Page 67 - Plastics News April 2024

IN THE NEWS

New Blown-Film Cooling Technologies Set to Debut at NPE2024

In the new air ring, air volume is con-
trolled by a series of “fingers” that
open or close to put more or less
cooling air on the film, which thick-
ens or thins the film out. On a 12-inch
air ring, there are 168 control zones,
with 200+ control zones on larger
systems. But the real key to this new
technology is a proprietary mapping
algorithm. When combined with Ad-
dex’s third-generation controller,
software and hardware package, the
system regulates not only the air ring
but also the die rotation.
Explains Cree, “On lines with oscillat-
ing haul-offs, the film is turning at the
top, creating a twist that most proces-
sors have heard about, but in this case
ooling specialist Addex to roll out The new air ring system operates the die is fixed. It’s easier to make
Cnew auto-profiling air ring for ro- similarly to Addex’s gauge-controlling proper adjustments if the die is sta-
tating dies, and new single-plenum air EGC-based systems, which are com- tionary, but rotating dies add another
ring. monly found on stationary dies, but dimension to the auto-profile process
with several added enhancements.
Addex is taking the wrap off two that throws a huge monkey wrench
new products for blown film cool- Addex previously was able to achieve into algorithm calculations.”
ing at NPE2024, May 6-10, in Or- industry standard (for a stationary die) Adds Gautam Jagannathan, Addex’s
lando, Florida, Plastics Technology has 50% reduction in gauge variation on software specialist and senior field
learned exclusively. rotating dies only by combining the service engineer, “Our control algo-
EGC system with its internal bubble
One is an auto-profile system for ro- cooling (IBC)-based cousin, the Inter- rithm now has to compensate not
tating dies, based on its high-resolu- nal Gauge Control (IGC). only for the twist but also the die ro-
tion EGC (external gauge control) air tation, which turned out to be a seri-
ring, that’s capable of reducing gauge At NPE2024, Addex will debut a new ous mind-bender. The industry stand-
variation by 50%. It’s already in oper- External Gauge Control air ring for ard mapping capability is ±5 degrees
ation on a single-layer line at a Crayex blown film applications utilizing rotat- for stationary dies, but we are getting
plant in Georgia, and at another undis- ing dies. A 12-in. air ring will have as ±1 degree of mapping even on rotat-
closed film processor in South Caro- many as 168 control zones. “Fingers” ing die systems, including both the
lina. While rotating dies are perceived open or close to direct more or less twist and the die rotation, and that’s
by some as passé, the fact is there are cooling air to specific locations on the something that nobody else can do.”
many still in operation, according to bubble as needed. Source: Addex Addex’s first foray into auto-profil-
Addex CEO Bob Cree, particularly on But with the new system, the IGC is ing for blown film dates back to the
blown film lines making stretch films. no longer required. This significantly 1990s, when it installed a system at
Cree adds, “We see them operating cuts the cost of a system down to the a blown film processor that was us-
in companies big and small. And many same range as conventional systems ing the company’s IGC. At that time,
companies running rotating dies think on stationary dies, but with the same Cree recalls, “The control algorithms
the only way they can improve thick- performance achieved with the IGC for the IGC were different from to-
ness variation is to buy a new line.” add-on. day’s EGC, so when we combined the

PLASTICS NEWS 69
April 2024