-TECH, INC.

Specializes in small- to medium-sized, high-production, close-tolerance molds. Utilizes CAD/CAM, CNC milling, CNC sinker EDMs, and CNC wire EDM. Builds molds with hot manifolds and valve gating, as well as two-shot molds; and molds with unscrewing cores, lifts, slides, stripper plates, double ejection, cylinders, "A"-side slides, etc.

M.S.I. MOLD BUILDERS MANUFACTURING SPECIALTIES, INC.

Designs and builds tooling for thermoplastic injection molding. Specializes in medium and large molds. Mold repair, engraving, CAD/CAM and CCM.

MTI CORP.

Precision transfer and injection molds for encapsulation of electronic and miniature electrical components. Close-tolerance molds for thermoplastics and thermosets.

MYTRONICS

Designs and builds one- or two-color injection molds up to 8 tons. Can manufacture molded parts from 4 to 1100 oz on presses from 50 to 3000 tons. Tool shop offers CAD/CAM to design molds and drive CNC machine centers and EDMs.

NATIONAL TOOL & MFG. CO.

Complete line of standard and custom injection mold sets, including stripper, tri-plate, cavity-retainer, compression, and quick-switch sets. Over 4500 mold components, plates, and plate items such as ejector pins and sleeves, ejector blades, core pins, leader pins and bushings, angle pins, sprue bushings, and support columns. Special items like date plugs, air-poppet valves, taper locks, side and top locks, long-lead locks, and extension nozzle sprue bushings.

Designs, builds and bench tests new runnerless molding systems or retrofits existing systems. (See ad Cover III.)

NEW JERSEY TOOL AND DIE CO.

Designs and builds any type of mold, including automatic unscrewing, hot-runner, runnerless molds, and molds for closures and electrical parts. CNC EDM, hobbing presses, CNC lathes, CNC gun drilling, and CNC cylindrical grinders. Complete thread grinding and inspection. Surface grinding up to 27 x 60 in. Seven CNC machining centers.

NEW PACIFIC MACHINERY, INC.

Manufactures injection molds in the Far East and can provide complete mold and machinery systems as turnkey operations.

NEWARD ENTERPRISES, INC.

Injection molds for all materials and assistance in part and mold design, plus complete molding/assembling/packaging facilities.

NICKEL TOOLING TECHNOLOGY DIV. WEBER MANUFACTURING LTD.

Specialized mold manufacturer utilizing "nickel vapor deposition" process to produce pure nickel-shell cores and cavities.

NORDICA MOLDS MFG. INC.

Designs and manufactures prototype and production injection molds for automotive, electronic, durable consumer products, pipe fittings, and furniture components.

NORTHERN TOOL MFG. CO.

Specializes in general-purpose injection molds for thermoplastics. Prototype, multicavity, and hot-runner tools. Product development, model making, duplicating, and sampling on 200- and 300-ton molding machines.

NORVAN TOOLS LTD.

Specializes in injection molds weighing up to 2 tons. CAD/CAM, CNC milling with 24 x 33 in. capacity, wire EDM (8 x 15 x 27 in.), and conventional EDM (tank size 3 x 5 ft, 100 amp).

OAKLEY DIE & MOLD CO.

Designs and builds injection molds weighing up to 17,000 lb, particularly for appliance, toy, food packaging, and automotive industries. Automatic molds for thermosets. Product development, mold repair, tryout, and duplicating.

OMEGA TOOL INC.

Designs and builds small to medium-size close-tolerance, multicavity, and automatic unscrewing molds for presses up to 500 tons. Engineering, sampling, and part inspection.

ORBIT TOOL & DIE CORP.

Designs and builds injection molds for medium-size to large articles.

OSLEY & WHITNEY, INC.

Mold design and production, including hot-manifold and thermoset cold-runner molds. Specializes in highly intricate, automatic, multicavity molds and will handle long-term projects involving a large number of molds. Mold tryout service.

PACIFIC PLASTIC TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Molds for thermoplastic injection molding. Product development and mold tryout.

PAK 2000

Designs and builds general-purpose injection molds for thermoplastics. Product development, mold repair, and tryout.

PATAL ENGRAVING & ENGINEERING

Specializes in injection molds that either are sculpted in 3-D or have matched plates. Sculpts artwork by either deckel duplicating or pantographing, or 3-D electrodes for EDM.

PELCO TOOL & MOLD, INC.

Manufactures single- or multicavity thermoplastic and thermoset molds, including unscrewing, automatic and hot-runner molds. CNC machining and CAD. Repairs, model making, engraving, and duplicating.

PLAS-TOOL CO.

Injection molds for round and square industrial containers and closures from quart cans to 55-gal drums. Specializes in 5-gal pail and lid molds. Complete services from product conception to manufacture, including turnkey plant operations. Modular mold design allows changing from one size container to another by replacing cavity sets while mold frame is still in the molding machine.

PLASTICO, LTD.

See T&C Machine Products Div.

PLEASANT PRECISION, INC.

Specializes in small to medium-size multicavity precision molds. Cavities produced on CNC equipment; engineering on in-house CAD/CAM system. Product engineering and design assistance.

PORTUGUESE TRADE COMMISSION

Portuguese moldmaking industry can design and make high-precision tools up to 40 tons, working to close tolerances. (See ad p. 253.)

PRECISION MOLD BASE CORP.

Custom mold bases for injection molds. Services include customized machining of pockets, water lines, and hot-runner manifolds, featuring domestic steels and components.

New premachined Timesaver mold bases with finished pockets or bores - on-the-shelf and ready for immediate shipment.

PROMOLD CORP.

Precision injection molds, complex or simple, cold- or hot-runner. Complete tool-room equipment, in-house sampling, production of molded parts, and post-molding assembly, including ultrasonic welding.

PROSPECT MOLD & DIE CO.

Specializes in tooling for multicolored taillight lenses. Also molds for appliances, housewares, and toys. Product development and mold tryout. CAD system and CNC machining.

PROTOPLAST, INC.

Specializes in spray-metal tooling and aluminum, injection and structural foam molds. Complete service from concept to preproduction parts. CNC machining, CAD/CAM and EDM.

PROTOTYPE & PLASTIC MOLD CO.

Specializes in molds for short and medium runs for all engineering thermoplastics, including PEEK. Reduced lead times and costs achieved with CAD/CAM and standard flames. Fourteen molding machines to 300 tons.

P.S.H. INDUSTRIES, INC.

Makes prototype injection molds using a spray-metal process to reduce costs and manufacturing time.

PUGET CORP. PLASTIC PRODUCTS DIV.

Mold design, manufacturing, testing, production molding, product development, and mold repair. ISO 9002-registered injection molding and value-added assembly shop.

R&D TOOL AND ENGINEERING, INC.

Molds for thin-wall products, basecups, caps, and closures. Services include product/preform design, engineering, R&D sampling, manufacturing, quality control, installation and start-up assistance. Maintains spare parts for all tooling built.

R AND M MOLD MFG. CO. INC.

CAD/CAM and EDM-equipped manufacturer of molds, including injection, encapsulation, unscrewing, hot-manifold, stripper, and strip-feed.

RAKAR, INC.

Designs and manufactures precision injection molds for thermosets and thermoplastics. Specializes in molded-in threaded inserts and contact pins.

RAMTEC, INC.

Builds complex side-action and unscrewing molds, as well as simple open/shut molds. CAD/CAM for design and solid modeling. Finite-element analysis and mold-filling/cooling analysis of part design. Nine CNC machines include four-axis wire EDM, CNC EDM, three-axis machining centers, and a lathe.

RANODA ELECTRONICS INC.

Molds for electronic parts such as connectors, insulators, integrated circuits, DIP, and frames. Precision EDM machining.

RBK TOOL & DIE, INC.

High-production to high-tolerance injection molds for 10- to 500-ton machines. Complete part and mold design. CAD/CAM, CNC machining, EDM die sinking, and wire EDM. Mold sampling available.

REDOE MOLD CO. LTD.

Specializes in design and manufacture of molds for automotive tail lamps, appliques, reflectors, and lenses. Also for computer housings and instrument panels. Deals with package programs for multiple mating components, as well as single-cavity molds. Tooling capacity is 10 tons. In-house CAD/CAM, CNC machining, and copymilling.

REXDALE PRECISION MILLING CO.

Specializes in small to medium-size molds for automotive, electronics, toys, hardware and housewares. EDM, engraving, and duplicating. All shapes and configurations, including hot-runner and thin-wall containers.

SARCOL INC.

Molds made from ceramic or cast tool steel for long runs; beryllium-copper for fine-grain or textured molds; and beryllium-nickel for long runs, fine detail, or corrosion resistance. Cast-steel molds are said to cost less, take less time to deliver, and last longer than tooling made on conventional duplicating machines.

SCHOTTLI USA

Swiss mold manufacturer designs and builds semi- and full hot-runner molds for high-precision parts such as medical syringes, closures for packaging, and technical parts such as floppy-disk shells. All molds tested prior to shipment.

RICHARD O. SCHULZ CO.

Designs and builds molds for machines of 250 to 5000 tons or greater. Molds of any size with slides, lifters, core pulls, cams, interchangeable inserts or sections, hot runners, valve gates, and gas assist. Repair and rebuilding, contract special machining, and assembly. Handling and machine capabilities for workpieces to 8 x 16 ft and 100,000 lb. CNC and tracer copy-milling machines, EDM, CNC radial-gun-drilling machines, jig internal-cylindrical-surface grinders. Also spotting presses to 450 tons with 72 x 144 in. platens, computer-enhanced 40 x 63 x 110 in. coordinate-measuring machine, multiple CAD/CAM workstations for tool design and 2-D or 3-D cutter-path programming.

Serves computer, automotive, power-equipment, consumer, appliance, mining, aircraft, military, textile, recreation, and materials-handling markets.

SHARP DIE & MOLD CO.

Designs and builds molds in medium to large sizes. Specializes in complex molds containing slides, lifters, cams, and hot-drop manifolding for high-volume applications. Also high-technology tooling such as expanding high-pressure structural foam molds, CNC duplication on Pratt & Whitney equipment, and line of mechanical quick-mold-change components.

SHORT-RUN PLASTICS MFG. CO.

Manufactures molds to close tolerances for short-run and prototype thermoplastic parts. Specializes in insert molding.

SNIDER MOLD CO., INC.

Complete moldmaking and designing facilities, specializing in larger molds to 40,000 lb. Tooling services for thermoplastic and thermoset injection and short-run molding. CNC and tracer mills, full 3-D CAD/CAM, EDM, and three tryout presses with up to 72 x 144 in. platen size and 84-in. daylight. Contour work for large parts like chairs and tractor hoods. Product engineering, mold repair, tryout, model making, and duplicating.

SOLVAY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

Hot-runner and three-plate injection molds for up to 1500-ton presses. Tryout and prototype services.

SOURCEONE, INC.

Manufactures injection molds using CNC milling and CNC EDM. Hot-runner, prototype, and production molds and mold design.

SOUTHERN PLASTIC MOLD, INC.

Injection molds for thermoplastics and thermosets, mold repair, tryout, and cast cavities. Specializes in CAD/CAM product and mold design for close-tolerance parts using engineering materials. Supplies standard mold components and moldmakers' tools and supplies.

SOUTHWEST MOLD, INC.

High-production molds for thermoplastics designed and manufactured using CAD, CNC, and EDM. Product engineering, mold design, repair, tryout, engraving, and duplicating.

SPRINGFIELD TOOL & DIE CO. INC.

Specializes in molds for small machines (e.g., 1-oz shot capacity). Also molds for general industry, and multicavity, hot-runner, and short-run/prototype tools as well. Hobbing, engraving, and duplicating. Injection machines up to 300 tons for mold trials.

STAN-CAST, INC.

Specializes in molds with cavities or cores made of beryllium-copper, aluminum, or steel. Complete service from pattern-making to finishing. In-house foundry makes both ceramic and pressure castings. Can supply other tool shops with cast, machined, and mitered cavity and core sets.

STEWART INDUSTRIES, INC.

Thermoplastic molds up to one ton, or 3 x 3 ft, for use in aircraft, medical, and electronics applications. Design and tryout facilities. EDM, tracer mills, and pantographs.

STOTT TOOL & MACHINE CO.

Designs, builds, and maintains injection molds. EDM, CAD, CNC machining, on-site mold testing and production. Industries served include medical, industrial, healthcare and displays.

SUPERIOR DIE SET CORP.

Stock, standard and custom mold bases, including standard A and B series, cavity retainers, three-plate and stripper sets, and mold plates. In-house machining and gun drilling. Torch-cut pockets, Slide-Locks, Poz-E-Locks, ejector pins, internal and external latch locks, and Fortal, an aircraft-quality aluminum alloy, used as an option for mold bases and mold plates.

SUPERIOR INC.

Complete mold design, building, testing, and running facilities. Molds to 300 tons produced for consumer, medical, or automotive products.

T&C MACHINE PRODUCTS DIV. PLASTICO, LTD.

Injection mold building, EDM, grinding, design service, tooling, and tryout up to 200 tons.

TECH MOLD, INC.

Specializes in high-cavitation, ultra-precision, runnerless molds for high-volume production of thermoplastic parts for medical, packaging, pharmaceutical, and high-technology markets. CAD/CAM, CNC machining centers, multiturret lathes, and ultra-precision EDM. Maintains engineering database to manufacture spares and replacement parts at any time during the life of a mold. Molds sampled in-house. Moldmakers trained in SPC.

TECHNI-MOLD & ENGINEERING, INC.

Injection mold manufacturing, including engraving, EDM, grinding, and design services.

TELEDYNE EFFICIENT INDUSTRIES

Designs and builds medium-size to large injection molds. Full CAD/CAM capabilities.

TEN TEC INC.

Molds, including short-run tools, designed and manufactured for thermoplastics and thermosets. Specializes in cam-action and automatic tooling. Mold repair, tryout, engraving, and duplicating.

TETRAD MOULD & TOOL LTD.

Designs and builds injection molds for thermoplastics and thermosets; cold-, hot- and insulated-runner molds; automatic unscrewing, insert-loading, shuttle, and prototype molds.

I. THIBAULT INC.

Designs and builds injection molds (including hot-runner, stack, side-action, family, unscrewing) from small to large sizes (55 x 60 x 65 in.) weighing up to 40,000 lb. CAD/CAM and EDM and CNC cutting. Mold tryout and model-making are subcontracted. Mold-repair services.

TITAN ENTERPRISES, INC.

Manufactures thermoplastic and thermoset injection molds using precision EDM and CNC machining. Automatic and short-run tooling, product development, mold design, repair, tryout, engraving, and duplicating.

TOG MOLD TOOL & DIE CO., INC.

Designs and builds thermoplastic and thermoset molds for machines up to 500 tons. Specializes in injection molds and encapsulation tooling for electronic components, as well as high-volume Class-101 molds and tight-tolerance molds. Handles IGES and DXF files.

TOMKEN TOOL & ENGINEERING, INC.

Offers turnkey packages with in-house design, molds, and complete validation of parts. Mold-building specialties include encapsulation and insert molding for shuttle-table or rotary-table machines; 3-D type parts where part contour is available from CAD database; and small and intricate parts. Design with Unigraphics II on Hewlett-Packard workstations and AutoCAD on PCs. EDM, CNC, and jig grinders.

TOOLING CENTER

Imports injection molds built by its joint-venture partner in the People's Republic of China. Part design, mold design, and moldmaking at Shenzhen, China. Molds shipped to U.S. for inspection, engraving, and texturing.

TOP GRADE MOLDS

Custom maker of high-production injection molds using CAD/CAM/CAE and CNC machines. Specialties include all sizes of round and square pail and lid molds; thick- and thin-wall packaging, housewares, industrial, commercial, and medical products; and molds for automotive, household appliances, and construction applications. Single- or multicavity, specializing in stack molds. Builds hot-runner systems. Complete mold design and testing.

TRADESCO MOLDS LTD.

High-speed injection molds for thin-wall packaging, medical parts, and housewares. Stack molds with up to four faces. Mold design engineering, production consultation, and field service. Products performance tested and checked for uniformity and consistency. (See also Hot-Runner Components/Systems.)

TREDEGAR MOLDED PRODUCTS CO.

Precision, high-production, multicavity molds for thermoplastics. Services include database transfer, CAD design, mold and moldbase construction, and inhouse sampling. Specializes in molds requiring complex cam actions, unscrewing, and interchangeable components for packaging, electronics, medical and industrial markets.

TRI-PAR DIE & MOLD CORP.

Thermoplastic and thermoset injection molds, including multicolor, hot-runner, and automatic tooling, for markets such as automotive and electrical connectors. Mold and product design services, CAD/CAM and CNC machining, and sampling.

TROY TOOLING, INC.

Production and prototype steel, aluminum, and kirksite injection molds. Other capabilities include fixtures and gauges, foam molds, models, patterns, and tooling aids:

UNICAST DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Injection and blow molds in beryllium-copper, steel, and aluminum alloys. Molds and inserts are precision cast from a pattern or model of part. Casting process involves making a precision ceramic foundry mold into which the alloy is cast. Process is suitable for producing prototype or production molds. Manufactures finished molds and also licenses casting process.

UNIQUE MOULD MAKERS LTD.

Designs and manufactures high-quality, multicavity injection molds specifically for caps and closures. High-volume applications where consistent part quality and fast cycle times are required. Tool designs include strip (bump-off), un-screwing, collapsing-core, tamper-evident, child-resistant, and dispensing flip-top. Single-face and stack molds.

VALLEY MOLD & DIE CO., INC.

High-production injection molds, specializing in unscrewing molds. Also design and construction of fully automatic hot-runner molds, injection blow molds, and low-volume prototype tooling. Product development, model-making, cast cavities, hobbing, EDM, CNC machining and duplicating. In-house polishing, precision grinding, mold conversions, and repairs.

Uses Master Cam 386, which allows use of disk files to start mold design and construction without blueprints.

VELOBIND INC.

Designs and builds close-tolerance molds from very small to ones weighing up to 2000 lb. Types include two-plate with subgating, three-plate with pin gating, and hot-runner or insulated-runner with hot probes.

VETTER ASSOCIATES

Designs and manufactures all types of injection molds overseas, including hot-runner, stock, family, unscrewing, multicavity, and prototype. CAD/CAM/CAE, CNC, and EDM. Mold drawings provided for approval before manufacturing, and all molds provided with complete quality-control documentation.

VIMM MACHINE, INC.

Specializes in design and manufacture of molds for insert molding of cord sets, as well as electrical components and Sub-D molded connectors, primarily for its own line of insert-molding machines. Molding services and short-run prototype parts.

WEBER TOOL & MOLD DIV. WEBER MANUFACTURING LTD.

Designs and manufactures injection and other tools, models, and prototypes. CAD/CAM, CNC, and CMM capabilities.

WENTWORTH MOULD AND DIE CO.

Injection molds for 1- to 6-gal plastic buckets and lids. Also design, engineering, and manufacturing of injection blow molds. Molds made from hand-forged, specially heat-treated aluminum that reportedly offers long life, high thermal conductivity, and high compressive strength.

WESS PLASTIC, INC.

Designs and builds molds utilizing CAD, CNC, and EDM. All types of molds built for 400 to 400-ton injection machines. Molding capabilities include 40-ton, 1-oz to 400-ton, 30-oz machines and full support equipment, with emphasis on engineering materials.

WISCONSIN TOOL & MOLD CO.

Designs and builds precision injection molds for medical, pharmaceutical, electronics, connector, and controls industries. Specialties include stainless-steel and hardened mold bases and runnerless molds. Prototyping, sampling on 300 to 200-ton presses, mold repair, and troubleshooting.

ZYGO MOULD, LTD.

Designs and builds high-speed injection molds, hot-runner systems, and standard mold components. Primary markets include PET bottle preforms, thin-wall packaging, and medical disposables. Hot-runner systems for molds ranging from hot-tip style to 2 x 24 valve-gated stack molds. Standard parts such as nozzle housings, tips, insulators, and heaters in stock for immediate delivery; specialty components manufactured to specification.

Blow Molds

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ABPAMO ASSOCIATES

Design and engineering services for injection blow molding use AutoCAD and 3-D modeling. Product design, product drawings, complete tool design, modeling, and construction using CAM. In-house molding equipment for sampling of unit cavity and production tooling ensures project continuity.

ACRO TOOL CO., INC.

Designs and builds blow molds. General machining of mold accessories, fixtures and jigs. Precision CNC lathe, engraving, milling, grinding, and model-making.

AIRO TOOL & MANUFACTURING

Design and programming services for extrusion blow molds. Secondary tooling includes striker plates end shims, cutting sleeves, detabber assemblies, dies and mandrels, pins and bushings, trim nests, and a patented guide-pin and alignment bushing.

ALLOY TOOL & MOLD MFG. CORP.

Blow molds and associated tooling for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, personal-care, food, beverage, automotive, household and industrial chemical containers. Technical center offers CAD/CAM and CNC design services. Repair, refurbishing, and revision of molds.

BEKUM PLASTICS MACHINERY, INC.

Blow molds for injection blow, reheat blow, and articles up to 750-gal capacity for extrusion blow molding. Testing and prototyping facilities for all molds and all resins, including coextrusion and industrial applications.

BLOW MOLD TOOLING (1972) LTD.

Molds for extrusion blow, injection-blow, and stretch-blow processes, including bottles from 3 cc to 20 liters for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Product and mold design, models, masters, hand-made samples, mold manufacture and testing, after-sale service, and troubleshooting. Molds made from aircraft aluminum, beryllium-copper, NAK-55, tool steels, and stainless steels. Jomar 115 machine for testing injection blow molds.

BROADWAY COMPANIES, INC.

Specializes in high-quality blow molds for high-volume production of carbonated-beverage containers. Molds of aircraft-grade aluminum or steel in sizes from 6 oz to 5 gal. Models, duplicating, EDM, CAD, mold design, construction, repair, and prototype development.

CAPTIVE PLASTICS, INC.

Specializes in injection-blow molds for containers and specialty parts. Design facilities, duplicators, tracer lathes, precision-forming grinders, EDM, jig-boring machines, and pantograph engraving equipment.

CENTURY DIE CO.

Molds for 1-2 oz to 6-qt containers of aluminum or beryllium-copper.

ELECTRA FORM, INC.

Molds for injection stretch-blow molding.

EPW INC.

Prototype and production blow molds. Engineering staff, model shop, rigging department, CAD/CAM, CNC machining center, and large coordinate-measuring machine. Molds made from epoxy laminates, aluminum-backed epoxy, cast-to-size or machined aluminum, nickel shells, or machined steel.

FGH SYSTEMS, INC.

Complete blow molding packages to 32 gal in conjunction with B&W Blow Molding Machines of Germany. CAD/CAM and CNC mold-design and manufacturing services, mold repair - including aluminum and beryllium-copper welding, mold sampling, preproduction runs, training, and start-up services.

FREMONT PLASTIC MOLDS LTD.

Tooling services include design, casting, machining, and model-making.

GENERAL MACHINERY CO. DIV. OF WHEATON INDUSTRIES

Mold Group now offers injection and extrusion blow molds to other molders. Two-shift operation with high-speed CNC. Engineering is provided by third parties to ensure total project security.

HEISE INDUSTRIES INC.

Extrusion and injection blow molds from aircraft-grade aluminum, beryllium-copper, and a full range of steels. Initial part development, mold design and construction, all related tooling for the molding machine, and molded parts for evaluation. Mold models generated on a CAD/CAM system that is integrated with CNC machines.

HOBSON BROTHERS, ALUMINUM FOUNDRY & MOULD WORKS

Blow molds for all types of resins and part configurations, specializing in industrial molds for engineering resins. Utilizes CAD and CNC machining, EDM, gun drill, fitting press, and engraving machinery. Materials include P-20 tool steel, cast aluminum, aluminum plate (6061, 7075 and QC-7), beryllium-copper, and lamina bronze. Product development, mold repair, model-making, cast cavities, engraving, and duplicating.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

More than 150 Italian companies manufacture extrusion and injection blow molds for packaging, industrial applications (automotive parts), and toy making.

JOHNSON CONTROLS INC. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Complete container, mold manufacturing, and tooling services, along with a line of extrusion and injection-blow molding machinery for containers ranging from a few cc to over 100 gal.

JOMAR CORP.

Injection-blow tooling services include product and tool design, sample tooling, production tooling, and automatic take-away equipment. Manufacturing facilities for injection-blow machines and tooling, plus layout and installation assistance. In-house mold testing at R&D center. (See ad p. 130.)

KENNEDY TOOL-DIE, INC.

Extrusion blow molds for containers from 1 oz to 82 gal. Molds for handled bottles, dairy gallons, toys, and automotive parts, specializing in complex configurations. Also plastic oil-can molds. Every operation is computerized.

R.C. KING MOLD & MACHINE

Designs and repairs injection and blow molds. Duplicating services available.

KNIGHT TOOL WORKS LTD.

Extrusion and injection-blow molds, both production and prototype, plus all associated tooling. Specializes in neck-finish construction and downstream tooling. CAD engineering/design, machining, modeling, and mold repair. Blow molds made from aluminum, beryllium-copper and a full range of steels.

LIBERTY MOLD & DUPLICATING CO.

