Extrusion International 4-2019

32 Extrusion International 4/2019 PIPE EXTRUSION SICA, thanks to over fifty-year of experience in the development and marketing of downstream machin- ery for plastic pipe extrusion lines, has produced and installed numer- ous machines dedicated to the haul- off and cutting of large diameter and thickness HDPE pipes. The new SICA P3500/24 Plus multi- caterpillar haul-off, capable of hauling pipes up to 3.5 m /(138 in.) diameter, represents the new tech- nical reference in the downstream machinery world for extremely large HDPE pipe extrusion lines. Despite being able to achieve maximum pulling force equal to 900.000 N (≈ 200.890 lbf) using all its 24 caterpil- lars, it still guarantees reduced ener- gy consumption thanks to the adop- tion of high-performance mechanical transmissions and requires minimum level of maintenance. its considerable size and allowing a particularly wide range of process- able diameters (from DN2000 to DN3500). Robust pipe supports with electric handling both on entry in and exit from the haul-off complete the standard equipment, making the management of the pipes simplified and safe, despite the sizes and ex- treme weights. Ultimately, SICA’s proposal for haul- offs for HDPE lines is complete, and combines maximum performance and minimum energy consumption, ease of use and process versatility, operational safety and environmen- tal awareness, all of which are indis- pensable today. SICA S.p.A. Via Stroppata 28 48011 Alfonsine (Ra), Italy www.sica-italy.com The global market of HDPE pipes for the transport of pressurized fluids shows a continuous and growing interest in large-diameter thick-walled pipes, considering that lines for pipes with two-meter (6.56 ft.) diameter and wall thicknesses greater than 140 mm (5.5 in.) are already commonplace today New Haul-Off for Extrusion Lines of Large Dimension and Thickness HDPE Pipes To confront the oily behavior of poly- olefins, all rubber pads of the cater- pillars are made with new and special compounds. Their specific anti-wear properties combined with high con- tact friction, allow highly effective gripping action and a surprising in- crease in the average life of the pads. To avoid malfunctioning on these ex- traordinary dimensions lines, the new haul-off has been equipped with cut- ting edgemanagement software and specific devices that constantly check the efficiency state of the machine during the pulling phase. Examples of these devices are: redundant en- coders for precise speed monitor- ing, and digital pressure sensors for continuous monitoring of working pressures and caterpillar tensioning force. Moreover, the independent control of each caterpillar makes this machine extremely versatile despite P3500/24 Plusmulti-caterpillar haul-off for pipes up topipes up to3.5m(138 in.)