Extrusion International 6-2017

37 Extrusion International 6/2017 ProTec Polymer Processing’s presence at this year’s Fakuma will showcase potential Industry 4.0 applications for SOMOS batch dosing units and resin dryers. As a one-stop shop suppli- er for materials handling, ProTec is presenting the capabilities of its components to communicate and interact in interlinked injection molding, extrusion and blowmolding systems. Full-featured PLC controller ProTec is demonstrating efficient, Industry 4.0 materials han- dling with various SOMOS products: Batchmix dosing and mixing systems, the RDT-250 stationary resin dryer and RDM mobile dryers. These product ranges have been progressively introduced with a new, uniformdesign. This has met with suc- cess and ProTec is very pleased with its healthy order book in particular from Germany and other European countries. All SOMOS dryers and dosing units are fitted with network- compatible PLC controllers. Their 6” color touchscreen with graphical user interface ensures intuitive operation. Once in- terlinked with injection molding machines, extruders, as well as peripheral components and conveyors using a wide variety of available interfaces, the components can communicate with one another in real time. For instance, a SOMOS dosing unit’s PLC controller can control an extruder’s throughput. Drying and dosing with quality control and high process reli- ability If the PLC controllers receive error messages from other sys- tem components, they adapt their operations accordingly. In the reverse direction, the controllers transmit authoriza- tions or report any faults. Numerous formulations can also be stored in and retrieved from the internal storage devices of the dosing units and dryers. Moreover, the controller can document all manufacturing parameters, so ensuring end-to- end quality control and utter process reliability. Gravimetric Batchmix units for accurate mixing and dosing SOMOS Batchmix Industry 4.0 capable gravimetric dosing and mixing systems can handle throughputs of up to 1,920 kg/h. The only batch dosing units developed and manufactured in ProTec Polymer Processing www.sp-protec.com Germany, they can supply injection molding machines and extruders with homogeneous mixtures of up to six flowable components. Weighing and mixing bins each fitted with two load cells ensure accurate, reproducible dosing. In addition to the Batchmix M and Batchmix L models, which will be shown at Fakuma, the range is rounded out with a third XL model for large throughputs. Efficient resin dryers for stationary and mobile use The new design resin dryers which ProTec is presenting at its booth are also fitted with a PLC controller. Of the SOMOS sta- tionary dry air dryers, it is the RDT-250 for moderate pellet throughputs of up to 200 kg/h which is being shown. Up to a maximumof sixmultichamber dryingmodules with capacities of between 50 l and 300 l canbe combined to forma drying system. The mobile auxiliary dryer range is represented at Fakuma by the RDM-20/50, RDM-40/100 and RDM-70/200 models A sixth model has just recently been added to the top of the range, meaning throughputs of between 5 and 150 kg/h can now be handled. The mobile units which comprise a dry air generator and single chamber drying bin are particularly suitable for the versatile pre-processing of frequently changing pellet types. Energy-saving dryers respond to pellet throughput and water content All stationary and mobile RDT and RDM models offer drying temperatures of 60°C to 140°C as standard, with high tem- perature variants for up to 180°C being available as an option, which can also be retrofitted. Smart energy-saving systems make the dryers particularly resource-efficient: drying air vol- ume is matched to throughput and regeneration cycles are controlled on the basis of the actual water content of the pel- lets. The dryers are also simple to install, clean and maintain. Integrated dry air conveying for automatically charging pro- cessing machines is available as an option. ProTec : batch dosing units and resin dryers The ProTec booth at FAKUMA 2017