Specialized maker of small injection-blow molds.

LOWRY MFG., INC.

Blow molds with cut duplicated cavities, EDM, and cast cavities.

MODERN TOOLS DIV. LIBBY-OWENS-FORD CO.

Medium-size to large blow molds made from aluminum, kirksite, and beryllium-copper.

PLASTI-CAST MOLD & PRODUCTS CO.

Aluminum castings and finished blow molds. Leather, wood-grain, and textured surfaces are a specialty.

PORTAGE CASTING & MOLD INC.

Cast or machined aluminum blow molds. Specializes in large molds up to 15 tons. Pattern and model-making services, in-house mold-design staff, on-site aluminum foundry, and complete moldmaking shop.

PROTOPLAST, INC.

Specializes in spray-metal tooling and aluminum molds. Complete services from concept to preproduction parts using CNC machining, CAD/CAM, and EDM.

P.S.H. INDUSTRIES, INC.

Prototype injection and blow molds from spray-metal process that reduces cost and manufacturing time.

R&D TOOL AND ENGINEERING, INC.

Blow molds of various kinds with complete services from product or preform design and engineering to R&D sampling, manufacturing, quality control, installation, and start-up assistance. Maintains spare parts for all tooling built.

RAO DESIGN ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

Specializes in designing and building container blow molds, both for extrusion and injection blow, and offers all related tooling. Molds for standard shapes from 1 oz to 1 gal available from stock. Prototypes also offered. Has several extrusion blow and injection blow molding machines. Also molds for containers to 1200 liters.

REOS INC.

Blow molds and tooling via CAD/CAM, ensuring repeatability and fast response. Product concept through in-house evaluation of molds.

RYKA BLOW MOLDS LTD.

Product design, mold engineering, and mold manufacture with CAD/CAM. Specialties include packaging, automotive, and industrial applications. Consultation on processing.

SARCOL INC.

Complete pattern, foundry, and finishing operations for ceramic, steel, beryllium-copper, and beryllium-nickel blow molds. Offers cast full-flow, fast-cycle channel cooling.

SCHULZE TOOL CO.

Blow molds from product design through complete engineering services. Product and mold drawings via 3-D CAD/CAM. Molds built with CNC machining centers, digitizers, and multi-spindle duplicators. Accessories such as dies, mandrels, blowpins, cutters, and trim tooling, as well as trimming and deflashing machines. Mold repairs, modifications, and consulting.

SEAJAY MFG. CORP.

Extrusion blow molds for cosmetic containers to industrial parts to 25 gal. Aircraft aluminum, beryllium-copper, and steel.

SNIDER MOLD CO., INC.

Designs and builds large blow molds in machined aluminum and steel.

SOLVAY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

Extrusion blow molds for up to 50-lb parisons, including industrial parts, automotive components (e.g., air-conditioner ducts, gas tanks), and display cabinets.

STAN-CAST, INC.

Complete moldmaking facility with CNC EDM duplicating and foundry to cast tool steel, aluminum, and beryllium-copper. Ceramic and pressure castings also available.

SUPREME TOOLING GROUP

Cast-aluminum and beryllium-copper blow molds, particularly for automotive. Total engineering package from development to operation.

TECHNOMOULD INC.

Blow molds from machined and cast aluminum, bronze, and beryllium-copper. Stencils from electroformed nickel shells.

UNICAST DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Injection and blow molds in beryllium-copper, steel, and aluminum alloys. Molds and inserts precision-cast from a pattern or model of the part. Casting process involves making a precision ceramic foundry mold into which alloy is cast. Process is suitable for producing prototype and production molds. Manufactures finished molds and licenses casting process to other producers.

WALKER PATTERN & MOLD INC.

Extrusion blow molds for 2-ml containers to 55-gal drums. Also molds for double-wall construction and form/fill/seal. Utilizes CAD/CAM data exchange and digitizing. Equipped with various CNC machines.

WENTWORTH MOULD AND DIE CO.

Designs and engineers extrusion and injection-blow molds made from hand-forged, specially heat-treated aluminum that reportedly offers long life, high thermal conductivity, and high compressive strength.

WHEELER BOYCE CO.

Precision cast-aluminum blow molds. In-plant services include model-making, pattern production, foundry, finishing, and assembly.

Metallic Mold Materials

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ALUMINUM CO. OF AMERICA

Wrought aluminum plate for blow, injection, and compression molds. Alcoa QC-7 mold plate designed specially for blow and injection molds where high strength, thermal conductivity, and hardness are needed. Also 6061 mold plate in two tempers and thicknesses from 6 through 20 in.

AMPCO METAL, INC.

Copper alloys for blow and injection molds. Three high-conductivity alloys - Ampco 97, 940, and 945 - optimize thermal conductivity, hardness, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. Said to be cost-effective alternatives to beryllium-copper, providing hardness of 143-290 Bhn. Applications include molds and mold inserts, pinch-offs, blow and core pins, lifters, guide-pin and leader-pin bushings, and unscrewing mold components. Conventional machining and EDM methods can be employed. Surface finishes of 4 RMS are possible. Alloys are readily welded to accommodate stainless-steel overlays and come in standard sizes of bar, rod, tube, and plate.

BRUSH WELLMAN INC.

Moldmax and Protherm beryllium-copper alloys reportedly improve performance of injection molds. Benefits include reduced cycle time and better dimensional control, based on rapid and more uniform removal of heat from the part.

CRUCIBLE SERVICE CENTERS

Line of mold materials includes stainless steels for molding highly abrasive engineered resins, copper alloys for rapid heat dissipation, and aluminum for blow molds and short-run tooling. Twenty-three service centers offer custom cutting, technical assistance, and research.

D-M-E CO.

Six grades of mold steel - three for structural sections and three for cavities and cores. Structural steels include: D-M-E No. 1 medium-carbon SAE 1030 grade; D-M-E No. 2 AISI 4130 grade, preheat-treated to 269-321 Bhn (28-34 Rc); and D-M-E No. 7 modified AISI 420-F holder-block stainless, preheat-treated to 305-342 Bhn (33-37 Rc).

Cavity and core grades include D-M-E No. 3 P-20 type steel preheat-treated to 277-331 Bhn (29-36 Rc); D-M-E No. 5 H-13 type hot-work steel, annealed to approx. 200 Bhn (13-20 Rc); and D-M-E No. 6 T-420 type stainless, annealed to 200-240 Bhn (14-23 Rc). (See ads Cover II, p. 262.)

A. FINKL & SONS CO.

Hot-work mold steels are melted using V.A.D. degassing system and further refined in a V.A.R. furnace for a double-vacuum-produced product. Steels are upset-forged, utilizing wide dies with a minimum reduction of area of 5:1. AISI-type P-20 and 4140 steels are cold-water quenched for maximum grain refinement and through-hardening, and then machined and ultrasonically examined. Modifications available of P-20, 4140, Holder Block, 420 S.S. and H-13 (air-melted and double-vacuum-melted). (See ad p. 260.)

HASCO-INTERNORM CORP. WEST

Five grades of tool steels include AISI/SAE types 1020, P20, and H13.

INTERNATIONAL MOLD STEELS

NAK 55, 40 RC prehardened mold steel is easy to machine, stable, and allows for perfect weld repair.

PXS, 32 RC prehardened mold steel is twice as tough as P-20, easy to machine, and welds with no pre- or post-heating required.

Porcerax II, permeable mold steel allows gas but not plastic to pass through.

PERFORMANCE ALLOYS & SERVICES

High-conductivity, beryllium-free copper alloys for core and cavity making, and aluminum bronze alloys for wear applications such as slides, wear plates, gibs, bushings, and ejector sleeves.

Patented products include core pins and high-conductivity, copper-alloy core pins for cycle-time reductions and part-quality improvements.

Sprue bushings, copper alloys, and stainless sprue bushing aid in solving sprue-related molding problems.

THYSSEN SPECIALTY STEELS, INC.

Tool steels include:

* Thyssen Holder 4140 modified, pre-heat-treated (24/32 Rc) free-machining alloy steel designed specifically for mold bases. High tensile strength.

* Thyroplast 2738 AISI P-20 modified, high-quality prehardened mold steel (28/34 Rc) for large plastic molds requiring high core hardness.

* Thyssen P-20 Super AISI P-20 modified, prehardened (34/38 Rc) steel for plastic molds requiring compressive strength, wear, toughness, and long runs.

* Thyroplast 2316 FM AISI 420 F modified, prehardened, Ca-treated (34/38 Rc), free-machining, corrosion-resistant stainless steel for mold flames, holders, and bolsters.

* Thyroplast 2083 Supra AISI 420 modified, annealed, electroslag-remelted stainless tool steel; capable of being heat-treated to high hardness; particularly suited to compression and injection molding, which require excellent polishability and corrosion resistance.

* Thyrotherm 2344 Supra ESR AISI Premium H-13, annealed electroslag-remelted, high-performance tool steel with excellent toughness for molds needing high wear resistance and polishability.

Nonferrous alloys include:

* Thyssen Aluminum 6061 alloy for high thermal conductivity and good machinability.

* Thyssen Alumold, a new high-strength, high-quality aluminum alloy, suitable for small to medium production runs, has excellent through-hardening ability, thermal conductivity, and high strength-to-weight ratio.

* Thyssen beryllium-copper alloys for high thermal conductivity, good hardness, and machinability.

UDDEHOLM CORP.

Mold steels include Impax Supreme (P-20 modified) premium-quality, pre-hardened grade with reportedly excellent polishing and photo-etching properties; Orvar Supreme (H13 improved) through-hardening mold steel said to have excellent machinability, polishability, and toughness; and Compax through-hardening steel with good toughness at high hardness and moderate wear resistance. Rigor (A2) is a medium-alloyed mold steel with high wear resistance. ASP 23 and Vanadis powder-metallurgy grades for very high wear resistance.

Stainless mold and holder steels offer low-maintenance, long-run operation. Grades specially developed for optimum tool performance include Stavax ESR (420 modified) through-hardening mold steel with good corrosion resistance, high wear resistance, and excellent polishability. Ramax S (420F modified) is a prehardened holder or mold-base steel said to have excellent machinability and good resistance to indentation. Elmax is a wear-resistant powder-metallurgy stainless grade for cavity-insert molds that process abrasive engineering resins.

Complementary tooling products offered include Alumec 89 high-strength aluminum tooling material with excellent machinability and polishability. Several grades of beryllium-copper mold alloys include Moldmax and Protherm products made by Brush Wellman Inc.

Hot-Runner Components and Systems

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

A.L.B.A. ENTERPRISES, INC.

Thermoplay hot-runner systems from Enrietti in Italy include hot-runner nozzles, manifolds and temperature controllers.

Standard single-drop nozzles in two styles: Type 1 nozzle used where gate vestige is critical to a highly cosmetic appearance; and Type 2 nozzle for viscous materials or subgating into a runner when gate vestige is not critical. Also valve-gated nozzles and multigated nozzles for edge gating and direct cavity gating of up to eight gates from one nozzle.

TA series nozzles have a steel tube inserted through the beryllium-copper core for improved wear and corrosion resistance. All nozzles available as hot sprues for single-drop applications.

TG series temperature controllers offer individual microprocessor control of each zone and come standard with enough power for high-load applications. (See data sheet p. 268.)

AMERICAN MSI CORP.

Runnerless temperature controls include System III, with an intuitive user interface, 12 to 384 zones of control, and full-color CRT graphic display of all set-points, actual temperatures, and power outputs. All process changes are made with a light pen, which allows fast selection of all or individual zones. Diagnostic program evaluates power output, current draw, and T/C input. It reports status of the entire hot-runner system (reversed T/C, cross-wired T/C, defective T/C, open heater, etc.).

MTC-System for 4, 8 or 12 zones at 240 VAC/15 amps/zone has back-lit LCD graphic display of actual temperature vs. setpoint, as well as power output. Comes standard with RS232 serial port for printing mold setups and errors.

Options for System III and MTC-System include auto-boost, auto-standby, SPI protocol communications to a remote monitor, SQC data storage, and desktop software.

ATHENA CONTROLS, INC.

New PIM portable single-zone temperature controller for hot-sprue bushings or single-heater applications up to 15 amps features dual display, fused and grounded circuitry, CompuStep start-up, manual and closed-loop control, and power on/off switch. With microprocessor PID control and complete diagnostics, module operates automatically after setting temperature and turning on power. CompuStep function provides automatic warm-up, and when complete, controller switches to CompuCycle, a zero-crossover power drive that delivers smooth, continuous a-c power, which reportedly improves response time, reduces thermal fatigue and prolongs power life. (See ad p. 264.)

BARBER-COLMAN CO. INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS DIV.

FITT-8000 multizone hot-runner temperature-control system maintains temperature of any number of control zones to within 1 [degrees]. Temperature of each zone is measured 80 times/sec and output is updated 20 times/sec.

Line-voltage-compensated output changes from AutoTune PID to manual percent control at push of a button. Integral Line Cycling (ILC) operates output every 50 millisec, virtually eliminating destructive temperature gradients in heater's resistance wire. Zero crossfiring delivers control comparable to phase-angle firing while eliminating RF noise. Softstart eliminates heater damage from insulation moisture, while Auto-Comp provides a means of continuing production if thermocouple is damaged. Coordinated Overcurrent Protection (COP) offers triple-redundant protection against short circuits without replacement of fuses. Plain-English display of volts and amps provides instant heater status at no extra cost. Alarm output and 32 diagnostic events standard.

Controller housing sealed against production environments, and NEMA 4 enclosures designed to specification. Standard cable connectors for most existing mold connectors. (See ad p. 1.)

BURGER ENGINEERING, INC.

New Versashot adjustable hot sprue bushing has full-length outer sleeve that can be machined to provide tip or "A" lengths of 0.875 to 3.875 in. Three tip styles: standard (0.062-in. opening), large (0.160 in.), and tapered (0.125 in.). Standard heater is 300 w, 240 v.

CACO-PACIFIC CORP.

Hot-runner systems use proprietary components, including valve-gate, hot-tip, hot-edge-gate, and special custom styles in single-face and stack-mold configurations. Available as complete mold-base assemblies or bolt-on hot-half assemblies, fully assembled and tested prior to shipment.

CINCINNATI MILACRON U.S. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Runnerless temperature controller eliminates need to rewire connections to the mold, because heater and thermocouple locations can be changed through software using CRT menu. Available in 12 to 96 zones, system includes color monitor, type J or K thermocouple input, soft-start, and security codes. Screen graphically displays actual vs. set temperatures with high/low alarm bands. Forty-four mold setups can be stored on hard-disk drive. Additional external storage on floppy disk. Printer port provided. Compact unit is caster-mounted for mobility. (See ads pp. 10, 58-59, 126-127, 142, 146; data sheets pp. 91-97, 138-139, 159-160.)

CONTROL KING, INC.

Microprocessor-based hot-runner temperature-control systems feature Master Temperature Control Switch (MTCS-1), which provides choice of four different temperature setpoints for each zone. User can change back and forth between the four stored setpoints with the flip of a switch, useful for start-up, color changes, purging, and maintenance.

Systems have four to 72 zones. Control modules in 10-, 20- and 30-amp versions can be mixed in the control cabinet according to mold-heater requirements. Each PID module accepts five different setpoints: process temperature, high/low alarms, manual power, and acceptable ground-fault indication (GFI) limit. Six process displays, such as power level and GFI indicators, are accessible at touch of a button. When heater ground faults are detected, appropriate action (such as forced bake) is taken automatically. When T/C breaks occur, system automatically switches to manual operation at predetermined rate of power. Bake and standby heat are standard.

Optional KIM Module hand-held programming device plugs into any control cabinet and can be removed at any time. It can change setpoints, bake time, and PID parameters.

DIEMOULD SERVICE CO. (CANADA) LTD.

Supplies Heatlock sprue bushings, torpedoes, and manifolds from Nils Helldin AB of Sweden. All components are ceramic insulated. Variety of tips and styles, including mini models for center spacing down to 30 mm. CAD library of components is compatible with AutoCAD. Also coil and band heaters and thermocouples.

D-M-E CO.

Runnerless molding systems and components:

* The Cool One (internally heated runnerless components and systems). Melt-flow channels around heated distributor tubes provide self-insulating system, reportedly using up to 75% less energy than conventional hot runners. Single- and multilevel designs. Several probe styles for different materials or cavitation.

* The Hot One (externally heated hot-manifold systems). Nozzles, heaters, riser pads, spacer rings, etc. Three nozzle sizes and four tip styles provide 27 combinations to meet a wide range of material flows and part cosmetics. Gate-Mate nozzles can also provide advantages of a self-insulating layer of material in gate area. Osco multigate nozzles provide four or six injection points in one compact design.

* Osco single- and multiple valve-gate systems. Hydraulically actuated systems provide positive, independent gate shut-off. Full-body, bodiless, or pin-gate styles. Single valve-gate system has a shaft-driven 1:1 ratio for long life. External adjustment simplifies mold construction.

* Osco adjustable-flow systems. Nozzles permit external adjustment of flow rate for balancing family molds.

* Smart Series temperature controls have digital readouts, auto and manual modes, heater warm-up circuitry, and self-diagnostics to detect thermocouple faults. Single- and dual-readout models, and computer interface for remote control via PC or machine control. (See ads Cover II, p. 262.)

EWIKON N.A. INC.

Low-voltage (5-VAC), energy-efficient hot-runner systems with complete line of components. Support and service from mold design to processing.

Multizone temperature controller (5-VAC or 240-VAC) with four-field monitor "window" technique is microprocessor-based, PID self-tuning; reacts to [+ or -]1 [degrees] F change from setpoint. Digital LED display, soft-touch data keypad, ground-fault detection, softstart, thermocouple-break protection, error analysis, fault display, and percentage-output display of one or all zones. Units switchable from amps to [degrees] F. Interface link to IBM PCs available for SPC information.

FAST HEAT INC.

Runnerless systems emphasize balanced design in every manifold. System manufactured using CNC technologies, including flow analysis when required. Company manufactures everything on hot half, from mold plates to integrally heated torpedo bushings.

* Temperature controllers: Conductor Series microprocessor control modules in cabinets with one to 12 zones. Multizoned free-standing cabinets available. Can sense T/C failure and switch automatically to continue running at steady state. AutoSoft warm-up, percentage-power display, dual-function set-point, [degrees] F or [degrees] C display, three alarms, 14 self-diagnostic features, and U.S. or European power ratings.

* Gating and runner torpedoes: Sensitip molding torpedoes are swaged to provide more uniform heat profile than cartridge-heated types. Diam. of 0.312 to 0.750 in. and wide selection of lengths. Torpedo has replaceable type-J thermocouple located internally and up front for precise gate and runner temperature control. Gating torpedoes in diam. from 0.394 to 0.750 in.

* Torpedo bushings: Sensitwin bushings are integrally heated and designed to perform beyond the capabilities of ordinary cartridge-heated probes and coil-heated bushings. Three basic configurations for single-cavity, manifold, or stack-mold applications.

* Sprue bushings and machine nozzles: Integrally heated design includes replaceable type-J thermocouple. Sprue bushings come with 0.50- or 0.75-in. radius on the head; also flat or manifold style. Tips of bushings can include extra machining stock.

GAMMAFLUX, INC.

Temperature-control systems for hot runners consist of 900 series analog controllers and 9000 series analog/digital controls. Maintain uniform and accurate temperatures with less than [+ or -]1 [degrees] F deviation in electrically heated areas of hot-runner tools.

The 900 series includes model 932, a 240-VAC, 30-amp, single-zone controller used mainly on manifold zones. Standard "no-tuning" feature, PIDD analog control algorithms, and Powerpak voltage-proportioning control output. Model 943 is a 240-VAC, 3-amp (or optional low-voltage d-c), four-zone control for use in runner-drop zones. Contains all control, protective, and diagnostic features of model 932.

Series 9000 controls with hybrid analog/digital technology allow production data gathering and performance monitoring and provide enhanced protection features such as "slaved" or sequenced start-up.

GUNTHER HOT RUNNER SYSTEMS

Externally heated, closed-loop 5-, 220- and 240-v hot-runner systems carry melt with minimal pressure drop through tubes from machine nozzle to gate. Internal hot elements are thermally separated from external construction elements. No heat expansion occurs between mold and hot runner.

Systems permit gating inside articles such as cosmetic caps through the uncrewing mechanism. Special nozzles in vertical or horizontal multitip arrangements have up to eight tips. Pitch diam. from 3 to 42 mm. Article weights of under one gram achievable. Can also side-gate parts directly without leaving a cold slug. Nozzles 541 and 542 allow gating with one or two tips in a single nozzle.

HASCO-INTERNORM CORP. WEST

Heated sprue bushings, nozzles, manifold blocks, and preassembled hot-runner systems. Internally and externally heated bushings; pneumatically operated, positive-shutoff needle valves; and variety of temperature controls.

HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.

Hot-runner systems from single-cavity units to 96-cavity, single-face and 2 x 64 cavity, stack systems. Can be supplied fully assembled with prehardened stainless-steel plates and interface bolt holes for cavity plate. Fully wired to multipin connectors and electrically tested. On delivery, hot half is ready to be attached to cavity plate and run. Individual components also available. Evaluation and engineering service to upgrade cold-runner molds to hot runners.

Hot-runner temperature controllers, built for Husky by Gammaflux, require no tuning and are reportedly highly responsive to shear heat and other process disturbances, thereby minimizing temperature cycling. Added advantage is said to be potential cycle-time reductions through lower setpoint temperature without risk of gate freeze-off.

IMS CO.

Closed-loop temperature-control modules rated at 15 amps and 120 or 240 v with time-proportioned power, automatic softstart, and digital display. Standard housings have 1 to 12 zones. Also single-zone housings with 30-a output. All modules, housings, and connectors interchangeable with standard hot-runner controllers.

Stand-alone closed-loop temperature controllers rated at 15 amps and 240 v in 1, 2, and 4 zones.

Open-loop power-control modules fit standard hot-runner system housings and connectors.

Stand-alone, open-loop voltage controllers rated at 5 or 15 amps and 120 or 240 v use company's microcircuit control. (See ads pp. 22, 315.)

INCOE CORP.

Runnerless molding systems, cast heaters for mold and machine nozzles, prewired and assembled injection half of runnerless molds, and temperature-control systems. (See ad p. 245.)

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Information on hot-runner systems from several Italian producers.

JPI TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Heitec hot-runner system has 220-v cast-in heating elements that provide external heating and are thermally insulated from mold by layers of air and by low-conductive junction element in manifold. This eliminates need to heat up entire manifold block and substantially reduces heat loss from nozzles to cavity plate. Melt-conducting tube in nozzle is made of an alloy with high thermal conductivity and abrasion resistance. Minimum center-to-center spacing of 0.71 in. between individually controlled nozzles. Thermal separation of heating elements allows inside gating through small cores. Top- or edge,gate multitip nozzles with up to eight tips placed on a diam. up to 3 in. (See data sheet p. 269.)

KONA CORP.

Hot-runner systems feature built-in heat-pipe technology for [+ or -]5 [degrees] F temperature uniformity throughout the hot runner. Open-flow and hydraulic/pneumatic valve-gate systems for all sizes of applications, from multiple-cavity, close center-to-center gating (caps, closures, medical parts) to single-cavity applications (automotive bumpers, instrument panels). Versions for rigid PVC a specialty. Systems prewired and preassembled with mold plates for easy installation. Controlled-vestige (CV) hot-runner tip styles operate in the widest possible temperature range and have good color-change characteristics. Also offers hot-sprue bushings and temperature-control systems.

MELT DESIGN, INC. (MDI)

Standard and special runnerless molding components include integrally heated probes, hot-sprue bushings/nozzles, two-stage externally heated nozzle filters, thermocouples, and hot-runner temperature controls.

Off-the-shelf, pre-engineered, pre-dimensioned, modular hot-runner system. Modular manifolds integrally heated with replaceable thermocouples and made of high-quality tool steel. Hardened and nitrided to minimize surface wear or scoring during assembly/disassembly. Design consultation and engineering assistance available on new tooling and retrofits.

MOLD-MASTERS LTD.

Standard or custom-engineered hot-runner systems from single-cavity prototypes to high-production multicavity tools in 208-240 v or 24 v to process thermoplastics in any shot size. Stack-mold hot-runner systems feature valve-to-valve feeder mechanisms for no material leakage at the first parting line.

Patented metallurgical fusion of heater element provides fast, isothermal temperature distribution and long-term heater reliability. Each system is naturally balanced with open-pipeline, unrestricted runners for repeatable cavity-to-cavity consistency, even with difficult-to-process engineering grades. All gating techniques, including hot-tip, multitip, valve-gate (hydraulic and pneumatic), sprue, and edge gates.

Also minimum-pressure-loss filter nozzles, directly heated machine nozzles, and water-cooled gate inserts for use with company's nozzles to maximize gate-area cooling and shorten cycles.

Single- or multizone microprocessor-based hot-runner temperature controllers sold individually or with systems. Complete hot-half packages include hot-runner system, manifold plates, and temperature controller, delivered fully assembled, completely wired, and electrically tested.

Also application engineering assistance and seminars on new technology and processing developments.

