Page 62 - Plastics News March 2020

proDuCt news

W&H offers TURBOSTART to Nordson opens Pelletizing and

stop and restart blown film lines Melt delivery laboratory
50 percent faster

he W&H Group has recently announced the launch ribbon-cutting ceremony by Nordson Corporation
Tof a new automation module called TURBOSTART. A today marked the startup of an extensively
Besides being used to stop and restart blown film lines equipped process laboratory to serve the Americas
50 percent faster, it is safe and easy to use. It is to be market for pelletizing systems and melt delivery
noted that film manufacturers always work to optimize
their machine utilization and film quality. Observing that
film manufacturers stop and start their lines at least
once a day or more for cleaning and maintenance, Martin
Backmann, head of R&D extrusion at W&H explains that
starting and stopping a line leads to loss of time and
quality fluctuations but it is unavoidable. Talking about
TURBOSTART, Martin, says, “Our goal was to develop a
system that makes the process fast, safe and simple and
TURBOSTART is the answer.” Stating that a good operator
needs at least 30 minutes to stop and restart a machine,
Martin informs that TURBOSTART takes 15 minutes. The
work steps have been designed to be as simple as possible, equipment. Installed at an existing Nordson facility
he adds. The operator can activate TURBOSTART and in Hickory, North Carolina, the new laboratory has a
control the process at the touch of a button on a screen pelletizing line with throughput capacity up to 1,000 lb/
of the PROCONTROL operating panel.The manual work on hr (450 kg/hr). The line includes a twin screw extruder,
the machine has been automated to the greatest possible BKG® pelletizer, Optigon™ self-cleaning process water
extent in TURBOSTART. Martin observes that until now, in and pellet drying system, and jet cleaner for removing
order to prevent quality problems caused by air inclusions, polymer residue from die plates. Both underwater and
the operator had to cut the bubble with a knife at the water ring pelletizers are available for testing. Melt
top of the haul-off. He stresses, “This costs time and is delivery components include three HiCon™ screen
changers (backflush, continuous, and discontinuous
types), a BlueFlow™ gear pump, and a HyFlex™ diverter
valve. For evaluating materials to be processed, the
facility also provides rheological analysis.“The new
BKG technical center is the latest example of Nordson’s
global commitment to support the needs of customers
and prospects with local, state-of-the-art laboratories,”
said Kevin Tuttle, business director for the Americas.
“The move is part of our company’s overall strategy
for business growth and our continued investment in
the BKG Americas business.”The laboratory enables
existing and prospective customers to see BKG systems
in operation for comparison with competing products,
evaluate new formulations, carry on application
development, and train equipment operators.The new
a safety hazard. TURBOSTART takes over this work step Nordson BKG laboratory at Hickory enables customers
fully automatically.” Due to its simple handling and high
level of automation, TURBOSTART enables every operator and prospects to do application development and test
to stop and start the system efficiently and safely. runs without sacrificing productivity in their own plants.

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