Coperion: Compounding industrial regrind and controlling pellet colour on-line

At this year´s Fakuma 2008 Coperion GmbH (www.coperion.de) will be presenting a number of innovative applications and current additions to its range of high-performance compounding systems. These systems are used worldwide for the compounding, filling and reinforcing of engineering plastics and for the production of all kinds of masterbatch. Coperion´s Fakuma highlights include

• a ZSK MEGAcompounder PLUS with a 40 mm diameter screw equipped for the processing of pure industrial regrind – i.e. regrind that is sorted by type and free from impurities – together with glass fibres and/or minerals and additives into high-grade granulates for the injection moulding of industrial components;

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• a new on-line colour control system for the direct scanning of granules, making the production of ready-to-use pigmented compounds even easier and more economical. Coperion has signed an agreement with the developer of this ROC ColorControl Process, the company ROC OpticalControl GmbH, Münster near Dieburg/Germany, for the exclusive distributorship. Thus Coperion has further augmented its position in the market as a supplier of complete customized systems.

This on-line colour control system automatically extracts a sample of pellets immediately downstream of the pelletizing unit, transports it to a scanning bench and spreads it out evenly. A spectral camera scans the sample line by line, while special software evaluates the readings and ascertains the colour of the pellets. To ensure a correct result, the system makes allowance, for example, for the stress-whitened zones along the chopped edges of the pellets. The results are already available after 2 or 3 minutes and can be immediately used for further colour correction. Not only can the ROC ColorControl system monitor several compounding lines at the same time but it also avoids the time-consuming injection moulding of specimens, thus considerably reducing the overall time needed for colour control and correction. Moreover, the compounding line produces a negligible quantity of granules with defect in colour. Through these savings alone, the on-line colour control system will pay for itself within a relatively short time.

The processing of industrial regrind into high-grade, glass fibre reinforced injection moulding compound makes the same high demands on the compounding extruder as the compounding of engineering plastics. It was precisely for this reason that the future operator of the compounding line exhibited in Friedrichshafen, the company Diedler Kunststoffe GmbH, Neuenstein/Germany, decided in favour of the ZSK 40 Mc PLUS, which displays excellent melting characteristics and is equipped with a side feeder for glass fibres and minerals. A highly efficient vacuum venting system removes all volatile matter, especially the moisture entrained into the extruder by the reinforcing agents. The extremely high wear resistance that distinguishes this compounding extruder is absolutely essential on account of the highly abrasive fillers and additives. For practical reasons, the operator chose the "compact" version, in which the control cabinet containing the entire electrical and electronics equipment is space-savingly incorporated in the machine frame. Apart from connecting the extruder to the power and water supply, no installation work is necessary and the extruder can be put into operation as easily as any plug-and-play device.

FAKUMA 2008, Friedrichshafen, 14.-18. October 2008, Hall A6, Stand 6316

Coperion GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany

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