ORYCON CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

Pre-engineered, standardized hot-runner systems and components include temperature controllers, torpedoes, sprue bushings, probes, thermocouples, modular manifold system, and a hot sprue bushing that uses standard cartridge heaters but can equalize the temperature profile to make it suitable for processing engineering resins.

Temperature controllers use patented cooling method, which allows unit to operate without a fan. Prevents dust, contaminating particles, and oil mist from entering the chassis. Microprocessor temperature controllers include single-zone units in 10, 15, and 30 amps and open- and closed-loop mode. Standard audible alarm and softstart with optional ground-fault protection. Multizone mainframe controllers standardized in 9 or 12 positions and may be stacked to achieve any number of zones. Control modules available with PID, digital LCD display, and adjustable power output.

OSCO INC.

Specializes in valve-gate nozzles. Designed to run conventionally or sequentially. Gate diam. up to 1/2 in. with no gate vestige. Controlled cavity-fill rates and weld-line placement.

Mold nozzles with interchangeable tips provide flexibility in design and gate cosmetics. Material flow channels from 1/4- to 3/4-in. diam. meet requirements of large and small parts.

Multiple-gate nozzles for smaller parts have one thermocouple-controlled heater per gate. Economical and compact runnerless system with up to eight gates per nozzle.

Adjustable flow-control nozzles provide mechanical balance of fill into each cavity, placement of weld line, and good gate cosmetics.

PLASTHING HOT RUNNER SYSTEMS, INC.

Extensive range of Italian-designed single-feed hot-runner nozzles and multifeed bushings. Designs and builds complete manifold systems with up to 96 drops using CAD and flow analysis. Nozzles and bushings employ internal 24-v cartridge heater that extends the whole length of the unit. Low heater voltage protects unit from damage by moisture, without need for softstart. Simple voltage control without need for thermocouples. The 24-v cartridge provides sufficient control to prevent drool without mechanical shutoff. Titanium-coated bushings offered for use with abrasive glass-filled materials.

Manifolds incorporate special 240-v cartridges with unusually low watt density. Systems achieve "natural seal" by means of thermal expansion of close-fitting components, eliminating special seals, sealing rings, or springs to prevent leakage.

PLASTIC ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. (P.E.T.S.)

Hot-runner systems include manifold, hot sprue bushings, and temperature controls. "Even-Flow" systems are said to be especially suited to multicavity and large multidrop molds. One-piece cast, round manifolds are said to be leak-proof without use of o-rings. They also reportedly offer 20-40% lower power consumption, smooth flow passages with reduced shear, and ability to be controlled with a single setpoint. Externally heated hot drops have flow paths free of restrictions. Valve gates and low-vestige tips available.

P.E.T.S. Model 7000 temperature controller, with up to 32 zones, has 9-in. CRT with menu-type software. Max. total load is 100 kva; max. is 30 amps/zone (40 amps optional). Data storage for up to 10 mold setups, full-time display of all zone operating parameters, RS232/484 serial output port, and optional SPC monitoring with output to a host computer. Diagnostics instantly alarm and display control and mold electrical problems as well as corrective action to be taken.

PLASTIC PROCESS EQUIPMENT INC.

Hot-runner controls from one to over 96 zones. Microprocessor-controlled PID temperature control. Some can be integrated with computer for remote control of all parameters. Low-cost, open-loop, and non-PID closed-loop modules stocked. (See ad p. 337.)

POLYSHOT CORP.

Runnerless molding systems consist of hot-runner manifolds, heated sprue bushings, multitip nozzles and temperature-control systems.

Heated sprue bushings of six different tip styles in 1- or 3/4-in. diam. Tip styles include pinpoint, full-flow, reverse-taper, and large-shot configurations. Heated sprue bushings can easily be retrofitted to existing molds with the use of an FR gate interface.

Hot-runner systems are custom designed. Manifold systems externally heated for precise temperature control. Flow channels, drop lengths, and plate thicknesses sized for each application.

For maximum amount of cavities in as small an area as possible, Multitip system allows two to eight drops on each module. Modules can operate in a stand-alone mode or be interfaced to company's hot-manifold system. Multitip system is suitable for high-volume, small-part applications.

Also furnishes complete temperature-control systems to operate its runnerless molding systems. Single- and multi-zone configurations feature ground-fault softstart systems, PID output, solid-state digital readouts, and ability to read out in setpoint or direct thermocouple mode. (See data sheets pp. 272-273.)

RAMA CORP.

True Shot runnerless molding system has reportedly unique capabilities for rapid color change and leak-proof operation. Heat-treated components reduce wear. Air-gap insulation and reduced-mass design are said to result in energy savings. Ramarod cartridge, Ramaband and Rama cast-aluminum band heaters provide uniform, uninterrupted, external melt heating.

Engineering and R&D services using CAD available for custom-designed heating assembly needs. (See also Heaters and Heating Elements.)

RUNNERLESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.

New firm offers "Thermal Valve Gate" hot-runner probes, manifolds, and controls. Probes have on/off heater control at the tip, plus a built-in pressure sensor to trip an alarm if tip is seated with too much or too little pressure. "Cluster blocks" have 8-16 tips for small parts. Split-plate manifolds make for easy cleaning. Controller is custom-built by American MSI, has proprietary software. Also offers heavy-duty mold connectors and cartridge heaters developed specifically for hot manifolds.

S AND B CONTROLS DIV. OF SCHUNTERMANN CORP.

Series 8000 eight-zone temperature controller suitable for hot-runner control. PID control, autotuning, softstart, RS485 or RS232-C computer interface, digital ammeter with alarm, and run and standby setpoints. Seven-day clock for automatic warmup. Current monitoring with digital ammeter and low-current alarm provides immediate warning of heater burnout - much faster than a low-temperature alarm. Also offers Model 1000 four-zone controller.

SEIKI SPEAR SYSTEM, INC.

ThermoMechanical valve-gate for injection molding is a hybrid design employing conventional mechanical valve-gating with company's patented "thermal valve-gating." Like conventional valve-gates, a mechanical pin stops and starts the flow of material into the mold cavity. Unlike other valve gates, the very tip of the bushing utilizes the patented tip heater that cycles on and off with the action of the molding machine, as well as a sophisticated cooling circuit that compensates for friction heating typical in fast cycle valve-gate molding. This level of temperature control at the cavity gate eliminates stringing, drooling, gate freeze-off, or cold slugs and allows faster cycles.

SP series hot-runner temperature controllers configured for high- and low-voltage systems. "SoftPulse" (SP) 32-bit microprocessor power-control system delivers smooth, minutely incremental adjustments to each heating zone. Smooth application of continuous power prolongs heater life while maintaining precise temperature control.

Two different styles of operator interfaces. Advanced version based on an IBM AT-compatible computer with flat-screen color-graphics display and touchscreen input is provided for high-cavitation systems. A lower-cost operator interface based on a standard microprocessor with a monochrome LCD touchscreen input is available for low-cavitation systems. Both interfaces are self-contained portable units that can be detached from one control unit while the mold is running and reconnected to another control unit on a different molding machine.

SYSCON-RKC SYSCON INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Model 530 HR hot-runner temperature controller has Microcycle feature that updates controls every 8 millisec to minimize temperature overshoot. Soft-start protection, integral SPC capability - which communicates with a separate PC running Syscon's SPC software - and SPI communications protocol, which allows hot-runner control to be integrated with molding-machine control. (See ad p. 276.)

TRADESCO MOLDS LTD.

Hot-runner systems in standard and custom designs include balanced manifold assemblies and a variety of nozzle tip styles. Gating methods include diverted hot tips, sprue gates, valve gates, and edge gates. Systems supplied assembled, wired, and ready to install. Specializes in converting existing cold-runner molds to hot runners.

Process and Production Monitoring Systems

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ALLEN-BRADLEY CO.

ControlView supervisory control software runs on DOS-based PC and communicates with company's Plastics Automation Control Systems to provide data collection, analysis of production, and SPC. An industrial data highway with redundant error checking ensures that data reach destinations intact. All process, machine-logic, and safety-interlock data are stored in the Plastics Automation Controller and are available over the Data Highway+ communications link, which comes standard.

Data in ControlView can be viewed on SPC charts in real time, saved for historical analysis, and mathematically manipulated for alarm checking, process changes, machine status, production reports, etc. Mold setups can be stored on the system and electronically transferred to production machine controllers.

NORMAN N. AXELROD ASSOCIATES

Provides turnkey, on-line, noncontact Quality & Process Control system for extrusion. Automated system provides 100% inspection with optical detection of defects and optical gauging of dimensions. For hollow tubing and coatings, system determines O.D., wall thickness, ovality, and concentricity.

Provides output signals to process and handling controls, real-time displays, statistical analysis and display of process and production data, printed reports and computer files of process and production data. Also marks the product at detected defects and displays production results and video image of product. Can be customized.

BARBER-COLMAN CO. INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS DIV.

CIMAC 8000 manufacturing network monitor with full SPC capabilities supervises multiple machines and handles auxiliary equipment with optional integration module. CIMAC 8000 captures data for display in graphic or tabular form for on-line analysis. Data can be transmitted to a PC for preparation of reports on process history. User-programmable keys call up repeated tasks. (See ad p. 1.)

BARCO AUTOMATION INC.

Two products for computer-integrated manufacturing: PCMS PC-based system and BarcoCIM minicomputer system. PCMS works with MS-DOS and can be integrated into a LAN environment. BarcoCIM runs on Digital Equipment Corp.'s family of Alpha-based computers and functions with Digital's open VMS operating system, which supports multiple interactive user terminals. System can monitor 1000+ manufacturing cells.

Both systems perform production monitoring, scheduling, statistical process monitoring, statistical quality analysis, personnel monitoring, and order-status reporting. A 4GL-type report designer creates textual and graphical customized reports. Both systems monitor machines and provide real-time and historical information on machine status. Alarms signify need for corrective action. Bi-directional communication available to facilitate transfer of information from each machine to host computer system and vice versa. Any data in system database can be displayed at machine-interface box with Barco data unit. Data-collection network can connect virtually any type of machine to the Barco system. Interface to monitor microprocessor-based machines available. Hardware and software available to include monitoring of auxiliary equipment and to integrate Barco system with a mainframe.

RILES & ASSOCIATES

AIM supervisory and process-monitoring system provides data management and real-time supervisory control. Graphical user interface provides trend plots, SPC and attribute charts, histograms, pareto diagrams, and summary reports. Process information can be distributed over heterogeneous networks to Unix, PC, and Macintosh computers. Data can be accessed through X-Windows, DDE-compliant systems (spreadsheets etc.), and relational database applications. SQL interface accesses AIM Historian data on PCs with open database connectivity (ODBC) software.

T.G. BRANDEN CORP.

Shotscope S9000 plantwide system provides real-time monitoring of injection molding. High-resolution CRTs at each press provide simultaneous displays of shot profiles of position, velocity, and pressures. SPC data (trend/run time, X-bar and R, histogram and scatter diagrams), as well as production data are available in graphics and text. Pick lists allow easy entry of scrap, downtime, material lot numbers, etc. Parameter data are saved, including date and time for every shot from each press. SQC module tracks measurement parameters and allows correlation of process and measurement parameters. Real-time Job Scheduler with color-coded Gantt chart display provides automatic update of jobs in progress based on actual cycle, setup, and downtime data. Novell Network integration allows for multiple workstations and communication with other computer systems. System can be used with any press of any age because it takes data from the press transducers, independent of machine controls.

Shotscope A5000 portable analyzer has all the process-analysis and graphics capability of S9000 system. It is a tool for setup, troubleshooting, and collection and analysis of SPC data. SQC module for measurement analysis and correlation with process data also available.

CMS MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

CMS/400 fully integrated information system provides on-line, interactive processing of manufacturing, customer service, financial, EDI, and shop-floor data-collection activities. Designed specifically for the relational database of the IBM AS/400, CMS/400 offers ease of use and simplicity for EDI/progressive-release management, family-parts scheduling, mold production and maintenance scheduling, and outside-operations integration. Features include pop-up windows and seamless navigation between system modules.

CONTROL PROCESS INC.

Midas 1000, 1500, 2000, and 3000 systems monitor basic injection molding production variables such as cycle times and downtime, as well as complex process variables. Systems monitor in real time a range of selected analog and digital process points such as injection pressures, zone pressures, chiller-water temperatures, position, velocity, and counts. Systems are open-ended to allow variables and process points to be added or deleted. Up to 64 process points per machine. Systems interface with several industry-standard PLCs and allow alternative methods of input from machines without PLCs.

Data acquired in real time to determine process trends, real-time status, and production quality for each machine and for the plant as a whole. Status and trend information, as well as out-of-limit controls, are distributed on-line. Systems provide storage of upper and lower control limits and all process setpoint criteria in a relational database, which can be downloaded to each machine in the network. Process data are correlated with part-quality data to identify, predict, and prevent defective production.

Systems provide real-time SPC/SQC capability on as many production or process variables as required. Upper end of Midas line can monitor up to 100 machines. Utilize industry-standard hardware and software. Host system uses Unix-based workstations. Modular software design allows for tailoring to specific needs. "Open" design can be connected to plantwide MIS systems.

DATA TECHNICAL RESEARCH (DTR)

Manufacturing Manager is a comprehensive, fully integrated manufacturing, distribution, and financial-management software package for plastics processors. Written in Progress relational database and designed for "open systems" and "client/server" computing environments. Software runs on MS-DOS PCs, PC LAN networks, Unix, and Digital's VAX and Alpha computers.

Has pop-up windows, multiple-screen overlays, on-the-fly file maintenance, user-defined menus, and formatted reports.

Standard applications include a Quotation Module, which gives suggested multilevel product pricing, prints formal quotes, determines production costs, maintains revision levels and costs, and develops product manufacturing standards. Order-entry and release-entry modules update requirements for production-scheduling and material-planning modules. Production scheduler provides forward and backward (finite and infinite) scheduling, JIT scheduling, forecast scheduling, and production-capacity planning of all machines and secondary operations. Products are automatically scheduled to machines that produce that type most efficiently. Reports include material planning, manufacturing efficiency, utilization, analysis, and product costing.

Inventory module maintains raw, WIP, and finished goods; offers user-defined units of measure; displays product costs; maintains lot-code and serial-number traceability; provides "bill of materials" to include formulations or recipes; and tracks multiple warehouse and shop locations.

Optional applications include tool quoting and tracking, which maintains development and revision costs. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) interface provides automotive/appliance "accum" or other release capabilities. Has bar-code printing and reading interfaces for shop-floor reporting and inventory management. Interfaces provide direct connection to production machines.

DATAMYTE DIV., ALLEN-BRADLEY CO.

Series 900 fixed-station data collectors for SPC include 953 attribute and variable data collector, 949 attribute-only data collector, and 943 variable-only data collector. All Series 900 models feature full-color chart and statistical displays. Series 3000 roving data collectors include 3053 analog and digital model and 3055 digital model.

Software includes Windows-based Quantum SPC/DC for data collection, Quantum SPC/QA for quality analysis, and DOS-based TurboSPC and TurboNet. All are compatible with Novell networks.

DATANET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Windows-based WinSPC software modules run on standard 386 and 486 PCs in stand-alone or network versions. WinSPC RealTime offers real-time access to process-control charts and automatically signals when problems occur. WinSPC Gaging collects SPC data and automatically signals for machine adjustments when required. WinSPC Random can collect data from 200 different devices simultaneously while displaying results in multiple windows on the same screen. It automatically signals any deviation in the process. WinSPC Analyst provides statistical-analysis tools and utilities for engineers and managers. It can store data in Oracle's SQL relational database. WinSPC Network Manager can view up to 300 different processes running at multiple work centers.

EPOS CORP.

EPM series integrates hardware and software for complete real-time production and engineering monitoring, including SPC and SQC. Machine data-acquisition units (IMACs) are provided in EPM series 300, 4000, 5000, and 6000. All IMAC series are software-compatible and can be used in the same system, allowing for easy upgrading. Systems support barcode and a-c gauging instruments. The 4000, 5000, and 6000 series support outputs for stacklights or other indicators.

System supports statistical sampling of parts at the IMAC on the machine. Part measurements can then be entered at the IMAC or entered later in the q-c lab via gauging stations. Reports are then available to analyze control and capability aspects of both part characteristics and process parameters and to perform correlation analysis between the two.

Series 300 is entry-level IMAC for production monitoring and basic SPC. It is a small unit with full-touch keypad and 2 x 40 backlit LCD display. Accepts six digital inputs.

Series 4000 offers the same monitoring features as Series 5000 and 6000, but accepts fewer input signals (six digital, seven thermocouple, and four analog).

Series 5000 is a rugged unit with full-touch keypad and 2 x 40 VFD display. Monitors up to 32 parameters from a possible set of 10 digital, 15 thermocouple, and eight analog input signals.

Series 6000, a rugged unit with full-touch keypad, optional touchscreen and 640 x 480 VGA-resolution LCD or EL display, is based on a 386 microprocessor with options to use a 387 coprocessor or 486 microprocessor. Unit monitors a max. of 16 digital, 15 thermocouple, and eight analog inputs. Large display enables presentation of intracycle profiles and SPC and SQC charts at the IMAC.

EPM Series 200 remote data-entry terminal can be used to input defect and packed production counts at remote locations. Data entered at terminal is integrated with that collected by the IMAC at the machine. Software provides reporting facilities for production, engineering, maintenance, SPC, and SQC. Display gives machine status at a glance. Scheduler provides basic job-queue generation, as well as estimation capability, "what-if" analysis, queue rippling, and Gantt displays. User-configurable. Supports mold and machine maintenance programs. Generates production reports and performs intracycle process-profile analysis.

D.L. HILLER & ASSOCIATES

Factory Data Manager provides a factory network to collect and validate data by sensors and programmable controllers. At base level, it is a labor data-collection system that tracks jobs, component worked on, and process involved. Data are then used to cut paychecks and update cost and MRP systems. Material and production status also provided.

Software provides interface for host manufacturing computer. Direct and indirect plant labor recording, quality-control data entry, material movement, job and employee status, and time and attendance are standard. System supports a factory network of portables and fixed micro-terminals with attached barcode or magnetic-card readers. It generates ID cards, plant travellers, material tickets, etc., for fast entry via simple wand and keyboard operations. Software also supports SPC data collection, product-liability tracking, mainframe-style restart/recovery capability, and AIAG-approved barcode label generation for laserjet and Epson emulation printers. MAP capability is assured.

HUNKAR LABORATORIES INC.

Systems for CIM provide data-acquisition terminals on all molding machines and upstream and downstream processes. LANs connect data-acquisition terminals to supervisory command center, which in turn, connects up to 92 other users. Remote terminals allow off-site communication with the system, which provides total SPC, SQC, and MIS programs for analysis and troubleshooting. Unlimited reporting is possible using a combination of pre-formatted and user-formattable report options. Custom-programmable DAT acquisition terminals allow system to be applied to virtually any process in the plant. DAT unit may be upgraded to DAC-III process control and monitoring as a full closed-loop system for injection units with no such control.

IBM CORP.

Provides full information systems solutions - hardware, software, integration, and consulting.

Consulting and integration include quality-management services, plant-integration services (including process monitoring and control), engineering-design services, engineering-management consulting services, manufacturing services (continuous-flow manufacturing, integrated yield management), and international trade.

Software available for mold design, mold costing, mold analysis, flow analysis, FEM, integrated accounting, manufacturing planning, mold and tool tracking, equipment maintenance, barcoding and data collection, inventory control, capacity planning, scheduling, order entry, EDI, purchasing, human resources, SPC/SQC, machine monitoring and control, process control, brand management, and sales-force automation.

Hardware platforms include PCs, industrial PCs, data-collection equipment, advanced Unix workstations, mid-range business computers, and mainframes.

IMS CO.

Tracker production-monitoring system monitors up to 48 machines from a single PC and tracks production status of jobs and workers. Add-on Annunciator, which outputs to individual machine alarms, visibly and audibly alerts operator of deviations from targeted production setpoints. (See ads pp. 22, 315.)

INTEC CONTROLS CORP.

Paragon TNT (The New Technology) family of software products serves a wide spectrum of plastics-processing applications from monitoring injection molding presses to continuous metering-and-mixing machines.

Paragon TNT is comprised of a number of separate client and server subsystems. Subsystems are purchased individually and grouped together for specific processing applications such as monitoring continuous blow molding machines. Basic man-machine interface provides a cost-effective solution for monitoring any extruder. TNT's Operator Interface subsystem can be combined with TNT's I/O Communications subsystem to control and monitor gas-fired dryers. For alarming and control of multiple-head dispensing stations, TNT's Data Manager subsystem can be added to the basic MMI configuration.

Paragon TNT family is easy to use with a graphical environment and an object-oriented display builder. Windowing operator interface supports both object-based and bit-mapped graphics, and can be integrated with third-party multimedia tools. Other features include on-line configuration changes and quality-tagged process variables.

INTERACTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Interactive software systems for complete business solutions use Oracle relational database management system. Products include CIIM (computer-interactive integrated manufacturing), CIID (computer-interactive integrated distribution), and IFAS (integrated financial accounting system). CIIM, as a complete MRP-II solution, incorporates all of CIID and IFAS. Both CIID and IFAS may stand alone as independent operating-solution segments. Each segment consists of interactive modules that can be purchased in starter kits or complete sets. All can be installed collectively or individually, allowing customers to phase in the system. All three can be used to control and monitor manufacturing, distribution, and accounting systems.

INTRAC SYSTEMS, INC.

Molders Shop Automation real-time process and production monitoring system for injection molders, extruders, and blow molders. One PC can monitor up to 128 machines with centralized production-control information available at various locations. Features include "what-if" scheduling, user-created reports, reject analysis, bi-cavity monitoring of family molds, mold maintenance, and control and capability studies.

Molders SPC software provides on-line SPC, secondary gauging, and post-analysis capabilities without all features of Molders Shop Automation, which can be added later without upgrade penalty.

Molders Office+ and Mold Builders Office+ modules automate accounting, order entry, inventory control, invoicing, and purchasing functions. MRP II is available for these programs, and an entry-level Molders Office+ system is expandable without upgrade penalty.

Total Automation package combines production and office systems into an integrated, company-wide system.

Customized terminals at each machine include a CRT that displays information in easily understood terminology. Output relay contacts enable interfacing with machine control signals.

An IBM Business Partner, Intrac supplies IBM and compatible hardware, complete installation assistance and training, periodic software upgrades, custom software, and assistance via modem.

MARTEK, INC.

AIMS v2.0 (Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Software) is an MRP II software package specifically for injection molders and moldmakers. Package provides automated tools for estimating, order entry, production scheduling, bill of materials, material requirements planning, purchasing, receiving, shop-floor job tracking, job costing, shipping, billing, inventory control, sales analysis, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and general ledger.

Latest version includes functions for monitoring machine utilization, productivity, and efficiency; scheduling based on process time for accurate shop calendars; project management for tracking costs of building a mold; and Gantt chart for graphical formatting.

AIMS is totally integrated so that information can be shared by all modules and users. Built-in security codes protect sensitive information. Easy to use and understand, AIMS will run on a stand-alone PC or a network like Novell.

MATTEC CORP.

ProHelp process quality control and real-time production monitoring system includes functions for barcoding and parts traceability, SPC/SQC, production reports, scrap and downtime reports, and machine-efficiency reports. Multiuser capabilities allow as many as 64 interactive PCs on the system with ability to monitor up to a maximum of 4000 machines. System is suited to injection, blow, or extrusion processes.

In-process quality control and preventive-maintenance techniques can be applied to all molds and machines. Color CRTs are used to show status of all production machines. Machines running outside standard values for cycle time, temperatures, or other process variables activate alarms for corrective action.

SPC software collects samples of every machine's process values. Upper and lower control limits are compared to actual recordings, and alarms are generated if processes go outside limits. Can interface with a variety of machine controllers and corporate MRP systems.

NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS

Software products utilize Object Oriented Programming (OOP) technology for shop-floor management. Products are Windows-based and are for manufacturers with as few as eight machines and as many as 2000.

Integrated application groups include access control, area data collection, barcode design and printing, finite scheduling, labor tracking, MRP interface, RF area data collection, time and attendance, SPC, PLC interface, process graphics, preventive maintenance, and sensor-based real-time production monitoring. Inventory control and lot tracking are in development.

Many of the application groups are available off-the-shelf for use as is, while some may require customization, such as labor-tracking rule modification for incentive-pay calculations.

Some application groups can run on PCs; others require a networked NET BIOS compatible environment such as Novell, LAN Manager, or Pathworks, with the appropriate server.

NORTHWEST ANALYTICAL, INC.

Supplies NWA Quality Analyst software for SQC charting and analysis, and NWA Quality package for on-line SPC plant-floor data collection and charting.

In both Windows and DOS Versions, NWA Quality Analyst can exchange data and charts with standard productivity software such as word processing, databases, and spreadsheets. Can also use data from manufacturing and operations database systems for enterprise-wide SQC reporting.

NWA Quality Monitor is a configurable plant-floor SPC-datastation package. Collects data from keyboard input, barcode, and measuring devices with serial RS-232 communications. Operator screen, prompting, and help messages can be customized.

PIEDMONT SOFTWARE, INC.

Guaranteed MRP system features two levels of on-line help (novice and expert-user modes), data entry from pop-up selection lists, multiple natural-language capability, etc. Fully integrated modules include shop-floor control, inventory management, purchasing, material requirements planning, order processing, sales analysis, and bill of materials. Accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and fixed-asset modules complete the system. RMS files are used and common data-dictionary formats are provided for ease of use with all report writers. System is equipped with file-purge and reorganization functions, as well as re-start functions to recover from processing interruptions.

PRODUCTION PROCESS DIV. INDUSTRIAL MARINE ELECTRONICS

Machine Data Transducer (MDT) line of products are shop-floor data-collection instruments that connect directly to any molding machine and are networkable to facilitate a step-to-step approach to real-time data collection and SQC/SPC systems.

MDT-01, the basic and least expensive system, is a displayless multifunctional data collector that tracks cycle time, machine rate, dwell/duration time, shift averages, setup time, downtime, production, and reject totals.

MDT-02 adds to the basic system five automatic downtime-reason machine inputs and batch-counter capability. MDT-11 adds numeric data display capability. MDT-20 adds 40-character alphanumeric display; keypad for operator data entry; 20 downtime and 20 reject reason classifications; eight inputs for analog pressure, temperature, and RAM position transducers; and two inputs for digital gauges and scales or serial data outputs from machine controllers.

Complete plantwide data collection and SQC/SPC solutions can be implemented with Windows spreadsheets or database applications such as Lotus or Excel. Or with Production Process' PC-based system software, which supports up to 99 "real" molding machines and 900 "virtual" machines for family molding capability. Universal Job Queue closes loop between factory and any third-party MRP system and also provides on-line job-end forecasting that uses real-time production data. Preventive Maintenance scheduler tracks run time and number of cycles on molds and machines, and flags those due for preventive maintenance. Integrated software (from Stochos Inc.) provides comprehensive quality analysis and reporting and quality-tracking database to meet ISO 9000 requirements. Alternatively, data can be ported to any third-party SQC/SPC package.

SSA

Business Planning and Control System (BPCS/AS) is a fully integrated line of 50 applications for multiple open-systems platforms, including OS/400 and Unix computer environments. System includes CIM, multiplant capability, distribution/logistics, accounting and financials, sales and marketing, facilities management, and retrieval applications. Built on company's AS/SET computer-aided systems engineering (CASE) product line, BPCS/AS utilizes workstations, PCs, and graphical user interfaces with its "Assistant" products.

Main/Tracker line automates planning and control of all types of capital-equipment and facilitates maintenance, including safety inspection, and warranty tracking.

STOCHOS INC.

Custom/QC off-line SPC/SQC package features histogram and descriptive statistics, pareto analysis, 13 control charts, ANOVA, key-variable identification, gauge R&R, trend analysis, multiple regression, and autocorrelation.

SPC Direct real-time, on-line SPC monitoring and analysis package features database functionality, corrective actions, alarming, 128-input analysis in 32 SPC status fields, and easy-to-use operator interface. Package can easily tie into all type of extruders for real-time monitoring of temperatures, beta gauges, chill rolls, melt pressures, and speed for correlation of process data to product quality measurements. Closed-loop SPC control functions available.

Quality Management Database System (QMDS) provides plant-wide solution based on ISO 9000 standards. Has complete documentation control, gauge-calibration tracking and recall, closed-loop corrective action and nonconformance tracking, product traceability through raw materials, user-definable SPC reporting and display of real-time data, certificates of analysis/test, downtime and waste tracking, and production reporting.

Products available on a range of hardware platforms and software interfaces. In-house and on-site training and consulting available.

SYSCON-PLANTSTAR SYSCON INTERNATIONAL INC.

Focus series CIM systems provide real-time production and process monitoring, coupled with advanced statistical process/quality management. Modular systems allow users to start at any level and grow into more sophisticated configurations.

Focus-100 real-time production-control and process-management system includes job scheduling, material and labor tracking, machine and tool maintenance history, automatic SPC and SQC data gathering, run and trend alarming, machine process profile, "signature analysis," and storage-scope graphical overlays. PC control stations make master files, historical data, and real-time data available for on-screen viewing or printed reports.

Focus-2000 includes all features of Focus-100, but incorporates a Windows-based graphical user interface that simplifies system access by pointing to icons or list entries. System is compatible with MS-DOS, Novell Netware, and other networks. Incorporates Ingres Relational Database Manager. User interface is built on standard SQL (Structured Query Language), allowing user-formatted displays and configurations.

Manufacturing-Cell Interface Modules (M-CIMs), which are plant-floor data-acquisition units, can be configured to monitor one to 16 machines. Units can be purchased in two styles: 1) keypad version, which has a 40-character vacuum fluorescent display with user-definable "soft" keys and numeric keypad; and 2) ELTS version, which features a 640 x 400 pixel electroluminescent touchscreen display at the machine, allowing plant-floor personnel access to the same screen shown on system PCs. Up to 4 MB of battery-backed memory provides fail-safe data storage. (See ad p. 276.)

SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES

See SSA.

ULTRAMAX CORP.

Ultramax software improves quality and productivity of molding processes by analyzing control settings against measured results to understand cause-and-effect relationships. It guides the user run-by-run to process settings that meet quality and productivity objectives. Dimensional variations are reduced, defects eliminated, and cycle times shortened by better combinations of temperatures, pressures, speeds, hold times, cooling rates, and other parameters. Ultramax also advises adjustments to compensate for changes due to materials and environment. Package allows for continuous process improvement without production interruption. It builds models, provides tolerance and sensitivity analysis, manages data, and plots information. Runs on 386 and 486 PCs, Unix workstations, and a variety of mini and mainframe computers.

XYTEC CORP.

XRP-II Resource Planning System is a Unix-based, fully integrated, modular manufacturing-planning and control system that uses CASE technology and a relational database manager to provide flexibility for customizing applications.

XRP-II spans the range of MRP II planning functions and adds critical real-time factory control with machine monitoring/automated data collection. Base system includes Unix operating system, Unify relational database management system, XRP-II kernel, and Datalock and Datarite utilities for editing, query, and report generation. Application modules include data collection, product information, purchasing management, material requirements planning, master scheduling, job costing, accounts receivable and accounts payable, general ledger, inventory management, customer order entry, work-order processing, shop-floor job tracking, and labor performance.

Other features include security system; context-sensitive help for users; automatic downtime cause detection and job-driven software; and planning, execution and feedback requirements for closed-loop manufacturing.

Total Machine Control Systems

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ABB KENT-TAYLOR

Modcell Advanced Systems use an open-architecture approach for integrating system components with each other and with processing equipment. Modcell Batchpac software provides a step-by-step graphical approach to, process control, which includes observing the process in real time, entering input values and commands, acknowledging alarms, and changing control variables. Software moves through eight steps logically and intuitively to get systems running.

ABE PROCESS AUTOMATION INC.

A "single-window" extrusion process and product control system has flexibility of a distributed control system combined with AccuRay sensor technology. Through use of the Taylor MOD 300 system, all sensor and scanning functions for product control are accomplished in one easy-to-configure system. AccuRay sensors and measurement technology are combined with Taylor distributed-control expertise. Line-wide processing functions such as recipe management, resin handling, temperature control motor-drive coordination, and product control are all integrated into one expandable platform.

ALLEN-BRADLEY CO.

Comprehensive injection molding control system combines process control, sequence control, and graphic operator interface. Two products make the system possible - the 1771-QDC plastic molding module and Pro-Set 600 injection molding software. Plastic molding module is an intelligent I/O module that performs open- or closed-loop injection process control and is used with company's standard programmable controllers. The module enables users to configure injection process control for a one- or two-valve system and proportional or servo valves. Provides open- or closed-loop control for each cycle phase. Injection/fill control choices of velocity vs. position, pressure vs. position, and pressure vs. time. Inject, pack and hold, and plastication profiles of 10 steps each.

Pro-Set 600 injection molding software, standard Allen-Bradley PLC-5/40 controller, and the company's Panel View color CRT constitute total machine-control system. Process control, communication, and SQC data gathering are some features. Saves development time by providing ladder-logic program for injection process control, clamp control, barrel-temperature control, and mold-temperature control, as well as alarming and SPC/SQC data collection.

ANAFAZE INC.

Offers multiple-loop control systems for thermoforming, extrusion, injection molding, and other machines. Include temperature, pressure, flow, and drive speed. Controllers operate as stand-alone systems and include serial interface for computer supervision. IBM-PC high-level software is offered, which includes on-line data plotting, data acquisition, graphics, and some SPC.

Controllers include 12LS 1/8-DIN with 12 PID heat/cool loops; 8LS 1/4-DIN with 8 PID heat/cool and mixed process loops; and System 32 with 32 PID loops and up to 96 data-acquisition inputs. Can include automatic heater checking, process and deviation alarms, and ramp-and-soak programming. Digital I/Os control other machine functions.

BARBER-COLMAN CO. INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS DIV.

MACO 4000 series injection molding control systems, MACO 5000 series extrusion control systems, and MACO 6000 series blow molding control systems available with 12-slot and 16-slot chassis configurations, which house circuit cards for all control functions. The 16-slot chassis can be used in multichassis systems for expanded control on larger machines. Features include four-function programmable math capability, automatic machine setup with Insta-Set internal and external (cartridge) recipe storage, SPI protocol for auxiliary communications, high density d-c I/O functions, supervisory computer communications, and internal SPC package.

Choice of flat-panel electroluminescent (EL) or LCD operator station. Flat-panel EL stations have graphics display capability with 640 x 400 viewing area. Measure 11 in. wide x 15.5 in. high x 3 in. deep and are available with pushbuttons or membrane keypad. LCD operator stations have a 40 x 25 ASCII character resolution with a 4 5/8-in. wide x 4 1/8-in. high viewing area and are available in two basic size configurations. One is the same size as the EL operator station. The other is a "Slimline" version 7 1/2 in. wide x 15 in. high x 4 1/2 in. deep, available in horizontal or vertical configuration. OptiGrafix PC-compatible screen-editor software can be used to create new or modified MACO 4000, 5000, and 6000 display configurations.

MACO 4000 series 12-slot injection control system has six zones of PID autotuning temperature control. Process control includes ramping and closed-loop injection performance every 2.5 millisec for injection, pack/hold, and recovery. Control includes cushion and shot-size control for consistent part weights without flashing and pre- and post-pullback to prevent gate plugging and drool. Communication capabilities include RS485, RS432, and printer port. Up to 96 zones of autotuned temperature control are possible by linking four MACO 4500 16-slot chassis systems.

MACO 5000 series extrusion control system is suitable for open- or closed-loop total machine-control applications including drive, pressure, temperature, and cascade control of downstream takeoff equipment. Autotuned PID temperature control with ramping is standard. Optional SPC software with trending. With MACO 5500 16-slot chassis, up to eight extruders can be controlled simultaneously for coextrusion, two of them with closed-loop melt-pressure control.

MACO 6000 series high-performance blow molding machine control is for process-critical applications. High-speed, multistepped parison control (closed-loop) for up to eight heads. Each loop is closed every 100 microsec and may have its own 100-step profile. As many of the 100 steps as desired can be entered, allowing the system to interpolate the remaining points either in a flat linear or hyperbolic fashion. MACO 6500 16-slot control-card chassis is standard, and a multiple-chassis capability provides control for larger machines requiring additional temperature, I/O, timers, counters, parison control, linear-positioning control, and pressure-flow control. MACO 6000 12-slot chassis is available for smaller applications.

MACO 8000 modular distributed-control system provides total machine control for most processes. Features include new Lumitech flat screen, Color-Touch or black-and-white touchscreen operator stations, Insta-Set solid-state cartridges for recipe storage and fast setup, MACO-Pac dedicated machine-function control modules, and Auxiliary Equipment Integration Module (AEIM) for manufacturing-cell control. SPC/SQC module reports production data and has CIM networking capabilities.

For supervisory CIM, multiple MACO 4000, 5000, 6000, and 8000 systems can be linked to company's Cimac 8000 computer. Cimac 8000 supervisory network control-system concept utilizes IBM-compatible computers and data-gathering software for plastics. Software is user-configurable. (See ad p. 1.)

BAYER CORP./HENNECKE MACHINERY

System controls for manufacturing polyurethane products. Control panels with PLC and microprocessor include controls for foam metering equipment and can include controls for auxiliary equipment such as turntables or fixtures.

BERSTORFF CORP.

Electrical Control Systems Div. provides control systems for extrusion of sheet and film, as well as batch processes. Several levels of plant automation include CIMplementation system. Retrofit program designed for fast, cost-effective outfitting of older extruders with state-of-the-art control systems or prepackaged individual components. (See ad p. 230.)

CANADIAN INSTRUMENTATION CO.

Custom total machine-control systems include cost-effective heat/cool autotune PID control, communications, and user-alterable logic (sequence) control. Applications include small injection machines, hot-stamp machines and special plastics-processing machines. Engineering costs minimized by extensive library of existing functions.

CINCINNATI MILACRON U.S. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Family of microprocessor-based total machine controls for injection molding, RIM, extrusion blow molding, reheat blow molding, thermoforming, and extrusion.

Control features can include: electroluminescent or LCD operator displays, high-speed event detection for real-time response, high-density/high-power digital I/O, analog I/O, closed-loop control, alarm and fault detection, on-board diagnostics, built-in oscilloscope, 2-millisec timing or ISA bus architecture, 386 and 486 32-bit microprocessors, DOS platform, plotting and graphics, real-time clock, soft keys, printer output, and auxiliary-equipment interface. Controls are programmed with Mechanism Control Language (MCL), which offers complex logical and mathematical functions and English-language words and abbreviations. Ladder Diagram Programming (LDP) also possible. (See ads pp. 10, 58-59, 126-127, 142, 146; data sheets pp. 91-97, 138-139, 159-160.)

DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

PLC-based EPIC II color touchscreen operator interface and supervisory control system for extrusion and blow molding has dual-thermocouple control, responsive closed-loop line control, and user-friendly graphical interface with pictorial control screens, historical trending, and SPC/SQC.

EPCO INC. JOHN BROWN PLASTICS MACHINERY

Remanufactures and converts injection molding machinery and will retrofit machine-control systems to upgrade both electrical and hydraulic systems to meet molding requirements for standardization of all makes and models of machinery. Offers E-2000 programmable control system, E-4000 closed-loop system for machines to 1000 tons, and E-8000 and E-4500 for machines requiring unlimited I/Os for auxiliary-equipment integration, closed-loop process control, and other features.

EUROTHERM CONTROLS, INC.

EM-2 Extrusion Master complete extrusion control system is based on totally distributed architecture, ensuring minimum downtime. System integrates temperature control, melt-pressure control, melt-pump control, alarms, and interlocks into a single package, which also can supervise and coordinate other equipment such as gauges, feeders, and drives.

EM-2 is open to communication with industry-standard PC-based supervisory systems for sophisticated control strategies, displays, trending, alarming, historical data gathering, SPC/SQC analysis, recipes, and networking.

EM-2 also available in easy-to-use, preconfigured OEM package with optional customizable displays using industry-standard software.

EUROTHERM GAUGING SYSTEMS

Extrusion Quality Cell system, a pre-engineered measurement and control system for flat-die extrusion combines accurate on-line profile measurements, precise feedback control, and a tool set for meeting certification requirements. Extruder and melt-flow modeling, combined with automatic profile control for extrusion dies, provides fast startups and uniform steady-state profiles. DataCell interface toolkit allows Quality Cell to be integrated easily into linewide and plantwide control strategies using TCP/IP communications.

Cimline real-time process-management system for sheet and film provides on-line measurements, advanced control strategies, and true single-window operation of the entire process area. Measurements include thickness, moisture, weight, and discrete coextrusion layers. Also pre-engineered supervisory interface packages for PLC, temperature, and drive controls. Industry-standard X-Window system graphics provide fully interactive real-time display access from networked PCs and workstations for remote monitoring.

FILMASTER INC.

Dataline 2000 microprocessor extrusion-line control system has preprogrammed software, hard-disk memory, and capacity to control 52 zones designated as heat/cool or heat only. Up to 500 recipes and/or profiles can be stored and recalled at any time. Useful for blown film coextrusion applications are CRT monitoring of die-zone heating with setpoint, actual and deviation display, melt temperature, melt pressure, extruder rpm, extruder motor amperage, main line speed, die-zone amperage, and high/low-pressure alarm. System has large expansion potential.

FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL

For extrusion control, Fisher-Rosemount offers RTM/1 Real-Time Process Management Solutions hardware and software, which include continuous control of temperatures, pressures, and speeds; batch control for batch blending and processing; sequential control for routines such as automatic startups and product changeover; discrete control for resin handling, motor start/stop; solenoid valves; and process optimization.

GE INDUSTRIAL & POWER SYSTEMS

GE Alphix offers integrated control of injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, and compounding. Hosted on a PLC-based platform with dedicated microprocessor-controlled function modules, Alphix integrates closed-loop process-control capabilities with machine sequencing and a color operator interface. Provides advantages normally associated with a PLC-based system: flexibility, broad selection of I/O, industrialized hardware, maintenance-friendly software. Special-function modules for plastic and rubber process control.

Choice of two operator interfaces: 12-in. Basic Alphix operator terminal with soft function-key control; and 14- or 19-in. Advanced Alphix multitasking microcomputer with a significant level of data storage/display/analysis, SQC/SPC, and diagnostic capabilities. Available for new machines and as retrofits.

HARREL, INC.

Digipanel distributed control system for extrusion is mounted on extruder and provides total control of line using company's three-mode Duosense control loops and Digisynch digital control and synchronization of rpm. Tube-Trol, Sheetrol, or Pipe-Trol systems provide closed-loop control of melt pressure and melt temperature, monitoring and alarm of differential pressure across the screen, and closed-loop control of product dimensions. A Central Control and Management Console oversees all plant activity. It has total SQC and "Time Machine" capability for reconstructing any parameter on any line for the previous week.

HES DIV., DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

New and aftermarket electronic control systems are capable of data collection, SPC, SQC, trending, and other applications. Can tailor systems for any type of extrusion and other processing lines, including retrofits.

HES temperature controller utilizes a patented dual-thermocouple design to maintain precise temperature control in critical production processes. System uses two thermocouples in each barrel zone. With one thermocouple located in the heater/cooler and the other at the deepest point of the barrel, corrective heating or cooling action can be taken to bring the inner barrel-surface temperature to stability quickly and automatically. Recipe feature reduces scrap during startups and changeovers.

HES Epic I graphical touchscreen supervisory controller collects data from each run for analysis. Operator has access to almost all process data on unit's CRT, making it possible to fine-tune the entire process from the workstation. SPC charts of process data can be produced.

HETTINGA EQUIPMENT INC.

Offers a control system for injection molding based on IBM's OS/2 software.

HUNKAR LABORATORIES INC.

Complete on-machine control system for injection molding. DAC-III system includes machine-mounted terminals, sensors, and appropriate valves. Process-control programs with equipment include injection control, pressure control, shot control, diagnostics, and process-monitoring programs.

Injection-control program is self-adaptive, closed-loop position control of the ram, which ensures precise shot and decompression control. Injection velocity profile is adaptively distributed over the shot in direct relationship to cavity filling.

Pressure-control program is a self-adaptive, closed-loop pressure control, which ensures precise repeatability over a range of oil temperatures and load vibrations. Provides faster startups and repeatability of subsequent setups.

Shot-control program is an intelligent three-mode boost-cutoff program, which ensures that boost is properly terminated even if melt conditions or mold temperatures change. Program automatically selects proper mode for boost-cut-off and shot correction.

DAC-III diagnostic program provides maintenance personnel with a sophisticated, easy-to-use instrument to visualize correct functioning of the control-to-machine interface, as well as correct calibration of all sensors and servo valve.

LCl CORP.

Smarthopper gravimetric extruder control system controls screw-speed for extruders and additive feeders, as well as puller speed for total yield control. Multiple-feeder systems and multiple-extruder systems are controlled through a special communication link. For a single ingredient system, optional master/slave relationship controls the line.

Three keyboard-selectable control variations maintain extruder's output to within [+ or -]0.5% - lb/hr via screw-speed control and product weight/ft via screw-speed or line-speed control. Process information, such as total pounds used and total feet produced, can be displayed and printed. Output ranges from under 2 lb/hr to over 12,000 lb/hr for extruders. System meets SPI protocol for communication with a host control system.

LFE INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS

Profitmaster extrusion process-control systems include measurement and feedback control of thickness or basis weight, or moisture for web processing lines such as extruders, coaters, calenders, nonwovens, or composites. Primary sensors include nuclear, infrared, microwave, and caliper types. On-line control systems can link to temperature controllers, PLCs, and other systems. SPC available. IBM-compatible PC captures MIS data and links system to plantwide network systems of all types.

MEASUREX CORP.

MXOpen Measurement and Control System provides a fully integrated control of lines producing sheet, film, and coated and laminated products. Includes temperature controls, drive-system supervision, thickness profile, other scanning measurements, and automatic start-up and shutdown of material handling. Operator console provides a single interface for information such as scanning measurement, process data, trending and current process values, SPC/SQC charting, and recipe storage.

MXOpen is compatible with most programmable controls, drives, etc., and includes communication links to programmable controllers, temperature controllers, PCs, drive systems, individual transactional computers, and industry-standard networks.

Roibox products inspect 100% of the web for visual defects. Extension of MXOpen capability into web inspection offers a solution for quality optimization.

MOOG INC. ELECTRONICS & SYSTEMS DIV.

Total machine control systems for injection, blow molding, and extrusion.

Microprocessor-based CPC 1000 injection control system provides closed-loop control of fill speed, holding, back-pressure, and shot volume. Also setpoint entry, storage of setups, monitoring and display of process variables, good/bad part sorting, reporting of production and rejects, and temperature control.

TMC blow molding control system controls parisons, motions, sequences, and temperatures. Items related to a selected machine function are on one screen. Max of three keystrokes brings user to any part of the system.

Bloc 64 Programmer for parison control has 64 or 128 program points. Up to four heads may be controlled without additional equipment. Uses keypad or uploading from host computer. Up to 100 programs stored internally.

Gravimacs loss-in-weight extrusion control enables continuous measurement and control of extruder feed. Extruder or puller speed can automatically be adjusted.

PPC Ultrasonic Measurement & Control System provides a continuous 360 [degrees] thickness-profile display, which provides ready reference for die-centering setup, typically on wire or pipe lines. Closed-loop puller or extruder control maintains wall thickness within the set range. Alarms signal changes that effect material thickness.

MTM SYSTEMS

The 2010 computer control system for blow molding and other processes comes custom-packaged and programmed and includes panel design, control programming, and documentation. System can control up to eight axes of closed-loop servo motion and all necessary digital and analog I/O requirements. Has electroluminescent screen, remote control capability, membrane-switch keypad, and gives status and error messages.

NRM EXTRUSION, DAVIS-STANDARD CORP.

Extrusion process-control systems for small lines to multi-line applications. All come standard with closed-loop digital speed control, temperature control, and total line process control, including product-code recipe subsystem, security codes, strategy-loop system, cold-start protection, alarm functions, PID loop control, and failed or broken thermocouple override.

Sentry Pro 1000 controls and monitors small lines for pipe, profile, tubing, and single extruders. Has operator interface with menu-driven touchscreen and optional real-time trending, along with melt-pump interface.

Larger lines can be controlled and monitored by Command Sentry 1500. High-resolution, menu-driven color touchscreen has four-quadrant display. Real-time trending is standard. Options include real-time SQC charting, melt-pump interface, and sheet/film gauging.

Sentry 2000 process-control system provides complete control and monitoring of multiple extruders, multiple lines, and large process applications from silo to winder. Operator interface has touchscreen for menu-driven input and separate screen for data and graphics, allowing user to view real-time trending and SQC charting.

Sentry Master 3000 Extrusion Host system works with firm's other control systems, providing off-line automated data capture and historical analysis of all process and product parameters with multi-line and networking capabilities.

PACIFIC ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

CIM strategy based on expertise in plastics extrusion, PLC programming, and PC networks. System consists of touchscreen graphics, recipe management, inventory control, major/minor ingredient blending for liquids and solids, historical trending, SPC/SQC data acquisition, and diagnostics. Engineering/design of software packages, field installation, complete startup assistance, training, and operator and troubleshooting manuals are available.

Control system uses multiwindowing user-interface software on multitasking processors which allows users to perform more than one activity at a time by viewing entirely different areas of the same manufacturing line.

PROCESS CONTROL CORP.

Gravitrol gravimetric extrusion control system controls output of any extrusion line by weight. Gravitrol systems are used on coextrusion processes such as blown film, cast film, sheet, tube, pipe, profile, and wire and cable. Layer percentages of [+ or -]0.25% by weight can be maintained.

Custom-designed computer board on each hopper (mounted on extruder throat) calculates mass throughput and sends information over high-speed serial network to central computer. Layer percentages, total extruder throughput, and weight per running length are keyed in by operator. Computer monitors mass throughput for each extruder and compares it to set rates. Any deviation is accounted for by adjusting screw rpm.

Drive module for each extruder, mounted in an existing drive-controller cabinet, takes speed setpoints from the central computer and provides analog output (0-10 v or 4-20 mA) necessary to drive extruder screw. Module also can monitor other analog signals such as melt temperature or pressure for recording or alarm purposes.

Line-speed monitor/control module can control line output (in fpm) to maintain constant weight per running length. High-speed pulse generator is used to provide the control computer with accurate measure of line speed.

Can control lines of one to eight extruders. Throughput rates of 5 to 10,000 lb/hr can be handled with accuracy of [+ or -]0.25%. Systems can be purchased with new lines or retrofitted.

Gravitrol also available as part of an integrated resin blending system. (See ad p. 342; data sheets pp. 379-384.)

ROLLEPAAL USA

Modular process-control systems for pipe extrusion include ultrasonic 360 [degrees] wall-thickness measurement, puller control, curer control, die-centering, temperature control, gravimetric extruder-output control, automatic calibration, production scheduling, overweight and scrap registration, pipe OD measurement and control, vacuum control, SPC functions, and data storage and retrieval.

SOLID CONTROLS, INC.

Total machine control for new or used injection molding machines. Retrofit packages include complete programming and installation services.

Scoremaster EL provides sophisticated machine sequence control, PID barrel and auxiliary temperature control of up to 40 zones, open- or closed-loop pressure and flow control, linear positioning, and comprehensive diagnostics. Storage and retrieval of mold setup data on-line or off-line on a PC. Optional features include built-in 3 1/2-in. floppy disk drive for storage of up to 150 mold setups, SPC, production data monitoring, and communication of process data to host computers and/or third-party monitoring systems. "Watchdog" function provides shot-to-shot alarm monitoring. Optional closed-loop process control includes closed-loop holding pressure, automatic cushion correction, and 10-stage rampable profiles of injection velocity, packing pressure, and backpressure with display of actual velocity and pressure curves. Large I/O capacity enables control of any size machine.

Scorenet provides remote monitoring and control of up to 31 Scoremaster systems linked together in a network.

System 10T and Trailblazer are cost-effective, easy to use, and come equipped with economical LCD screens. They provide total machine control, barrel-temperature control, optional process control and linear positioning, on-line or remote mold setup storage, and diagnostics. Trailblazer package includes compact operator station with manual function panel that mounts conveniently at operator's gate.

Scoremaker IA and Scoremaker IIA provide closed-loop injection control with velocity profiling, cushion, position, and closed-loop packing pressure, back-pressure, and holding pressure. Scoremaker IA interfaces to earlier models of SCI control systems. Scoremaker IIA adds closed-loop injection process control to any machine with any type of control system.

SYSCON-RKC SYSCON INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Farex Mighty M5E process controller for extruders reduces problems encountered in linking extrusion lines to a host computer. Acting as an interface between extrusion line and computer, Farex M5E provides abundant I/Os and PID temperature control. Melt-pressure control provides precise dimensional control. Thickness, O.D., width, and output data can be fed back to system for better control.

A single Farex M5E can handle a large multilayer sheet extrusion line or multiple extrusion lines with up to 104 control channels, 12 motor drives, and 36 analog inputs. Also up to 144 digital I/Os for alarms or other safety equipment. Autotuning function computes and sets optimum PID constants automatically. Job-file function or optional memory card requires no reentry of set data when product item is changed. Can monitor, print, or send various production-management data to a supervisory computer.

System can be configured to user needs and offers optional RS422A interface. Compact housing requires less panel space. Easy-to-view screen offers digital and graphic displays of operations, temperature status, analog input status, motor status, job files, and trend graphs. (See ad p. 276.)

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

TurboMold family of programmable controllers for injection molding machines include TurboPlastic module for controlling closed-loop injection, pack, hold, and plasticating cycles, as well as closed-loop control of clamp. Additional modules can be used to control pick-and-place robots, conveyors, barcode readers, and other functions. Operator-interface software and cell-level controls with SPC/SQC functions available specifically for plastics.

TRIENCO, INC.

Wide range of sensors, computers, and software for monitoring and control of calender and extruder lines. Expertise includes ultrasonic detection of delamination and poor bonding, and optical profiling of sheet and contoured products. Software monitoring and control include high-speed, real-time optimization of process variables. Factory services include product testing, sensor and software demonstrations, recommendations for system specifications, and economic feasibility assistance.

Heaters and Heating Elements

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ACROLAB LTD.

In cooperation with Bucher, Inc., offers heat pipes for optimizing thermoset mold heating. Heat pipes together with tubular electric heaters reportedly allows even heat distribution over cavity surface, including deep into cores, resulting in faster cycles and more uniform curing.

BESSAM-AIRE INC.

Direct gas-fired heating equipment and evaporative coolers. Make-up air heaters from 4000 to 50,000 cfm with ETL listing. Evaporative cooling delivers temperatures to 80 F. Reducing ambient temperature around injection molds reduces sweat. A 40,000-cfm cooler has 50-ft throw in four directions.

BLUE M ELECTRIC A GENERAL SIGNAL CO.

Electric ovens for laboratory and production use to meet ASTM and UL specs. Also temperature/humidity chambers and temperature-cycling chambers for environmental testing plastics and composites.

CASSO-SOLAR CORP.

Infrared ovens, dryers, and furnaces. Type FB flat quartz infrared heaters and Unitube tubular quartz infrared heaters provide peak efficiencies by matching emissive wavelengths of heating elements to absorption wavelengths of product (Selective Wavelength Method). Typical systems include profile heating for orienting PET, PE and PP film; heating glass-reinforced thermoplastic sheet for forming; and drying and curing coatings on plastics and film.

Conveyorized systems heat reinforced composites and other plastics prior to stamp-forming. Include optical pyrometers, multizone heater banks, and computerized, self-teaching control systems.

COMET INDUSTRIES

Thermoforming equipment suppliers offers Comsol quartz-tube infrared heaters reported to provide almost instant heat-up and cool-down. Energy savings possible because heaters can be turned on only when needed. Heaters consist of quartz tube in an aluminum can. Panel with four tubes can be rated at 2-8 kw. Warranty for 25 years or 100,000 hr.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY DIV. INVESTMENT HOLDINGS GROUP LTD.

Microwave heating utilizes magnetron systems with on/off time-proportioning control or amplitude modulation. Meets safety standards and FCC regulations.

In amplitude modulation, current power is adjusted to control instantaneous magnetron output. Remote sensors measure material temperature within microwave chamber and modulate magnetron power output to maintain temperature control.

For materials with minimal direct microwave heating response, "susceptor" additives convert microwave energy to heat within the material.

RF energy and special susceptor additives can be used to yield advantages over microwave. This is a new development, and the application field is rapidly growing.

D-M-E CO.

Heaters and heating elements include band heaters, thermocouple cartridge heaters, and square-coil nozzle heaters.

Band heaters in six styles with operating temperatures to 900 F, I.D.s from 3/4 to 8 in., and wattages from 75 to 950 in 120- and 240-v models.

Cartridge heaters in conventional and high-watt-density configurations with operating temperatures to 450 F and 120- and 240-v models.

Conventional heaters in diam. from 1/4 to 3/4 in., lengths from 2 to 16 in., and wattages from 40 to 1250. High-watt-density units in 1/4- to 3/4-in. diam., lengths from I to 14 in., and wattages from 100 to 2200.

Square-coil nozzle heaters feature watt density to 106 watts/[in..sup.2] and operating temperatures to 1200 F. A 0.750-in. I.D. version available with and without thermocouple in 125 and 250 w, and 0.875-in. I.D. version in 125 or 250 w.

Also two versions of 240-v high-watt-density thermocouple cartridge heaters for high-temperature applications to 1500 F. One has 3/8-in. diam., lengths from 1 3/4 to 8 in., and 200 to 775 w. The other has 1/2-in. diam., lengths from 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 in., and 420 to 975 w.

Also a line of conventional and thermocouple cartridge, square-coil, and rectangular heaters for internally and externally heated runnerless molding systems. (See also Hot-Runner Components and Systems.) (See ads Cover II, p. 262.)

DALTON ELECTRIC HEATING CO., INC.

Watt-Flex split-sheath cartridge heaters with continuous coil reportedly give uniform temperature profile, often eliminating need for distributed wattage. Because unit has no coil segments and cold spots of conventional heaters, it is suitable for package and bag sealing bars. Hot-tip feature, accomplished by passing the coil across the tip of the heater, improves performance of sheet extrusion die or hot-runner gate probe by putting more responsive heat in the lip of the die or tip of the probe. Independent, bilateral expansion of the two legs effects contact of both sides of the sheath to a bore, providing better heat transfer and consequently a cooler-running coil. As heater is de-energized, it contracts, making heater removal easier and eliminating bore seizure. Grooved heaters externally accommodate needle-type thermocouples, which monitor process temperature, not internal coil temperature. Design allows independent replacement of thermocouple or heater.

DELTA MANUFACTURING CO.

Custom and standard heater products for injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, packaging, and thermoforming. Mica and ceramic heater bands, cartridge heaters, mica and ceramic strip heaters, and immersion heaters in stock. Specializes in large die-head heaters for pipe and conduit, and also wrap-around mica-insulated drum heaters for specialty products such as polymers and oils.

DESPATCH INDUSTRIES

Annealing oven controls both heating and cooling as parts pass continuously through on a variable-speed conveyor at up to 3 ft/min. The 16-ft model PPC is direct gas fired and has microprocessor control of temperature up to 500 F. Cooling section is 5-ft long, with dual fans capable of 190 fpm air velocity.

DIEBOLT & CO.

Electrically heated, high-pressure (5000 psi) and high-temperature (650 F) flexible hose, tubing and pipe. Applications include coextension, striping, melt-pipe replacement, quick extruder connection, and general product transfer and viscosity control.

DUREX INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Standard and customized cast-in heaters for extrusion equipment in aluminum, bronze, or iron provide continuous operating temperatures to 1100 F. Electrical and cooling-tube terminations optional.

FAST HEAT INC.

Compact Hi-Temp cartridge heaters for fast heat transfer, high operating temperatures, shock resistance, and long life. Unswaged cartridge heater suitable for moderate watt densities.

Better Band band heaters for good heat transfer and a wide selection of terminations. Temperatures to 1400 F. New sealed versions protect against contamination. Also economical mica bands with many termination options. Also extruded or cast aluminum, insulated ceramic, and tubular band heaters.

Strip heaters designed for efficient heat transfer and easy installation. Ultima strip heater capable of operating temperatures of 1200 F; and Better Strip heater for increased watt densities. Also tinned strip heaters for air-flow heating applications.

FOSTERIA INDUSTRIES, INC.

Electric infrared ovens used for preheating material prior to forming.

GTE SYLVANIA

See Osram Sylvania Inc.

GLENN ELECTRIC HEATER CORP.

Extruded aluminum Starflex band heaters have refractory-insulated tubular heating elements. Low-expansion clamping band provides snug barrel fit. Max. temperature of 600 F.

GLENRO INC.

Web-processing ovens, conveyorized ovens, and heaters and controls for predrying, drying, curing, preheating, heating, sintering, and fusing. Oven options include electric infrared, gas infrared, infrared combined with ambient-temperature air, hot-air impingement, hot-air impingement combined with infrared, flotation, and through-air. Also ovens for densifying EPS scrap and post-consumer waste, and for heating plastic parts and medical tubing.

HEATRON INC.

Custom-designed heating elements include MAX2000 high-temperature and high-watt-density band and strip heaters. Patented nonstick cartridge heater eliminates need to apply release agents before installation, eliminates downtime, and reduces damage to equipment and tools, says company. Cartridges are standard sizes, needing no special boring.

New CeraMax ceramic band heaters boast long life at temperatures up to 1600 F. Watt density to 45 w/sq in., voltages up to 480. Also new are cast-in. aluminum and bronze band heaters with integral cooling tubes (also air cooling).

Flexible heaters insulated with materials such as silicone rubber and polyimide for use in composite repair, curing, preheating, or drying processes where heater operates below 500 F.

Specializes in heaters to OEM specifications or for OEM replacement parts.

IMS CO.

Range of heater bands from standard mica-core to low-profile keylock; and from super-high watt density to plastic-proof and expandable ceramic-insulated types. Also metric-size, mica-core bands.

Standard and built-in thermocouple cartridge heaters, heater and thermocouple wire, and other accessories for heater connection and use. (See ads pp. 22, 315.)

INDUSTRIAL HEATER CORP.

Standard mica, ceramic, and cast-in heaters as replacement heaters for injection molding machines and extruders. Also customized heaters in cylindrical, flat, rectangular, and other configurations. Cartridge heaters in standard sizes or customized. An air-cooled heater assembly is used as a replacement for water-cooled applications and other uses.

INFRARED INTERNATIONALE OF NORTH AMERICA

Salamander Bold ceramic infrared heaters have cast-in thermocouple well (spring-load thermocouple optional), one-piece clip for easy installation, and temperature-indicating decal to identify element failure. Special Large Trough Elements provide uniform watt density over a large area. Three of these oversized elements fit together to form a 12 x 12 in. CRP panel of aluminized steel, prewired and fully insulated.

INFRA-RED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Flameless infrared catalytic heaters fed by natural gas reportedly reduce energy costs up to 80% vs. electric heaters in thermoforming. Gas-Cat heaters operate at lower temperature than electric units.

INFRASOURCE INC.

Vulcatherm ceramic infrared emitters from Vulcan in the U.K. come in a range of sizes and shapes, 75-1000 w, 110/120 v to 230/250 v.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION

Heating elements offered by Italian manufacturers.

MODINE MANUFACTURING CO.

Line of unit heaters, duct furnaces, make-up air units, and other heating products.

NOREN PRODUCTS, INC.

Noren Thermal Pin heat conductors (similar to heat pipes) transfer heat quickly and uniformly from one part of a mold to another. Commonly used to extract heat for mold cooling, but also to transfer heat into hard-to-reach mold areas in thermoset molding. Units cool cores and molds faster than water to reduce cycle time, and draw heat from the plastic, transferring it to water channels or to the mold base. Uniform heat transfer eliminates hot spots pulling. Only one water line is required. Thermal Pins eliminate scale and plugging of small-diameter water channels going into the core, reducing maintenance, and can isolate old or damaged mold components from the coolant when seepage or leak problems occur. In blow molding, the hollow unit uniformly cools the end of the blow pin and evenly cools necks of blow molded bottles. More than 350 sizes stocked. (See data sheet p. 271.)

OGDEN MANUFACTURING CO.

Mighty Watt and Mighty Watt Plus cartridge heaters. Mighty Watt Plus allows thousands of combinations of size, rating, and lead configurations to be shipped from stock. SST and QST split-sheath insertion heaters provide improved conductive heat transfer and are easily removed from worn or poorly drilled holes.

Band heaters including Mighty Miser ceramic, Mighty-Tuff high-temperature, Aluma-Flex aluminum, and mica types. Replacement heaters for injection, extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, and auxiliary equipment shipped from stock.

OMEGA ENGINEERING INC.

Heating cables and strip, cartridge, tubular electric, immersion, and band heaters, as well as laboratory and specialty units. Accessories include thermocouple, RTD, and thermistor sensors, along with associated wire, connectors and hardware. Also heating-system instrumentation such as controllers, meters, and computer interfaces. Line of ovens and ceramic and other oven heating elements can be used as replacement components or to construct customized ovens.

OMEGA HEATER CO.

Ceramic and mica heater bands and strips; and cartridge, channel, ceramic air-cooled, cast-aluminum (liquid and air-cooled) ceramic-fiber, radiant-panel, and roller heaters. Also heater accessories, instruments, controls, and thermocouples. Stocks mica bands and cartridges. Also custom products.

ORYCON CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

Straight or preformed tubular heating elements, mini-tubular heating elements of 3/16-in. diam., and swaged high-watt-density cartridge heaters with high-temperature leads supplied with or without thermocouples.

Also plate heaters for hot manifolds with replaceable tubular heating elements pressed into slots and held in place by staked heater covers.

OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.

Range of high-temperature air and infrared ceramic heaters, controls, blowers, complete systems, and accessories. Air heaters reach temperatures to 1600 F. New Hot Air System employs heater and control technology that cuts back power if the element gets too hot.

Infrared ceramic heaters with watt densities to 40 watts/[in..sup.2] can be operated at surface temperatures to 750 F and last over 5000 hr. Glaze coating on the heater surface changes color as it approaches operating temperature.

PLASTIC PROCESS EQUIPMENT INC.

UltraThin heater band constructed of high-temperature materials. Thin ceramic insulators inside result in low-mass construction, which improves control response and minimizes temperature lag and overshoot. Backside thermal insulation minimizes heat loss and lowers sheath temperature. Heater element is computer-designed for maximum wire size. Available in diam. from 3 to 14 1/2 in. and widths from 1 to 10 in. (See ad p. 337.)

PROCESS THERMAL DYNAMICS, INC.

New Q and FS series infrared heaters for single-station thermoformers reach full operating temperature from cold starts in seconds. Can be turned off during forming and loading/unloading portions of machine cycle and turned on seconds before heating cycle starts, thus saving energy costs.

Infrared conveyor ovens anneal injection molded and blow molded parts in. 30 sec to three min.

RADIANT ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

Heat-processing equipment, heaters, and ovens for processes such as annealing of molding parts; relieving stresses in welded and fabricated parts; heating of reinforced plastics for lamination, hot-stamping, etc.; preheating of fibers prior to pultrusion; and drying/curing of coatings and inks on film, sheet, etc.

RAMA CORP.

Tubular, band and strip heaters include computer-designed Ramaband and Ramastrip heaters. Ramaflex heater in a variety of shapes and sizes is made from lightweight fiberglass-reinforced silicone rubber. It provides even heat distribution on uniform and irregular surfaces where moderate heating is required.

Complete engineering and R&D services using CAD available for custom-designed heating assembly needs. (See also Hot-Runner Components and Systems.)

THE SHUMAN CO.

Thermoforming machinery supplier offers its own quartz-tube infrared heater panels. Elements are completely enclosed on sides and back with galvanized casing; 2-in. ceramic-fiber insulation is placed directly behind the quartz tubes. Thus, all energy is reportedly radiated toward the sheet. Elements range from 8 x 24 in. with one zone to 24 x 24 in. with nine tubes divisible into one, two, or three zones. Each tube can be replaced individually.

SOLAR PRODUCTS INC.

Electric infrared heaters in panel and tubular forms for thermoforming, screen printing, and paint curing. F-Series panel heaters have durable high-temperature quartz-cloth emitter. G-Series panels have black or clear high-temperature glass emitters (a cleanable surface). Both reach temperatures to 1800 F and do not need external reflectors. T-Series is a fast-response quartz-tube heater for up to 1800 F; external reflector not required. New M-Series have either hard-coated aluminum or porcelainized steel face; similar to G-Series but with greater durability.

TEKNICAT CATALYSTIC SERVICES

Catalytic infrared heating panels fed by natural gas are flameless, operate at relatively low temperature, and reduce energy costs relative to electricity in many localities. Firm specializes in converting thermoforming equipment to gas catalytic heating.

TEMPCO ELECTRIC HEATER CORP.

Electric heating elements, thermocouples and related accessories, specializing in injection molding, extrusion, and auxiliary applications. Products include cast-in aluminum or bronze heater/cooler units for extruder barrels and dies. High- or low-watt-density cartridge heaters for hot-runners, and compression and injection molds, as well as for extrusion dies and welding equipment. Duraband, Micaband, Ceramic Band and Aluminum Channel Maxiband band heaters for injection molding and extruder barrels, heads and dies. Mica, Maxi, and Channel strip heaters for molds, platens, and dies. Tubular heating elements and ceramic infrared heaters for thermoforming. Also thermocouples and temperature controls for regulating heating elements.

Line of flange-immersion screw-plug and circulation heaters for liquid temperature controllers used in mold-temperature regulation, as well as heavy-duty ASA-rated flange-immersion and circulation heaters and control panels. All heaters in customized or standard designs. (See ad p. 286.)

THERMAL INNOVATIONS CORP.

Quartz-tube infrared emitters come in standard and new fast-response models with a non-oxidizing heating coil that reportedly lasts 5000-10,000 hr in most applications. Tubes can be mounted in any plane. Optional integrated gold primary reflector is bonded to the quartz, never needs cleaning. Clear emitters with integral gold reflectors said to be up to 40% more efficient than traditional satin quartz tubes with external reflectors. Fast-response emitters reach peak temperature in under 5 sec and also cool faster.

THERMA-TECH CORP.

Compact infrared heaters offer uniform and efficient conversion of energy to infrared. Low to high intensity, element temperature range to 1500 F, wavelength of 2.8 to 9.0 microns, and 4-min heat-up time. Housed in 3-in.-deep aluminized steel case (stainless steel available). Sizes to 122 in. long, starting at 2.75 in. wide.

Heaters are resistant to water splash, chemical attack, and thermal shock. Can be wiped clean to prevent buildup of residue. "Flat" element design suitable for a 2 [degrees] uniformity of face surface. Easy to install, no scaling or warping. Can be fitted with thermocouple controls.

THERMEL ENGINEERED HEAT TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Industrial electric heating elements include cast-in aluminum or bronze band heaters and die heaters; thermastrip, mica, ceramic and nozzle band heaters; tubular elements; strip, cartridge, radiant, immersion, silicone rubber, and drum heaters; and thermocouples.

THERMETIC PRODUCTS INC.

Band and coil heaters for hot-runner applications feature mini-coil design in diam. of 1/2 to 1 in. and lengths from 3/4 to 4 in. Power ranges from 125 to 600 w at 240 v. Hermetic construction for long life in adverse conditions. Low-profile axial clamp with auto-locking features allows easy installation inside smallest nozzle cavities. Available with standard Allen-head screw clamps. Standard flexible leads available in any length to allow bending to 0.1-in. radius in up to 900 F environment. Off-the-shelf units for next-day delivery. Also custom units.

THRIFT PRODUCTS DIV., IMS CO.

Stocks common sizes of 120- and 240-v cartridge heaters. They have Incoloy 800 outer sheath, ceramic core, and 36-in. internally connected, swaged-in leads.

VALAD ELECTRIC HEATING CORP.

Heating elements and hot plates in sizes from 6 x 6 to 48 x 48 in. Custom-designed units to 12 ft.

VULCAN CATALYTIC SYSTEMS

Flameless catalytic heating systems for both roll- and sheet-fed thermoformers use long-wave infrared energy to reduce operating costs and enhance control and uniformity of process. Systems catalytically oxidize propane or natural gas. Manual and new touchscreen gas-pulse electronic control of gas pressure in individual zones.

WAAGE ELECTRIC INC.

Band and strip heaters, tubular metal-sheath elements, immersion heaters, flanged immersion heaters, and heat-transfer systems with integral cooling. Also forced-air duct heaters and thermal-sealing hot plates.

WARREN ELECTRIC CORP.

Flanged, screw plug, circulation and over-the-side heaters for new applications and replacement needs. Flanges in steel or stainless steel with ratings from 150 to 1200 psi. Screw plugs in steel, stainless steel, or bronze.

Terminal enclosure options include standard, weather-resistant, explosion-resistant, and high-temperature extended heads for use in high-temperature applications to reduce ambient temperature inside wiring enclosures.

Heating elements of 321 or 316L stainless steel, steel, or Incoloy can be brazed or welded to flange.

WATLOW ELECTRIC MFG. CO.

Swaged Firerod cartridge heater with high-temperature and high-watt-density capabilities. Lead Adapter program with patented lead connection technique permits same-day shipment on over 150,000 variations of Firerod.

Band heaters include MI Band, a high-temperature (1600 F max.) unit with a special mineral insulation that provides long heater life; ThinBand heater featuring a flexible design allowing easy installation and replacement on barrel and providing fast heat-up and cool-down; and ThinCast heater of rugged cast-aluminum for long life and resistance to contamination. ThinBand heaters now available with Quick Clamp for faster, easier installation. Spring loading maintains contact with barrel as heater expands on startup, even in vertical orientation.

Also radiant heaters, quartz tubular elements, strip heaters, ceramic-fiber heaters, and cable and nozzle heaters.

Temperature Sensors, Monitors, Controls

PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

ADVANCED DYNAMICS

Line of thermocouples, RTDs, and thermistor probes. Specialty is custom manufacturing and application problem-solving. Patented probes include "retractable" melt thermocouple, which allows immersion and withdrawal from plastic melt stream during operation. Also bayonet-style, nozzle-type and compression-fitting versions for attachment to injection and extrusion machines.

ADVANTAGE ELECTRONICS, INC.

Custom temperature monitoring and control instruments with custom packaging, control sequencing, and data-communication capability.

AGEMA INFRARED SYSTEMS, INC.

Thermopoint hand-held or fixed-head noncontacting, single-point infrared sensors. Laser-sighting option for dimly-lit or hard-to-access interiors. Data outputs on some models to PC, chart-recorder, or printer.

Thermoprofile SLS "smart" infrared line-scanning systems for real-time inspection, monitoring, and control of moving web and rotating elements in continuous processes. Designed for continuous operation in hostile environments, Thermoprofile SLS can function as stand-alone monitor or part of closed-loop process-control system.

A.L.B.A. ENTERPRISES, INC.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

AMERICAN MSI CORP.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

AMPROBE INSTRUMENT DIV. CORE INDUSTRIES INC.

Model DPH-2000 temperature-measuring instrument has range from -150 F to 1999 F, fast response, standard industrial type-K thermocouple probes, resolution of 1 [degrees] F, and LCD display. Accurate to [+ or -]0.8% on -35 F to 850 F range; [+ or -]1% of instrument range on all other points. Plastic housing with watertight membrane switch. Optional accessories include four different types of probes: universal, surface, air-gas, and hypodermic.

Model DT-156 thermometer has a range of -50.0 F to 199.9 F with an accuracy of [+ or -]1 [degrees] F. Features solid-state design and three individual probes with quick-response sensing elements. Each probe has a 12-ft color-coded lead, permitting temperature checks at points up to 24 ft apart. Color-coded pushbutton selector switch permits selection of temperature to be checked. A-B switch gives instantaneous digital reading of the difference between temperatures measured by A probe and B probe (used for differential measurements such as inlet/ outlet temperatures).

Model AM-14 is an LCD industrial multimeter with direct temperature reading capability of -40 F to 300 F. Features over-range indication, low-battery indication, auto-zeros on all ranges, reversed-polarity indication, and diode-test range.

ANAFAZE INC.

Noncontact infrared temperature sensors measure products such as extruded materials and sheets in thermoforming. Temperatures range from 0 F to 1000 F. Turnkey systems include controllers, computers, high-level software, and infrared sensors.

ANALOGIC CORP.

Model AN2402 1/8-DIN panel-mounted temperature controller has front-panel selectable setup, calibration, and operation. Wide range of thermocouple inputs, 1 [degrees] or 0.1 [degrees] resolution, degree C or F scale, and programmable filter. Options include RS232 serial interface, dual-relay setpoints, and analog output with independent scaling. Also Model AN2406, 1/8-DIN controller with 1 [degrees], 0.1 [degrees] and 0.01 [degrees] C resolution for 2-, 3- and 4-wire RTD measurements, and same options as AN2402.

ATHENA CONTROLS, INC.

Hot-runner and panel temperature controls include IMP controller with dual display and CompuStep start-up in 15- and 30-amp configurations. AIM controller, in combination with ACM communication module (ASM for SPI protocol) interfaces with up to 99 controllers through a terminal or IBM-compatible PC. The 1/16-DIN XT16 panel controller has dual display, four configurable outputs, and optional digital communication.

New PIM portable single-zone temperature controller for hot-sprue bushings or single-heater applications up to 15 amps features dual display, fused and grounded circuitry, CompuStep start-up, manual and closed-loop control, and power on/off switch. With microprocessor PID control and complete diagnostics, module operates automatically after setting temperature and turning on power. CompuStep function provides automatic warm-up, and when complete, controller switches to CompuCycle, a zero-crossover power drive that delivers smooth, continuous a-c power, which reportedly improves response time, reduces thermal fatigue and prolongs power life. (See ad p. 264.)

ATKINS TECHNICAL CO.

Line of hand-held digital thermocouple pyrometers and over 150 different probes for sensing hot-melt, mold, barrel, platen, and other temperatures. Series 396 allows wide temperature range, is F/C switchable, and accurate to [+ or -]1% of reading. Sealed membrane switches. Runs on one to three 9-v batteries, with 500 hr of continuous operating time per battery. All instruments and probes available in thermocouple types J, K and T.

Probes include 1/8-in. diam., 4-in.-long needle probe for insertion/immersion; micro-needle probe with 3/16-in.-long tip for elastomeric molds; and surface probes with ceramic-encased tips and straight or 90 [degrees] angle shafts for molds, barrels, and platens.

BARBER-COLMAN CO. INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS DIV.

Full range of temperature sensors includes patented Vari-depth sensor, adjustable to any immersion depth.

Four new single-zone temperature/process controllers in the new Advantage family. At low-cost end are rugged series 10Q 1/4-DIN and series 10E 1/8-DIN. Series 10 controllers have 300-millisec response time and accuracy of 0.3%. Series 15Q 1/4-DIN and series 15E 1/8-DIN modular controllers have 200-millisec response and accuracy of 0.2%. Series 15 controllers offer field expansion capability using plug-in modules. Compact, socketed modules allow field replacement of relays, triacs, SSR pulse and analog d-c outputs. Modules also available for alarm relays and digital contact closure. I/O reconfiguration is as simple as switching modules. A 21-segment LED bar graph on series 15Q provides control status at a glance. Display is selectable as a percentage-output indicator or as a deviation from setpoint graph with programmable scale for each deviation indicator.

Series 10 and series 15 controllers can be set up completely from the front panel, including C/F selection, decimal-point location, scaling, setpoint limits, and alarm types. Compact size requires only 4.2-in. mounting depth. These universal-input controllers handle any of 11 ANSI thermocouple types, RTDs, and popular d-c inputs. Input type selection is selectable from front panel without the need for instrument recalibration. Auto-Comp sensor-break function provides advanced response to sensor break. Outputs can be selected to on or off, switched to a percentage output or to a "last stable output."

Standard with series 10 and series 15 is AT Self Tune, which sets PID tuning constants with no operator involvement. This "hands-off" autotuning is performed at startup of the process and avoids the upsets required by conventional "bump" autotuning. AT Self Tune also includes an Adaptive Tuning oscillation monitor that automatically retunes controller to improve controller response.

Cimac 2 is a 1/2-DIN size multizone controller suitable for extrusion temperature control. Eight zones of process control available and built-in setpoint programmers permit time/process control. (See also Hot-Runner Components/Systems and Total Machine Control Systems.) (See ad p. 1.)

BUDGET MOLDERS SUPPLY, INC.

Temperature monitors include noncontact infrared units and Atkins hand-held thermocouple probes. Recording model also available. Temperature controls include nonindicating closed-loop, Fuji PYZ series, and new PYX fuzzy-logic series.

CAL CONTROLS, INC.

Line of temperature controllers specifically designed for extruders and mold-temperature controllers that require PID control of both heating and cooling. Model 9900 offers manual override, which allows continuing operation in the event of sensor failure. Other features, designed to protect unattended equipment from damage due to single- or multiple-loop element failure, include LBA (loop-break-alarm) and Latching Alarm. Retrofitting is easy and cost-effective with 1/4- and 1/8-DIN custom panel adaptors. Where control panel space is limited, model 3200 (1/32-DIN) controller is available with autotuning PID and universal supply and inputs.

CANADIAN INSTRUMENTATION CO.

Flexible temperature, process and time/temperature stand-alone controls can be fully configured by a temporary computer link-up. Also full line of sensors compatible with controls.

CHROMALOX EDWIN L. WlEGAND DIV.

Products include series 2000 microprocessor-based temperature and process controls; ChromaSoft software package; remote operator interface to multiple Chromalox controllers from a PC; Chromalox 3390 multiple-loop controller; and digital and analog electronic temperature controllers. Support services range from applications advice to design, manufacture, and installation of custom control panels.

CINCINNATI MILACRON U.S. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

CMC TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.

Combination pressure/temperature sensor offers IEEE 485 "addressable" serial output (in addition to basic RS232 digital output), which is said to permit economical monitoring of multiple machines. Pressure, temperature, and combination sensors have the same threads and housings, making them interchangeable.

CONCEPT ENGINEERING

Mark R noncontact temperature sensor for slim objects is used primarily to measure metal conductor temperature in extrusion of wire insulation. Generates millivolt output.

CONTROL KING, INC.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

COOPER INSTRUMENT CORP. ELECTRO-THERM DIV.

Digital thermistor units range from hand-held units to panel-mounted meters with alarm capabilities and accuracies of [+ or -]2 [degrees] F. Full complement of probes can be extended to 1000 ft.

Hand-held and panel-mounted digital thermocouple units read temperatures from -40 F to 2200 F. Probes can be extended to 50 ft.

Also wide range of 1-, 2- and 3-in. stainless-steel bimetal thermometers in different stem lengths and 2-, 2 1/2- and 3 1/2-in. vapor-tension remote-reading thermometers.

CR MAGNETICS, INC.

Line of electrical heater monitoring products includes Current Ring indicators that display operation of electrical heater elements in molding machines. Attached to wire leading to heater element, they provide a visual (LED) illumination when electrical current is present and heater element is operating properly. With a defective (open) heater element, no electrical current will flow and LED will be off. Several types provide an indication directly at current-carrying wire or at a remote location.

D-M-E CO.

Smart series temperature-control systems include variety of frame and module sizes and styles for a broad range of applications. Frames accommodate one to 48 zones in 15- and 30-amp capacities. Control modules are microprocessor-based with multifunctional digital displays. SSM and DSS modules feature digital display of setpoint and process temperature, auto/manual mode selection, and heater-dryout function automatically actuated during start-up. CSS modules provide same features along with built-in ammeter and, in conjunction with CIM module, ability to be remotely controlled and monitored from a PC.

Mainframes are self-contained, requiring no external relays or contractors, offered with or without communications capability. Protective plastic shields, individual cooling fans, circuit-breaker protection, and optional current/voltage monitors. Accessories include cables, mold connectors, floor stands, and transformer kits. (See also Hot-Runner Components and Systems.) (See ads Cover II, p. 262.)

DUREX INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) and thermocouples specifically for processing applications. Sensor construction built to withstand over 900 F. Mounting options available, as well as most European and Japanese design replacements.

DYNISCO INSTRUMENTS

MTX fiber-optic infrared temperature transducer for nonintrusive measurement of melt temperatures has response time of 10 millisec, detects highly transient melt temperatures for tight process control, and resists abrasion from filled materials. Withstands pressures to 30,000 psi at up to 800 F.

Model 1330 temperature controller has 1/8-DIN plug-in design, digital display and setpoint, [+ or -]0.3% full-scale accuracy, upfront adjustment of control parameters, on/off or PID control, and optional deviation alarms.

Model 2300 temperature and process controller has microprocessor-based, 1/4-DIN plug-in design; autotune PID; RS232C, RS422, and RS485 serial communications; universal programmable inputs; remote and second setpoints; dual-programmable alarms; and heat/cool control mode.

AutoProbes I and II traveling melt thermocouples measure temperature variations in the melt stream, which affect product conformity and gauge thickness. AutoProbe I penetrates melt stream at a rate of 0.139 in./min, producing a continuous analog signal and indication of melt temperature and position of the temperature sensing probe. Pneumatically actuated AutoProbe II penetrates melt stream up to 1.5 in. in less than 1 sec, senses temperature at the predetermined point and retracts, minimizing stream perturbation. Both models have manual or automatic operation modes, 0-5 to 0-10 VDC output signals, and a range of 0-1.5 in. penetration into melt stream.

EAST COAST SENSORS, INC.

Thermocouples and sensors. Thermocouples available in all ANSI calibrations (J, K, T, E types) in grounded/ungrounded and exposed junctions. Available in various probe configurations, using stainless steel and Inconel sheath materials.

ELECTRONIC DEVELOPMENT LABS

Temperature-indicating, controlling, and recording instrumentation includes hand-held digital and analog pyrometers, infrared thermometers, thermocouple sensors, scanners and controllers. Temperature ranges from -280 to 2000 F/C, accuracy of [+ or -]1 [degrees] and 0.1 [degrees] resolution standard. Thermocouple sensors available for measuring mold surfaces, subsurfaces, liquids, melts, air shots, and air at up to 2000 F with quick response and accuracies as close as 1 [degrees]. Noncontact, hand-held infrared thermometers measure from 0 to 1600 F/C with quick readings displayed to 0.1 [degrees] F resolution on large LCD. Display shows minimum, maximum, difference, and average temperature, and high/low audible alarms. Emissivity is adjustable. Specialty and custom sensors available.

EUROTHERM CONTROLS, INC.

Temperature controllers feature a high degree of configurability and universal power supplies. Incorporate self-tuning algorithms that automatically determine optimal PID parameter values. Algorithm minimizes overshoot of set-point when initiated from ambient. Models of Series 90 controllers and alarm units designed for cost-conscious applications and available in 1/16- and 1/8-DIN units.

The 1/8-DIN model 808 features dual displays, two control outputs, alarm output and digital communications. Air, water and oil cooling accommodated by built-in cooling algorithms. Also built-in auto/manual station. Full-featured 818 model adds other possibilities, such as analog retransmission and remote input, two alarm outputs, and adaptive tuning.

EWlKON N.A. INC.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

EXTECH INSTRUMENTS CORP.

Temperature/process controllers and indicators include VT series of 1/16-DIN (48VT) and 1/4-DIN (96VT) autotuning PID controllers. Dual four-digit LED displays for setpoint and process variables. Inputs include thermocouple, RTD, current, and voltage. One-touch auto-tune function automatically computes optimum PID values for best control of specific application. Also can be used for on/off control. Control action either a 5A relay, 4-20 mA current, or pulsed 24-VDC to drive a solid-state relay. User-selectable heating or cooling. Five-amp alarm relay outputs standard on both models, with two on the 96VT.

Other units include 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-DIN temperature controllers with analog or digital setpoints and on/off or proportional control.

Temperature indicators include 1/8-DIN and miniature units for both thermocouple and RTD inputs. Options include mV or 4-20 mA current outputs. Switch boxes and multipoint monitors available to monitor up to 10 locations.

FAST HEAT INC.

Conductor series of microprocessor-based temperature-control systems includes modules, mainframes, cables, junction boxes, and mobile racks.

Modules feature Auto Soft, which allows gradual heater warmup based on ground-fault leakage current, thus preventing heater failure due to moisture. Series features 14 diagnostic error messages for troubleshooting module, thermocouple, or heater. Three-alarm indicators show when heater is over or under temperature or causing ground fault. Units include multipurpose LED display, dual-function digital setpoint, and automatic thermocouple fault compensation. Various standard electrical configurations include 240- or 120-VAC, one- or three-phase, and common European 5-wire systems. Standard 15- and 30-a module outputs. Data-communication capability using SPI Communication Protocol allows molder to interface hot-runner control system directly to similarly equipped injection molding machines. Standard mainframes include 5-slot, 9-slot, and 12-slot systems. Large cabinet systems with up to 85 zones have been built.

Self-contained single-zone chassis controller available with standard control cables of 10 and 20 ft.

Also a line of thermocouples, wire and accessories, including all common ISA types such as J, K, and T, as well as special alloys for applications requiring up to 4200 F. Accessories include plugs, jacks and adaptors. (See also Hot-Runner Components and Systems.)

FLO-TECH, INC.

High-pressure-rated RTD thermometer probes are precision platinum units with max. temperature rating of 300 F and max. pressure rating of 7500 psi. Can be inserted directly into hydraulic or fluid material stream and offer 3-sec response. The 1/8 NPT body threads eliminate need for special fittings and come in insertion lengths from 1 to 3 1/2 in.

DTM-100 panel-mount temperature readout offers 3/4-in. LCD display visible in ambient lighting. High-impact plastic case mounts is 1/4-DIN. Standard 0-10 v recorder output available at rear terminals. Unit can be wired for 120 or 240 v, 50 or 60 Hz without internal modification.

GAMMAFLUX, INC.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

GEFRAN INC.

SP series melt-temperature transducers have low-volume capillary system to ensure highest possible thermal stability while minimizing risk of melt contamination. Accuracy and fast response make units less susceptible to flow erosion and enhance lifespan.

Models 500 (1/16-DIN) and 1000 (1/8-DIN) single-loop temperature controllers feature dual LED display for simultaneous viewing of process and set-point values. Units provide relay, logic, or triac control output.

Models 3300 (1/8-DIN) and 4300 (1/4-DIN) controllers have backlit, multifunction LCD display; data-acquisition rates of six samples/sec; and digital communications capability. Relay, logic, analog, or motorized actuator control outputs available.

Model 1020 1/8-DIN two-loop temperature controller with NEMA-3 splashproof faceplate accepts two independent inputs. Each channel has display and keypad controls.

Models 100, 200, 201 panel meter/alarm units, 1/16- and 1/8-DIN, are fully configurable. Model 201 features 3 1/2-digit, 14-mm display; Model 100 a 3-digit, 14-mm display; and Model 200 a 3-digit, 20-mm display. Four operational software levels accessible only by entry codes.

GENERAL EASTERN INSTRUMENTS

For monitoring liquid temperature, TT-I-I stainless-steel immersion sensor can be screwed directly into pipe fitting or thermowell.

GIC THERMODYNAMICS

Line of thermocouples, RTDs, and thermistors. Melt-bolt and springloaded designs, along with accessories such as lead wire, fittings, and connectors.

HARREL, INC.

Three-mode electronic temperature controls include plug-in, single-channel, microprocessor-based models, plus line of multizone units in compact, panel-mounted, 16- and 32-zone modules. Capacity can be extended to any number of zones using remotely mounted, 30-channel auxiliary modules that operate under supervision of panel-mounted unit.

For extrusion, both single- and multizone models can use patented Duosense system, which uses a deep- and a shallow-well temperature sensor to gain advantages of faster response and longer life without sacrificing accuracy of deepwell sensing.

Also line of adjustable RTD temperature sensors for extrusion and injection machines.

HASCO-INTERNORM CORP. WEST

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

HES DIV., DAVIS-STANDARD

HES temperature controller with patented dual-thermocouple design maintains precise temperature control in critical production processes. With one thermocouple located in heater/cooler and the other at the deepest point of barrel, corrective heating or cooling action can be taken to bring inner barrel surface temperature to stability quickly, and is done automatically with no adjustments required. In addition, recipe feature reduces amount of scrap manufactured during startups and grade changes.

HONEYWELL INC.

STT 3000 Smart Temperature Transmitter contains look-up tables for all standard thermocouples and resistance bulbs. Selection of appropriate type via SFC (Smart Field Communicator) gives required linearization, minimizing spareparts requirements. Unit reads highest and lowest inputs, has external cold-junction compensation at an isothermal block, and displays engineering units in degrees C, F, or R, plus millivolts and ohms. Can be installed on a DIN rail or in an explosion-proof housing designed for surface or 2-in. pipe mounting. Adjustments and diagnostic checks performed via SFC from remote locations.

HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

IMC INSTRUMENTS, INC.

Digital temperature indicators, controllers, and alarms include portable digital thermometers and permanently mounted monitors. Rugged portable line includes large selection of general-purpose and specialty probes. Permanently mounted instruments include microprocessor-based digital panel meters, wide range of digital temperature indicators, and industrial temperature-alarm panels. Also line of temperature alarm/controllers with optional digital indication of temperature, setpoints, and differentials. Temperature-measuring probes for permanent installation include stem probes for molds and platens.

IMS CO.

Closed-loop temperature-control modules rated at 15 amps and 120 or 240 v with time-proportioned power, automatic soft-start, and digital display. One to 12 zones. Also single-zone housings with 30-a output working off standard 15-amp modules, and open-loop modules to fit housings.

Stand-alone closed-loop temperature controllers rated at 15 amps and 240 v, and stocked in 1-, 2- and 4-zone models.

Stand-alone open-loop voltage controllers rated at 5 or 15 amps and 120 or 240 v.

Equipment for directly reading hot-melt temperature includes DT-2 temperature indicator with LED display and 1/4-DIN housing, and either retrofit hot-melt thermocouple or matched-set injection nozzle with thermocouple through-hole and hot-melt thermocouple.

High-low temperature alarm and monitor has adjustable high and low setpoints; indicates temperature from any type-J thermocouple; and triggers visual and audio alarms if temperature goes above high setpoint or below low setpoint.

Thermocouple simulators (type-J or K) are reference for calibrating temperature-sensing equipment.

Hand-held surface pyrometers read temperatures up to 600 F without touching heat source. Also low-cost analog unit for temperatures to 900 F, and fast-acting digital unit for temperatures to 1650 F. (See also Hot-Runner Components and Systems.) (See ads pp. 22, 315.)

INCOE CORP.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

IRCON INC.

Noncontact infrared thermometers operate in harsh environments from -50 to 6500 F. On-line thermometers, line-scanning thermal-imaging systems, portable noncontact thermometers, and low-cost two-wire transmitters. Sensors "see" objects as small as 0.012 in. and respond within as little as 25 millisec. Series 43 and 48, operating at 3.43 microns and 7.95 microns respectively, are best suited for polyethylene and polyester films.

JEWELL ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS

Analog panel instruments for temperature monitoring and control. Model 370 indicating temperature controller has dual setpoints, 3.5-in. mirrored scale, and relay outputs. Can be used as direct replacement in most equipment. Options allow customization.

Model 400 indicating pyrometer features 4.5-in. mirrored scale, and can be used with J-, K-, and T-type thermocouples.

JMS SOUTHEAST, INC.

Custom-designed thermocouples and RTDs include bayonet, plastic melt-bolt, flex-armor adjustable, and spring-adjustable depth thermocouples. Also calibration equipment and services, interface hardware related to sensor applications, and signal transmitters or integrated combinations of sensors with transmitters.

JPI TECHNOLOGIES INC.

FP13 microprocessor-based, multizone temperature controller for up to 13 zones. Digital PID gives control with minimum overshoot and rapid setpoint attainment. Processing time of 10 millisec/channel. Standard features include thermocouple input, heating/cooling capability, PID control programmable for each zone, storage of four groups of settings in RAM, error analysis and fault displays, assignable zone numbers, and uniform heat-up (all zones heat up according to rate of slowest zone).

Options include GA13 display unit that selectively indicates temperature, setpoint, percentage output of all 13 zones; and RS232 serial interface to IBM PC, machine logic, etc. (See data sheet p. 269.)

KERNCO INSTRUMENTS CO., INC.

Over 60 analog and digital temperature meters include industrial-type thermometers with stainless-steel and upright stems; panel-mount meters and transmitters with type J, K, T, and E thermocouple probes; strip-chart and circular temperature recorders; infrared meters for noncontact measurement (portable and remote models with 4-20 mA output); and multichannel, 4-20 mA or 0-5 VDC temperature monitors with alarm systems.

KIDDE-FENWAL INC.

Temperature controls include electronic or electromechanical (differential-expansion or liquid-expansion) types; indicating with digital (LCD/LED) or analog displays, or nonindicating; miniature or standard size; surface-mount or probe styles; and models for normal or hostile environments. Sensors include thermistors and RTDs for local or remote sensing.

KONA CORP.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

LAND INFRARED

Minolta/Land Portable Cyclops 343 and Cyclops 79 hand-held infrared thermometers make precise spot-temperature measurements ([+ or -]1% of reading) on thin-film plastics over measurement range of 30 to 700 F. Battery-powered Cyclops 343 has narrow-band spectral response centered at 3.43 [[micro]meter] and makes measurements on hydrocarbon polymer films (PE, PP and PVC) of thicknesses down to 0.001 in. Cyclops 79 has a narrow-band spectral response centered at 7.92 [[micro]meter] and makes measurements on polyesters, fluoroplastics, and polyimide films down to 0.001 in. thick.

Additional features include Minolta focusing reflex optics for accurate target definition; digital temperature display in field of view; choice of peak hold, valley hold, or continuous operation; and built-in calculating facility to compute maximum, minimum or mean of a series of readings. Units can be tripod-mounted and have BCD output for optional printer/datalogger. Optional digital-to-analog converter and dedicated printer.

LFE INSTRUMENTS

Analog and digital panel instruments and controllers include:

* Microprocessor-based LFE 2000 series 1/4-DIN temperature and process controllers allow flexibility in general applications. Standard options match controller to specific applications. Special-purpose controllers for dual-loop, multiprofile, and zone-control applications. Custom features enhance performance while simplifying operation.

* LFE 4500 series intelligent 1/8-DIN meters and control meters with 3 1/2- and 4 1/2-digit vacuum-fluorescent displays. Meters for current, voltage, process, temperature, or pressure inputs.

* LFE model 4000 with 14-in. CRT gives clear, simple, and customized view of the production process with easy access to intelligent factory-floor "communicative" devices. Multitasking operating system and colored character-based graphics provide fast notification of alarms and system conditions. Dedicated printer port provides record of alarms, acknowledgements, and alarm clearings, along with time and date. Forty assignable front-panel keys replace numerous switches and pushbuttons. Model configuration process allows adjustment of information and displays as changes occur to equipment, factory layout, and information requirements.

Also offers analog round, rectangular, and edgewise panel meters; optical and electronic analog meter relays; digital panel meters and meter relays; and analog temperature controllers.

LINEAR LABORATORIES

Noncontact infrared sensors rapidly and accurately provide continuous temperature measurement of moving, inaccessible, fragile, or unsafe targets without product contamination. Fixed and portable units have measurement ranges from -70 F to 3000 F.

MX-series fixed units offer high-resolution optics for accurate readings, as precise as [+ or -]1% every 300 millisec. MX-HT is suited for extremely harsh industrial applications at higher temperatures up to 3000 F. Field of view ratio can be either 50:1 or 75:1. Both MX and MX-HT available with Type R, S, and B thermocouples, one mv/[degrees], 0-5 v, 4-20 and 0-20 mA, and RS-232 and RS-485 serial digital outputs.

New portable LTL-100 offers laser sighting for fast, precise, noncontact temperature measurement. Features include 1-sec response time, peak hold, and 8-14 micron spectral filter with temperature range of -20 F to 2000 F. C-1000 portable self-contained, battery-operated devices consist of probe and display unit. Suitable for taking and storing readings during preventive-maintenance checks on several pieces of equipment.

LOVE CONTROLS DIV.

Temperature controls, sensors, and output devices include Model 1600 series low-cost, microprocessor-based 1/16-DIN controller. Fully programmable for varying applications. Optional digital communications and Lovelink software provide remote supervision, data logging, and alarms for SQC.

New 1/16-DIN 1500 and 1/4-DIN 2500 series controllers are low-cost, microprocessor-based, and programmable. The 2500 series has optional current output.

Other microprocessor-based, digital indicating controls include low-cost 1/4-DIN 400 series and 1/4-DIN 300 series.

The 49 series 1/4-DIN analog controls and indicators have full-scale indication and outputs for all applications. The 249 series has solid-state LED deviation indicator.

Also portable controls, hand-held indicators, scr power controllers, solid-state relays, and mercury-displacement contactors.

New Iso-Verter II isolator/converter with isolated input and outputs to 1500-VAC features standard input and output ranges that are field-selectable, zero suppression, unipolar or bipolar inputs/outputs, and selectable reverse or direct action.

Sensors include thermocouples and RTD or thermistor probes. Standard and custom-designed sensors, including foreign replacements, manufactured for fast delivery.

MASKOTE CORP.

See Service Tectonics Instruments.

MELT DESIGN, INC. (MDI)

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

MIKRON INSTRUMENT CO.

M90 series portable infrared thermometers include 15 models for temperature ranges from 0 to 3000 C. Two-color model provides temperature measurement independent of emissivity and is unaffected by contaminants in field of view. Through-lens sighting, sharp focusing from 7 in. to infinity, and full range of data-handling capabilities. Software allows units to be interfaced with any IBM PC or compatible.

MOLD-MASTERS LTD.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

NANMAC CORP.

Patented ribbon-type temperature sensors for measurements in molding and extrusion include series A6A springloaded, bayonet-style ribbon thermocouples that measure in-wall temperatures of barrels without errors caused by conduction along thermocouple stem. True local temperatures in the metal wall can be measured, free of conduction errors caused by external air drafts, mounting fixtures, and metallic protection tubes.

Series C4 thermocouples measure temperature inside mold cavity with millisecond response times. One group measures part temperature in mold cavity as it is being formed and cured. Another group measures inside surface temperature of wall. Both fit into existing ejector pinhole, serving as thermocouple and ejector pin.

Series C8 thermocouples measure temperature as material flows through extruder nozzle. Millisecond response time; can operate during continuous or cyclical applications.

Also conventional temperature sensors, controllers, indicators and accessory items.

OGDEN MANUFACTURING CO.

Temperature controls include:

* ETR-3020 1/32-DIN control with "Smarter Logic," which can make control decisions based on vague or incomplete information. Initial overshoot and deviations from setpoint due to process disturbances are said to be virtually eliminated. Process reportedly can be controlled with little or no temperature variation. ETR-3020 can be configured as a PID autotuning control with a variety of output selections. The second output can be selected from optional functions, including alarm, PID cooling, and transmitter for connection to a recording device. All parameters are front-panel selectable for easy setup.

* ETR-9200 1/16-DIN microprocessor-based temperature control has automatic tuning of PID process parameters with Smarter Logic. As a process disturbance is detected, Smarter Logic's continuous decision-making function quickly returns process value to set-point. Menu-driven program provides configurable process parameters such as Universal Input feature and C or F display. All control functions are front-panel adjustable. NEMA 4X front panel, dual display, ramp-to-setpoint, and two selectable-function secondary outputs.

* ETR-4220 1/4-DIN microprocessor-based temperature control also has automatic tuning with Smarter Logic. Menu-driven program provides configurable parameters such as Universal Input and C or F display. Process and setpoint temperatures visible at all times on dual, four-digit display; and process indication is 5/8-in. high. Nonvolatile memory retains process parameters when power is off. Two selectable-function secondary outputs allow both high and low limits or alarms. ETR-4130 has an additional proportional output for processes that require cooling.

* ETR-8120 1/8-DIN microprocessor-based auto-tuning temperature control. All control parameters are front-panel configurable. The 1/2-in. dual display makes process and setpoint visible at all times. Selectable parameters include type of input, C or F display, control mode, and heating or cooling. Two secondary outputs provide selectable functions or limits. ETR-8130 has an additional proportional output for cooling.

OMEGA ENGINEERING INC.

Temperature controllers and monitors, including thermocouple, RTD, and infrared sensors. Controllers can be selected with simple on/off or PID control, autotuning, event-signal generation, and ramp/soak programming. Single- and multiloop controllers are standalone units or panel-mounted. Extended warranty on products and custom engineering for specific applications.

OMRON ELECTRONICS, INC.

Electronic temperature controllers feature autotuning, PID, and host-computer communications. Sizes include 1/4-, 1/8- and 1/16-DIN. New E5AX controller with SPI Protocol allows temperature regulation among a variety of molding, extrusion, and other devices in a plastics manufacturing cell.

ORYCON CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

OWEN INSTRUMENTS, INC.

Hand-held and panel-mount thermometers and probes. Thermocouple types are for penetration, liquid melts, and fast surface measurements. Also precision RTD thermometers for critical applications and for checking other meters and controls. Several miniature (1/32- and 1/16-DIN) panel controls have microprocessors and other digital features.

PAYNE ENGINEERING CO.

SCR-based power controls and contactors control a-c and d-c power to regulate electric heating. Model 11 series a-c contactors, an alternative to electromechanical contactors and mercury relays, available in single-phase or three-phase versions at all standard voltages to 600-VAC in sizes from 10 to 1200 amps/phase. All units tested for up to 600 operations/min, and for over 200 million continuous operations without component failure. Used in conjunction with on/off temperature controllers.

Also single- and three-phase a-c variable-voltage controls for proportional control of electric heat. Available from 10 to 1200 amps/phase at all standard voltages to 600-VAC. The 18 series controls come in either phase-angle or zero-fired versions as alternative to variable transformers. May be operated manually or equipped to follow an analog milliamp or d-c voltage signal from a temperature controller or PLC. Variety of control options ensures adaptability to different applications.

The 36 series d-c power controls accept single- or three-phase a-c voltage input and have variable d-c output. Available at all standard voltages to 600-VAC. Sizes from 10 to 1200 amps/phase. Alternative to rotary motor-generator sets as a d-c power source.

Series 18A thermocouple temperature controllers interface with 18 or 36 series proportional controls to provide closed-loop temperature control. Either full-scale indication or temperature-deviation versions. Can be set up for a variety of temperature ranges and thermocouple types.

PLASTIC ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. (P.E.T.S.)

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

PLASTIC PROCESS EQUIPMENT, INC.

Thermocouples, RTDs, temperature indicators, calibrators, and controls. Thermocouples include both J and K types of adjustable depth, OEM replacements, washer type, spade type, melt-bolt, hose-clamp, and hot-melt.

Indicators include panel-mount and hand-held portable models. Full line of probes for hand-held models. Controls include open-loop, solid-state power controls from 8A to 20A. Electronic temperature controls in 1/4-, 1/8-, and 1/16-DIN from Watlow and Athena, and hot-runner controls in 15A and 30A. (See also Hot-Runner Components and Systems.) (See ad p. 337.)

POLYSHOT CORP.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

POWERS PROCESS CONTROLS

Digital process controllers, process monitors, process programmers, and auto/manual stations. Single-loop controllers and monitors control independent loop or entire plant. Instruments come in 1/8- and 1/4-DIN sizes.

PYROMATION, INC.

Thermocouples and RTD temperature sensors include fixed and adjustable immersion, ring, nozzle, and melt-bolt types. Also connectors, temperature indicators, sensor selector switches, and temperature-calibrating instruments.

QUANTEM CORP.

Sub-panel or panel-mount electronic thermostats and indicators include potentiometer and scale calibrated to specifications. Various input voltages, output devices, and control modes.

Microprocessor-based digital thermostats provide digital setpoint and indication, programmable upper and lower setpoint and indication, and other features.

Thermistor, RTD and thermocouple probes available in standard and custom models.

RAYTEK, INC.

Noncontact infrared temperature-measurement instruments include Raynger family of portable devices for end-user market and Thermalert on-line thermometers for OEM customers and large end users. On-line products include Thermalert ET self-contained, noncontact temperature sensor for process monitoring and control; Thermalert 3, 4 and 6 series with laser-sighting heads for plant-floor use; and Thermalert IT noncontact thermocouples for OEM applications.

Thermalert MP4 line scanner provides color display of the process. The 3.43 head is specially designed to measure thin film, while the 7.9 head can be used for other plastics.

Portable infrared thermometers include Raynger PM series with laser sighting used in basic plant maintenance and Raynger 3i series with laser sighting for troubleshooting temperature sources anywhere in manufacturing, process control, and maintenance.

RdF CORP.

Micro Foil heat-flow sensor has nominal sensitivity of 2.2 microvolts/Btu/[ft.sup.2]-hr with maximum heat-flux rating of 20 to 30 Btu/[ft.sup.2]-sec. Sensors available with integral thermocouple.

Hypodermic-needle thermocouple sensor, Model HN, specifically developed to measure temperatures inside soft or semisolid objects with a minimum amount of puncture area. Diameter of needle can be as small 0.020 in.

Model 2900 two-wire RTD temperature transmitter is accurate to [+ or -]1% of span or [+ or -]0.1 [degrees] C, whichever is greater. It fills gap between full-featured mount transmitter and the very limited instruments used for environmental-control systems. Specifically designed for rugged industrial applications where operating temperature permits transmitter to be mounted directly to connection head.

RUNNERLESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

S AND B CONTROLS DIV. OF SCHUNTERMANN CORP.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

SEIKI SPEAR SYSTEM AMERICA, INC.

See Hot-Runner Components and Systems.

SERVICE TECTONICS INSTRUMENTS DIV. OF MASKOTE CORP.

Pyrometers and sensors for temperature measurement include analog and digital pyrometers in temperature ranges from -150 to 2000 F. Sensors are for surface, melt and immersion, oven and free air, with many variations in each category. Custom designs for special applications.

SOLID CONTROLS, INC.

Modular temperature controllers include digital setpoints for accuracy and gold contact points that reportedly stand up better to dirt, corrosion, and vibration. Options include local/remote set-point capabilities, d-c output signal, and a-c/d-c alarm outputs. Remote digital scanning head allows monitoring up to eight selectable heating zones. Scanner can be operated in manual mode, stepping through each zone on command, or in automatic mode at scan rates of 0.5 to 1.5 sec/zone.

SYSCON-RKC SYSCON INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Temperature and process controls, from basic discrete controls to multizone controls with SPC capabilities. Advanced process controllers feature fuzzy logic, "brilliant" PID, and advanced autotuning. Also ramp/soak control, programmable input, front-panel bar-graph display, time signal, end output, external contact input, and step, wait, and repeat functions.

New line of 1/16-DIN single-display temperature controls includes Rex C-100, Rex-D100 with fuzzy logic, and REX-S100. All feature PID autotuning, wide range of universal inputs and outputs, and optional field-programmable alarms. Rex-FZ40 1/8-DIN and Rex-FZ90 1/4-DIN temperature controllers have universal built-in inputs and outputs, plus fuzzy logic to suppress overshoot and start-up and production upsets.

Compact Farex-SR Mini multizone PID temperature controller offers one-or two-zone control modules. Each module is approx. the size of a 3 1/2-in. floppy disk. Multiple modules may be linked together to control up to 320 temperature zones. Can be added to new equipment or retrofitted. (See also Hot-Runner Components and Systems.) (See ad p. 276.)

TECO MANUFACTURING CO.

Low-cost temperature controls and ramp-and-soak temperature programmers. MDC4E temperature controller has autotuning PID control in 1/16-DIN cabinet and is user-programmable for temperature range, thermocouple type, or RTD.

MPC10S temperature programmer has autotuning PID control and 10 ramp-and-soak steps, will repeat profile up to 99 times, and is easy to use and program. Housed in a 1/4-DIN panel-mounted cabinet.

MDC10 temperature controller has all features of the smaller MDC4E with the addition of RS232 interface so that controller can be driven by a computer. MDC10 controller is housed in a 1/4-DIN panel-mounted cabinet.

TESTO INC.

Temperature-measuring instruments from basic digital pocket thermometer to hand-held multifunctional units. Variety of probes for surface, immersion, air, infrared, or penetration applications. Instruments use type K, J, NTC, or RTD sensors for temperature ranges from -300 F to 2490 F.

Quartz-sensor thermometer with accuracy of [+ or -]0.2 F. Dual temperature inputs allow differential temperature readings with precision of [+ or -]0.06 F.

Professional Class Instruments offer split display, analog outputs, dual probe inputs, max/min/hold, and optional logger module for recording and printing. PC interface allows data to be transferred in real time.

TEXMATE INC.

Offers 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-DIN temperature controllers for heating, cooling, plastic extrusion, and general industrial use. RS232C and RS485 serial interfaces, multiloop KR4 units, and companion RTD and thermocouple indicators.

THERMO ELECTRIC CO., INC.

Thermocouples, thermocouple wire, and temperature controllers for all types of extrusion and molding. Broad range of standard bayonet and melt-flow thermocouple assemblies and hardware. Also custom-manufactured thermocouple and interconnection systems. Wire products include PVC-insulated for general-purpose interconnection, high-temperature insulations, and steel armor for mechanical protection. Temperature controller range covers 1/4- and 1/8-DIN models with adaptive tuning for continuous automatic setting of control parameters.

TOTAL TEMPERATURE INSTRUMENTATION INC.

PYZ5 Heat/Cool from Fuji Electric is a fully programmable 1/8-DIN microprocessor-based temperature controller. Has PID autotuning on heating. Cooling band, cycle time, and deadband independently tuned from front panel. Four LEDs display process temperature and setpoint. Status indicators show condition of heating, cooling, and alarm outputs.

PYX series of fuzzy-logic controllers comes in 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-DIN sizes, offering precise control with little or no overshoot on startup and in process. Available with RS485 communications, free supervisory software package, loop-break alarm, heater-break alarm, analog retransmission, and eight-segment programmer for ramp/soak.

TUDOR TECHNOLOGY, LTD.

Thermocouples and RTDs include melt-bolt thermocouples with 8-in. flex-armor extension. Calibrations include Chromel-Constantan, Iron-Constantan, Chromel-Alumel, and Copper-Constantan. Simplex or duplex with grounded or ungrounded measuring junctions. Shipped ready to install. Mil Spec and AMS-qualified supplier offering calibration certification and testing services, as well as custom engineering.

UNITED ELECTRIC CONTROLS CO.

Temperature controls from -180 F to 2250 F, thermocouples, and RTDs. The 970 series is a 1/4-DIN, microprocessor-based control with autotuning. The 930 series control offers economical single or dual output.

WATLOW ELECTRIC MFG. CO.

Controls Div. manufactures standard and custom controls and indicators in 1/2-, 1/4-, 1/8- and 1/16-DIN, open-board, sealed, potted, and NEMA-4 versions. Thermocouple, RTD, and process inputs. Solid-state, switched d-c, mechanical relay, and process outputs. RS422/ 423 and EIA-485 serial-communication options. Agency approvals include UL, FM, FDA, CSA, AGA, TUV, VDE, MILSTD. DIN and JIS calibration curves. Also mercury-displacement relays (MDRs), infrared sensors, and solid-state power controls (scrs).

Compact 965 series 1/16-DIN temperature controller has standard NEMA-4X front panel for water and corrosion resistance in hostile environments, single thermocouple or RTD input, and dual output. Heat output and autotuning pro vide quick setup and operation. User-selectable process or deviation alarm can control auxiliary processes and annunciators. Simultaneous digital display of setpoint and actual temperature. Accuracy of [+ or -]0.1% of span.

WATLOW/AOV INC.

Rugged spring-loaded bayonet thermocouples for measuring extrusion temperatures at crosshead, barrel, and die. Pipe-clamp adapter can be used to measure pipe wall and bearing temperatures; made of stainless steel in 0.187-in. diam. with standard lengths of 36-120 in. Thermocouple types J, K, T, and RTD in SS overbraid, SS flexible tubing, bayonet, immersion, and melt-bolt styles with bayonet, T/C compensated plug, NPT, or compression-fitting terminations. Flexible thermocouple extensions and other styles, including custom-designs.

Temperature controllers from basic on/off analog controls/meters to PID microprocessor-based digital programmable control systems. Custom UL-recognized temperature-control systems from simple 120-v, low-power controllers to multizone 480-v, three-phase, 100+ kw process-control systems. Also distributes temperature sensors, monitors, controllers, and recorders.

WAVETEK INSTRUMENTS

Model 473 thermocouple digital calibrator/indicator simulates and measures thermocouples, ohms, milliamps, and millivolts; calibrates temperature controllers, indicators, recorders, and transmitters. Long battery life, hand-held versatility, high/low memory, and large touch-type switches. Models 460 and 461 measure and display temperature. Sensor input types selectable from smooth, environmentally protected front-panel keypad.

WEST INSTRUMENTS A DANAHER CO.

Temperature/process controllers and thermocouples include 1/4-, 1/8- and 1/16-DIN single-zone controllers with on/off to full PID control. Analog, single-, or dual-digital display. Solid-state and microprocessor-based; manual and adaptive continuous self-tuning; heat-only and dual heat/cool outputs; standalone or computer-networkable.

Guardsman series multizone control system provides up to 32 PID control loops in small, easy-to-install, low-cost package. Continuous adaptive self-tuning, auto/manual modes, serial communications, and plug-in memory-card recipe storage standard. Options include setpoint programming, remote front panel, and Westlink process-control software for networking with supervisory computer.

WILLIAMSON CORP.

On-line and/or portable infrared thermometers provide noncontact temperature measurement of thin plastic films, other plastic extrudates, coatings, and molded parts. Instruments for all purposes, from occasional spot-checking of temperature to complete on-line temperature-control systems.

Difficult temperature measurements, such as on tenter frames for extremely thin films, use thermometers employing precise, extremely narrow-band infrared filters. This technique enables device to accurately measure surface temperature of film without looking through the film or being influenced by the background.

Monitoring and controlling temperatures during heating in infrared or hot-oil ovens is possible by measuring product temperature itself, rather than attempting to infer its temperature by measuring air or heater temperatures.

YOKOGAWA CORP. OF AMERICA

Fuzzy-logic 1/8- and 1/4-DIN controllers have built-in and field-selectable universal inputs (nine thermocouples, two RTDs, millivolt, d-c voltage, or current) and outputs (relay, 4-20 mA, or 15-VDC pulse), along with autotuning, externally selectable setpoints, configurable alarms, and other standard features. Fuzzy-logic expert operator interface takes control upon setpoint changes or process upsets so that process variable settles to the target setpoint smoothly and without overshoot. Accuracies between 0.1% and 0.3%; units handle most temperature, level, pressure, or other general-purpose loops. Optional analog retransmission of process variable and RS422-A multiloop communications capabilities.

Pressure Sensors, Monitors, Controls

AMETEK, INC., U.S. GAUGE DIV.

Pressure transducers and transmitters from PMT Product Group. Pressure ranges from 3 to 5000 psi, and various input/output configurations. Millivolt, voltage, frequency, and 4-20 mA outputs available on standard products. Complete media isolation achieved on Model 88 series transmitter with stainless-steel wetted parts.

ANALOGIC CORP.

Model AN2401 1/8-DIN panel-mounted pressure controller with 20 measurements/sec and [+ or -]0.01% accuracy. Isolated input and outputs; five-digit, high visibility vacuum-fluorescent display; push-button setup, calibration, and operation; and programmable filter. Optional dual-relay setpoints, analog output with independent scaling, and RS232 serial interface.

CMC TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.

Piezoresistive, piezoelectric, and straingauge analog and digital pressure transducers, and full line of monitoring and control instrumentation. APT and DPT lines of piezoresistive pressure transducers recommended for injection molding. Digital versions offer serial (RS232/485) output.

Switching-transducer pressure sensor provides continuous analog output, together with on/off actuation at programmed setpoint.

CFT-X tiebar force and strain transducer can be mounted in a smooth, untapped hole in the tiebar because of a proprietary internal mounting insert. A "four-in-one" tiebar balancing gauge (for strain-gauge and piezoelectric sensors) senses and displays stress and strain on all four tiebars simultaneously to aid in balancing. Models 4MO1 and 4MO2 transducers measure in-cavity melt pressure.

Associated instrumentation includes signal conditioners, process and event monitors, and digital and analog controllers. "Hybrid" line accommodates both strain-gauge/piezoresistive and piezoelectric.

MMC-1 four-channel data-acquisition and control system with accompanying software permits real-time display and storage on a PC, as well as full SPC capability. IPC-01 intelligent process controller, which uses either conventional, proportional, or "fuzzy-logic" algorithms, has extensive software capabilities and flexibility in inputs and outputs. End-of-cycle report can be sent to a serial printer or remote PC for SPC data display and collection.

FCM four-channel, general-purpose sensor-display unit is configurable for various transducer types. Applications include tiebar balancing, Mold Mating Force monitoring, and temperature measurement. Mold Mating Force sensors mount on outside of mold on parting line to aid in detecting mold-filling and clamp imbalance, monitoring cavity fill-pressure dynamics, and avoiding flash.

DATA INSTRUMENTS, INC.

Pressure transducers with stainless-steel wetted parts monitor hydraulic pressures to 3000 psi.

DELTA CONTROLS CORP.

Pressure transmitters for ranges from 0 to 40 in. [H.sub.2]O to 3000 psi. Process connections as small as 1/2 in. NPT are available, as are ANSI flanges in various sizes.

DYNISCO INSTRUMENTS

Melt-pressure transducers, pressure indicators, and controllers for extrusion or injection molding:

* PT420 high-accuracy pressure transducer for critical pressure and temperature measurements with [+ or -]5% accuracy in ranges to 30,000 psi.

* PT460 economical pressure transducer with [+ or -]1.0% accuracy in ranges from 500 to 30,000 psi.

* PT460 amplified-output pressure transducer for long-distance transmission without noise interference and easier interfacing with PLCs or computer-based extruder control systems.

* PT240 pressure transmitters for high-temperature applications, including fiber spinning and melt extrusion.

* PT460XL enhanced-performance pressure transducers with extra-thick sensing diaphragm for improved corrosion resistance and high accuracy up to 30,000 psi and 750 F.

* PT130 hydraulic-pressure transducer with contoured sensing diaphragm for greater accuracy, repeatability and fatigue strength.

* PT465XL nozzle-pressure transducer with flexible armored cable for longer life, 8-mil-thick flush diaphragm, and accurate measurements to 30,000 psi and 750 F.

* PT449 direct-cavity pressure transducer mounts flush within the cavity and displays up to 400 F mold and 600 F melt temperatures.

* Indirect cavity-pressure transducers measure pressure from behind an ejector pin or sensing pin, and install easily in space-restricted areas.

* Mechanical/electronic melt-pressure gauges provide local indication on plastic/rubber extruders, easy readability, and resistance to vibration.

* UPC660 pressure controller with microprocessor-based, 1/4-DIN plug-in design, auto/manual mode, dual programmable alarms, fully-adjustable PID control, dual LED displays, selectable mA/v d-c control output, and optional serial communications.

* UPR690 pressure indicator with microprocessor-based, 1/4-DIN plug-in design, analog and digital LED display, low- or high-pressure alarms, optional third alarm and serial communications, pushbutton transducer calibration, selectable voltage or current auxiliary output.

* OPT700 melt-pressure transducer features patented optical system that eliminates need for all fill materials, including mercury, NaK, or silicone oil. It has diaphragm six times thicker than conventional units, offering protection against erosion, corrosion, and mechanical abuse. Series is suitable for applications such as processing medical products, photo film, and food packaging.

* New 1290 and 1291 high-performance indicators. The 1290 accepts direct input from 350-ohm strain-gauge pressure transducers, while the 1291 accepts voltage and current inputs. Both models feature compact 1/8-DIN horizontal design, two alarms, and optional RS485 interface. Fully programmable from front keyboard, units are available with optically isolated voltage or current retransmission outputs.

EUROTHERM CONTROLS, INC.

Model 818 PID melt-pressure controller for extrusion accepts 350-ohm strain-gauge input and incorporates its own transducer power supply. Front panel features auto/manual station and high-visibility dual displays for simultaneous viewing of measured value and setpoint. Simple front-panel procedure calibrates the input transducer. Digital or analog communications available, in addition to two-alarm outputs. Separate rate limits can be applied to setpoint and output signals.

FLO-TECH, INC.

Two digital-readout pressure indicators: Model DPM-100 with 3 1/2-digit resolution and accuracy of 0.25%; and model DPM-150 with 4 1/2-digit resolution and accuracy of 0.15%. Either can be calibrated for engineering units such as psi, tons, force, or any metric units. Readouts designed for use with high-pressure, vacuum, melt-zone, and sanitary sensors. Units have easy-to-read 3/4-in. transflective displays and mount in standard 1/4-DIN panel openings. Rear-terminal, 0-10 v proportional signal is standard. High linearity and 15-kHz response make units suitable for servo or controller connection, as well as recorders. Pressure-sensor cable attaches via locking DIN plug, eliminating improper connection. Other connections use large no. 6 screw terminals. Units can be wired for 120 or 240 v, 50 or 60 Hz operation without internal modification.

GEFRAN INC.

SP series melt-pressure transducers feature low-volume capillary system to ensure highest possible thermal stability, while minimizing risk of process-fluid contamination. Features provide accuracy and fast response to temperature changes, while making the transducer less susceptible to flow erosion. Units reportedly capable of lasting up to 10 times longer than conventional units.

GENTRAN SUB. OF SAFETYTEK CORP.

Melt-pressure transducers and instrumentation. Transducers available in accuracies of 0.5% or 1.0%, stem lengths of 3.5, 6 or 12 in., and pressure ranges from 500 to 20,000 psi. Optional integral cable, metric thread dimensions, corrosion- and abrasion-resistant diaphragms, and waterproof wiring.

Analog and digital pressure indicators available with "D" option, used for triggering alarm relay. Standard voltage outputs of 0-1, 2, 5, and 10 VDC. Optional 4-20 mA output available on all indicators.

GNEUSS, INC.

Extrusion controls and sensors for controlling extruder drive and barrel temperatures, gear pump, and screen changer. Model VM2 viscosity sensor uses two separate pressure-measuring diaphragms: one at the end of the sensor, pointing radially toward the center of the melt stream (as in standard sensors), and a second one on the side of the sensor tip pointing upstream along the melt-flow axis, sensing the motion of the material. Unlike standard sensors, this method distinguishes true viscosity changes from increases in melt pressure resulting from screen blockage. DMV 1000 microprocessor-based melt-pressure amplifier is compatible with many different transducer systems.

Mercury-free transducers work on principle of hydraulic-pressure transfer and are suitable for measurements up to 680 F.

GP:50 NEW YORK LTD.

Melt-pressure transducers and transmitters. Rugged units come in totally encapsulated, all-welded stainless-steel housing. Hybrid integrated-circuit technology allows for a heavier diaphragm. Accuracy to [+ or -]0.25% FSO, optional non-mercury fills, pressure ranges from 0-25 to 0-30,000 psi, choice of signals, combined temperature and pressure measurement from a single unit, and variety of tip configurations.

HARREL, INC.

Microprocessor-based pressure controllers for extrusion aid throughput stabilization by closed-loop feedback control of pressure at the die. Mounted in convenient plug-in 1/4-DIN module, units feature readout of pressure on large LED numerals, plus separate LCD display to allow calibration and mode changes. Both single-channel and differential-pressure control forms. Differential-pressure control particularly useful with melt pumps, where it can greatly increase metering accuracy, and also for control of continuous screen changers.

HONEYWELL INC.

Industrial Automation & Controls Div. offers ST 3000 Smart Pressure Transmitters for process applications where flow, liquid level, gauge pressure, absolute pressure, and even vacuum must be precisely measured and controlled.

With a Smart Field Communicator (SFC), ST 3000 can be remotely configured, re-ranged, diagnosed, and can display process values. A 400:1 turndown ratio allows one ST 3000 to be used for many applications. In its analog mode, ST 3000 is accurate to [+ or -]0.1% of span. In its DE (digitally enhanced) mode, ST 3000 is accurate to [+ or -]0.75% of span or [+ or -]0.15% of reading, whichever is smaller.

HUNKAR LABORATORIES INC.

Provides Gold-Standard pressure sensors and measuring devices. Equipment used in calibration is periodically calibrated and certified to MIL-STD-4566A and complete traceability is available through NIST test numbers of calibration equipment. Sensors and preamplifiers are compared to the Gold-Standard using the certified test equipment. This standardized calibration ensures reliable and accurate data collection.

IMS CO.

Melt-pressure transducer (0 to 20,000 psi) for insertion into injection nozzle. Stocks pressure indicator for use with transducer. (See ads pp. 22, 315.)

IN USA, INC.

Terwin 1100 series pressure transmitters from Terwin Instruments Ltd. of England, designed for plastic and rubber extrusion, have two-wire 4-20 mA output and incorporate company's proprietary force-rod transducers, which are constructed of stainless steel and use no mercury or other toxic substances. Temperature stability is claimed to be better than 0.005% per 0.5 [degrees] F. Pressure ranges from 500 to 30,000 psi and temperature capability to 842 F. All have abrasion-resistant diaphragms, come in a range of stem lengths, and conform to NEMA-12 standards for protection against moisture and dust.

INDUSTRIAL SENSORS, INC. (ISI)

Melt-pressure transducers, gauges, and alarm gauges. High-level output transducers and Factory Mutual-approved transmitters. Completely interchangeable with other brands. Complete line of microprocessor-based instrumentation, 1/4-DIN and 1/8-DIN pressure indicators and 1/4-DIN pressure/temperature indicators. Repair, calibration services, technical assistance, and engineering. ISO 9002 certified.

KISTLER INSTRUMENT CORP.

Flush-mount piezoelectric (quartz) transducer for measuring cavity pressure in injection molding. Unit's 2.5-mm in-cavity sensor is said to be smallest of its kind. Unisens 4-mm sensor offers uniform sensitivity between sensors, allowing mold changeovers without recalibrating system electronics.

Direct and indirect measuring systems available. Transducers that measure tiebar strain ensure even clamp loading and prevent tiebar breakage.

Piezoresistive (silicon-wafer) extrusion pressure sensor operates without a liquid medium and features a long-life, wear-resistant diaphragm.

Line of electronic signal conditioners interfaces transducers to injection molding machine controls. Charge amplifiers control molding machine or provide analog outputs for monitoring and data acquisition. Specialized data-acquisition software for injection molding.

OMEGA ENGINEERING INC.

Pressure sensors and transducers for liquid and gas systems. Measure positive and negative gauge pressure, as well as absolute pressures. Outputs include millivolt, amplified voltages, and current-loop signals. Optional accessories include meters, controllers, signal conditioners, cable, connectors, and tubing.

ON LINE CONTROLS, INC.

MicroAir ultra-low air-pressure regulators control air pressure at 0-1/2 psi, 0-1 psi, 0-3 psi or 0-5 psi.

RJG TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Pressure transducers, monitors, and controllers, and machine-upgrade kits for injection molding.

T-400 series mold-cavity pressure transducers feature rugged, universal design with removable cable, range from 0 to 2000 psi, 0.1% repeatability, and compatibility with slide or button application.

T-2020 peak-reading digital hydraulic-pressure gauge features 1-psi resolution, 0 to 10,000 psi range, and quick disconnect for portability.

T-2015 digital transducer signal conditioner features peak-reading capability, setpoint logic for cavity-pressure control of machine, and autozero for nulling preload before injection.

Dart-1000 single-channel data-acquisition device links pressure transducers or other sensors to a remote PC. Up to 255 modules can be networked via RS485 or RS422. For each cycle, graphic waveforms, summary pressure, and time data are collected.

Dartnet networked process-monitoring system allows plantwide monitoring overview to accomplish repeatable setups, data collection to document good parts, automatic reject part sorting, and machine/process troubleshooting.

SCHAEVlTZ PRODUCTS LUCAS CONTROL SYSTEMS

Pressure sensors built to perform in demanding environments in ranges of 0-0.5 to 0-10,000 psi. Units measure absolute, vented-gauge, or sealed-gauge pressure over wide temperature ranges.

SENSOTEC, INC.

Range of absolute, gauge, and true gauge pressure transducers and transmitters. Transducer technologies include bonded foil, semi-conductor, and sputtered. True-gauge design incorporates additional diaphragm, which seals strain gauges and element in a hermetic chamber, keeping out moisture and potentially corrosive gases. Rugged pressure sensors constructed of stainless steel, as are wetted parts on most transducers. Standard and customized units.

Output ranges include 4-20 mA, 0-5 v; 0-20 mA, 1-10 VDC; +5 VDC; and 0-2 VDC. Also transducers for CIP applications, FM and CENELEC-approved models, in-line amplification, digital outputs such as RS-232 and RS-495, and customized models capable of handling temperatures and pressures.

SENSOTRON, INC.

Melt pressure/temperature transducers and transmitters for extrusion, film extrusion, compounding, blow molding, and injection molding.

Series 400 melt pressure/temperature transducers use silicon-on-sapphire sensing diaphragm, which senses pressure and temperature directly, eliminating need for hazardous mercury and NaK fills. Sapphire diaphragm is 50 times harder than conventional diaphragms and virtually wear-proof. Fast response allows transient pressures to be sensed in precision extrusion applications such as medical tubing or film. Available from 150 to 30,000 psi.

SEN-400 series melt-pressure and pressure/temperature transducers for injection molding nozzle and cavity applications feature wearout-proof sapphire diaphragm, fast response time of 500 microsec, and infinite cycle life at rated pressure. Shorter tip and swivel-thread design make installation easy. Closed-loop nozzle and cavity melt-loop pressure control reportedly improves shot-weight uniformity and part quality by more than 60% over conventional closed-loop hydraulic-pressure control. Ranges available from 150 to 30,000 psi, with outputs of millivolt, 5 VDC, 10 VDC, or 4-20 mA.

TEXMATE INC.

All-welded, all-titanium, miniature flush-mount (3/8-in. diam.) and 10-32 port pressure transducers for hydraulic, weighing, and general-purpose measurement from 25 to 5000 psi. Companion 3 1/2- and 4 1/2-digit displays provided in panel-mount DPMs and bar graphs.

WATLOW/AOV INC.

Pressure sensors and controls include pressure/vacuum sensor, monitor, control, and recording capability. Also distributes wide selection of pressure controllers, monitors, and recorders.

Liquid Temperature-Control Equipment

ADVANTAGE ENGINEERING, INC.

Fluid-circulating equipment for molding, extrusion, and thermoforming includes portable chillers and plantwide central systems. Portable chillers from 1- to 30-ton capacity in air- and water-condensed designs. Central chillers from 10 to 500 tons in air- and water-condensed outdoor and indoor systems.

Water- and oil-circulating mold-temperature controllers. Water units operate between 30 F and 250 F; oil units between 100 F and 500 F.

Cooling-tower systems from 20- to 1000-ton capacity. Metal and fiberglass tower cells. Related pumping equipment can be custom-designed. Open- and closed-loop designs standard. Engineering services included with central cooling systems. Equipment can be computer-connected for remote control and information collection, and data storage in molding cell or plant system. (See ad this page.)

AEC/APPLICATION ENGINEERING

TrueTemp water-temperature control units with 3/4- to 10-hp pumps and standard heater selection from 9 to 24 kw have stainless-steel sheath. Microprocessor control with easy-to-read LED, dual display of setpoint and process temperature, optional SPI communication protocol, and full-feature graphic display panel showing operator status and alarm indication lights. Low-profile cabinet designed for stacking and easy maintenance. Standard options include Vacu-Flow negative/positive-pressure units, system water purge, modulating cooling valve, and closed-loop heat exchanger.

TDW-M TrueTemp series features small footprint and serviceable two-piece cabinet design with hinged electrical panel and operator interface. Compact 9-and 12-kw direct-injection water units include field-proven NX series microprocessor controls with graphic panel and easy-to-read display. "Crash Cool" feature accelerates process cooldown. Optional motorized modulating valve gives high accuracy under varying loads and helps reduce water hammer.

TDH TrueTemp hot-oil unit designed for high-temperature heating and cooling applications from 100 F to 550 F. Self-contained units offer optional U-type heat exchanger, which withstands thermal shock. Standard microprocessor temperature control accurate to 1 [degrees] F.

Portable air- and water-cooled chillers from 1/2 through 40 hp. Also air-and water-cooled central chillers with or without integral pump tank. Integral or remote condenser configurations from 15 to 155 tons. On 15-hp units and larger, Discus compressors are standard to help optimize energy efficiency. New ultra-compact PC air-cooled chillers from 1/2 to 1 1/2 hp have microprocessor controls and are designed for demanding processes where space is limited.

DDW series direct-drive central chillers in models rated from 42 to 159 tons have direct-drive open compressors coupled to industrial-grade motors. Units use 15-20% less energy at 100% load compared with chillers having semi-hermetic compressors.

Space-saving Porta-Kool II chiller line with small footprint in air- and water-cooled models from 2 to 10 tons. Serviceable cabinet design, 30-gal noncorrosive polyethylene reservoir, and nonferrous piping. Standard NX series microprocessor controls accurate to [+ or -]1 [degree] F with dual LED display of setpoint and supply temperature.

Cooling-tower systems for condenser and molding machine hydraulics come in Polymer Tower forced-draft and fiberglass induced-draft models from 30 to 200 tons. (See ad p. 302.)

AFFINITY INC.

Compact, high-capacity chillers with standard remote control. Units from 10,000 to 156,000 Btu/hr, achieve [+ or -]1 [degrees] F stability, and give unrestricted access to all components. Nonferrous coolant loop, no-flow and low-level alarms, hot-gas bypass for long compressor life, high/low-temperature alarms, and high-capacity heat exchanger for high heat-transfer efficiency. Digital-readout (C or F) microprocessor is fully programmable for ramp-to-setpoint and autotuning to prevent thermal shock. Units typically 30% smaller than other chillers.

ALPHA EQUIPMENT CO.

Product line includes:

* Portable chillers, water- and air-condensed, from 2 to 40 hp.

* Central chiller systems, water-and air-condensed, from 20 to 120 hp.

* Dehumidification/air-conditioning systems for plant or molding-room, water- and air-condensed, from 10 to 60 hp.

* Cooling-tower systems from 4 to 1200 tons.

* Cooling-tower cells: fiberglass models from 15 to 110 tons, galvanized models from 6 to 1000 tons.

* Water-filtration systems for cooling-tower water and glycol chilled-water system.

* Automatic water-treatment systems to work with cooling-tower system.

* Liquid temperature controllers, open- and closed-circuit systems, single-and dual-zone units.

* Air-ring coolers for blown film cooling, 800 to 7000 cfm.

* Pump/tank assemblies 150 to 1500 gal, of double-welded steel with multiple pumps, trim and electrical controls.

ALPINE INDUSTRIES, INC.

Water-chilling systems include industrial open-drive chillers with compressors that eliminate motor burnout, costly cleanups or extended downtime; energy-efficiency ratios (EER) of 16 or more; built-in capacity control in response to suction pressure; and positive unloaded start for reduced in-rush power needs. Extra-quiet models and explosion-proof options.

AMA portable air-cooled water chillers on sturdy steel frame and heavy-duty casters have high-efficiency hermetic or semi-hermetic compressor, fully insulated chiller, air-cooled condenser, insulated water reservoir, solid-state temperature controller with readout, built-in freeze-stat, function lights, pressure gauges, and operating and safety controls. Custom options include JIC, NEMA-12, or explosion-proof electricals, automatic alarm system, hot-gas bypass, capacity control or energy-saver, two-speed capacity modulator, dual pumps, heat recovery, glycol low-temperature units, and chilled-water flow switch.

AMW portable water-cooled water chillers are similar in construction to AMA units, but with water-cooled instead of air-cooled condensers. Complete units available with all AMA standard and optional features.

AMCOT COOLING TOWER CO.

Counterflow and crossflow low-noise cooling towers, and high-temperature cooling tower with cooling capacity of 212 F. Induced-draft counterflow design with axial-flow fan mounted on top of tower to draw air out. Low internal pressure loss and bottle-shaped design ensure optimum efficiency and space economy. Casing made of nonrusting fiber-glass-reinforced polyester helps protect against impact damage and cracking. Fill material is honeycomb heat-embossed PVC formed to permit high heat transfer for optimum efficiency and maximum air-to-water contact.

AMERICAN HYDROTHERM CORP.

Roll-heating and cooling control systems use high-temperature water and heat-transfer oils for temperatures from 200 to 700 F. Heat sources include steam, electric heaters, and fuel-fired heaters. Systems shop-assembled with all controls and panels.

AMERICAN JET STREAM, INC.

Beside-the-press, closed-cycle, automatic water chillers from 12,000 to 240,000 Btu/hr. RF coolers use anti-freeze mixture of water and ethylene glycol.

APPLICATION ENGINEERING

See AEC/Application Engineering.

APPLIED PROCESS EQUIPMENT

Water-chilling, water-cooling, water-recovery, and water-filtration systems include portable, central, and heat-pump water chillers in water- or air-cooled versions. Central cooling-tower systems in open and closed systems. Closed systems available with plate-and-frame stainless heat exchangers. All systems come with complete engineering drawings for economical local installation, warranted for a full year on parts and labor.

AQUATEMP INC.

Builds chilled-water systems, air- and water-cooled chillers from 1.5 to 300 tons, water towers, sand and gravel filters, pumps, etc.

BALTIMORE AIRCOIL CO.

Evaporative-cooling equipment includes cooling towers in crossflow and counterflow configuration, with factory-assembled modular units to 2110 tons/32 million Btu/hr, and field-erected towers to 25,000 gpm/cell. Also evaporative condensers, industrial fluid coolers, heat exchangers, thermal-storage units, and microbiological controls.

Factory-assembled equipment available in hot-dipped galvanized steel, fiberglass, or stainless steel. Field-erected models constructed of wood, steel, concrete, or pultruded structural composite materials. Heat exchangers in plate-and-frame and shell-and-tube configurations. Microbiological control employs iodine to control growth of bacteria, slime, and algae.

BERG CHILLING SYSTEMS INC.

Cooling equipment includes central systems equipped with semi-hermetic, open drive or screw compressor, featuring microprocessor controls; air-cooled units with heat recovery; water-cooled units with "free cooling"; clean-water tower systems; prepackaged mezzanine systems; portable chillers; blown-film coolers; temperature-control units; mold-area dehumidifiers; chemical-treatment packages; and water-filtration systems.

Noncorrosive fiberglass towers feature low-hp motors and structural-steel bases.

BUDZAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

Line of chillers, hot-water and hot-oil mold-temperature controllers, cooling towers, and pump-tank sets.

Ice line of chillers in range of styles features self-contained, mid-sized units with refrigeration and water circuits piped and wired, from 13 to 35 tons.

The 7- and 10-ton air-cooled portable chillers use blowers instead of prop fans to move air through condenser coils, allowing use of ducting to control flow of heated air that exits unit. Ranging from 3 to 15 tons in air- and water-cooled configurations.

Central chillers have dual-refrigeration circuits, easily serviceable electricals, and full-unit frames for component protection.

Cooling towers in standard galvanized and FRP configurations from 5 to 175 tons, as well as larger sizes and multiple configurations.

Pump-tank assemblies, sized to flow requirements of each chiller or cooling tower, feature tank covers, prewired electrical enclosures and alarms, as well as standby pumps and custom configurations.

Cooling towers from 20 to 200 tons incorporate three separate methods of temperature control for more precise process-water temperature. Towers matched with pump-tank sets to provide maximum circulation and temperature control.

Mold-temperature controllers in single- and multizone configurations for control to 250 F. Low-watt-density heaters and microprocessor-based temperature controllers.

BTU products cover a variety of water- and oil-temperature controllers for temperatures to 650 F. Single- or multiple-zone configurations; direct-injection and closed-loop arrangements.

CHROMALOX EDWIN L. WIEGAND DIV.

WTCS portable mold-temperature control system in compact 15 x 24 x 25 in. package delivers water at temperatures to 250 F in ratings from 4.5 to 24 kw and open- or closed-loop piping, depending on mineral content of water.

For injection molding and other plastics applications, WTCS system incorporates a 3/4-hp centrifugal pump capable of flow rates of 30 gpm. For maximum reliability, system features automatic air bleed, low-pressure switch, over-temperature protection, pressure-relief valve, and microprocessor controls with easy-to-read digital display and high/low-temperature alarms.

CINCINNATI MILACRON U.S. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Portable chillers from 1- to 30-ton have solid-state or microprocessor-based controls. Central chillers and central-chiller modules offer cooling capacity of 5 to 180 tons in water-cooled configuration and air-cooled capacity of 5 to 30 tons.

Evaporative cooling-tower cells assembled up to 175 tons and larger. Pump-tank sets in basic or full-feature design with diagnostics and standby pumping.

ATC series is a combination closed-system unit with 30-60 F cold-water circuit and a hot-water circuit at 250 F.

Mold-temperature controllers for water and oil from 15 to 100 gpm. Water units have closed or open cooling with solid-state or microprocessor-based controls. Oil units include microprocessor controls and can be supplied with optional cooling circuit. (See ads pp. 10, 58-59, 126-127, 142, 146; data sheets pp. 91-97, 138-139, 159-160.)

CONAIR TEMPRO THE CONAIR GROUP, INC.

Thermolator water-temperature controllers offer selection of control sophistication and exclusive two-piece casting that eliminates up to 40 leak-prone fittings of conventional controllers. Models with tempTrac solid-state controls are single-zone, direct-injection units with pump sizes from 0.75 to 7.5 hp and 9 to 24 kw.

Thermolators with microTrac 2 and microTrac 3 microprocessor controls come in single- or dual-zone, direct-injection models with 9- to 24-kw heating; and single- or dual-zone, closed-circuit models with 9- or 12-kw heating. Higher-kw heating available for closed-circuit models. Pump sizes from 0.75 to 7.5 hp.

Ultra-performance pump, standard on microTrac 3, is optional for all Thermolators and can increase pump performance by up to 50% for improved cooling capacity.

Miniature microtemp water-temperature control units available with choice of 1/3- or 1/2-hp pumps and 3- or 6-kw heaters. Units equipped with cast internal construction, tool-free access panels, and snap-in digital microprocessor controllers.

Thirty-two microTrac portable chillers from 3.25 to 40 hp in air- and water-cooled designs, with choice of two microprocessor controllers. Line includes microKool mini chillers from 1.5 to 5 hp in air- or water-cooled configurations.

Central chillers include outdoor, air-cooled packages from 20- to 160-ton capacity in single-, dual- and multiple-compressor designs. Indoor water-cooled, central units from 10 through 240 tons have single or dual compressors. Copeland semi-hermetic, discus compressors are standard.

Pump-tank assemblies for central systems include 180- to 1100-gal roto-molded PE tanks or epoxy-lined steel or stainless-steel reservoirs from 400 to 4000 gal. Pumps from 1.5 through 100 hp custom-matched to system needs.

Cooling towers come in capacities from 10 to 500 tons or larger. Heavy-duty, multimedia bypass filters available.

COOLING TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Air- and water-cooled chillers, temperature-control units, and cooling-tower systems.

Chiller line includes Mini-Portable (1 to 10 tons), Portable (5 to 40 tons), Multi Circuited (20 to 140 tons) and Direct-Drive (30 to 200 tons). Cooling-tower systems from 10 to 500 tons supplied with metal or fiberglass tower cells. Temperature-control units in sizes from 3/4 to 15 hp.

Company has developed a chiller specifically for extrusion and also has a patent pending on a Direct Freon Injection unit designed to reduce cycle time on hard-to-cool molds.

DELTA COOLING TOWERS, INC.

Polyethylene noncorrosive cooling towers include Pioneer cooling tower and Paragon induced-draft cooling tower constructed of industrial-grade materials for low maintenance cost. Units are modular, preassembled, and lightweight for simple, fast, and economical installation, plus easy future upgrades.

Integrated equipment packages can have automatic process controls completely preassembled, prewired, pre-piped, and skid-mounted.

DELTA T SYSTEMS, INC.

Water- and oil-circulating temperature-control equipment in single- and multi-zone construction, direct-injection or closed-circuit, compact and upright styles. Options include RS232, RS422, RS485; SPI Protocol; special alarms; electrics; JIC; and NEMA 1, 4, and 12 explosion-proof.

Hot-oil systems to 650 F in single- and dual-zone construction with heater sizes from 12 to 300 kw. Flow rates from 10 gpm through 300 gpm, using positive-displacement pumps.

EDWARDS ENGINEERING CORP.

Liquid chillers in 30 models from 1/2 through 240 tons. Air-cooled or water-cooled units have large stainless-steel reservoirs, as well as a walk-in weatherproof equipment enclosure, automatic capacity control from 0-100% with double-pump arrangement, and damage-resistant evaporator design if chiller freezes internally. Also low-temperature (to -100 [degrees] F) and portable units.

Also automatic air elimination, automatic head-pressure control on outdoor air-cooled models, single central control panel, multiple indicating gauges, and closed water system. Indoor or outdoor installation, completely prepiped and prewired, factory tested and shipped ready for installation.

GC INDUSTRIES, INC.

Durable, compact, and self-contained portable chillers are air- and water-cooled in 0.5 to 60 tons and provide coolant in the range of 20 F to 65. F. Hermetic and semi-hermetic units have power-saving hot-gas bypass systems,' noncorrosive stainless-steel and copper heat exchangers, stainless steel pumps and tanks. Air-condensing units have fully sized condensers to maintain capacity at high ambient temperatures. Water-condensing models have water-saving automatic regulating valve. Special low-temperature chillers come with capability down to -40 F.

Central chillers are self-contained or split systems for interior or exterior installation, air- and water-cooled from 5 to 120 tons.

Cooling towers in sizes from 6 to 500 tons. Tank and pump sets for central chillers and cooling towers custom-designed.

HAAKE INC.

Circulator line consists of temperature-control modules and bath vessels. More than 70 circulators, recirculators, and cryostats cover temperatures from -130 F to 720 F.

HAMILTON AVTEC INC.

Direct- or indirect-cooling liquid-temperature controllers in pump sizes from 1/2 to 3 hp and 3-12 kw heating, and solid-state or microprocessor-controlled controls.

The 2000