Extrusion International 6-2024-USA

43 Extrusion International 6/2024 Precise wall thickness distributions in turn minimize material consumption. Here is an example: If the target wall thickness of 6.2 mm of a 200 mm PO pipe with SDR 33 varies within a narrow tolerance range between 6.22 and 6.48 mm instead of the usual up to 7 mm, around 1 million euros in rawmaterial costs can be saved per year at a throughput rate of 1,000 kg/h and calculated with 1.50 Euro per kg/HDPE and 7,000h production p.a. Due to the design of the tools fast color change times sup- port the raw material savings. In large-diameter pipe production, the so-called sag- ging effect is particularly important for the economic efficiency of a line. If this can be prevented as far as pos - sible, it makes a decisive contribution to the efficiency of the line. Here, too, considerable improvements have been achieved in recent years through new develop- ments in the area of the pipe head. “Thanks to the combination of minimized energy and raw material costs, our pipe lines are economically very attractive. The process engineering design of the NG se- ries also increases product quality and minimizes scrap and overweight. A win-win solution, both economically and ecologically,” summarizes Andreas Türk. battenfeld-cincinnati GmbH Grüner Weg 9, 32547 Bad Oeynhausen, Germany www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY Customised Extruders for All Cases "Customised models are standard for us," says Josef Dobrowsky, founder and owner of CONEXTRU GmbH from Austria. "To my knowledge, no other machine manufacturer builds single-screw extruders for pipe and profile production faster and more customised than we do." The reasons for this, lie in the extrusion expert's more than 40 years of experience as well as in short decision-making processes and perfectly coordinated production steps. Since its foundation in 2008, CONEXTRU has devel- oped from a pure consulting and service company into a machine manufacturer for extruders. Almost 50 machines have already been installed worldwide, and many process units of third-party extruders have been replaced and optimised. The company attaches great importance to every component, from the motor and gearbox to the processing unit with barrel and opti- mised screw design through to suitable wear protection and control systems. The arguments why even large processors opt for ex- truders from a small, specialised extruder manufactur- er are many: short delivery times and expertise that de- viates from the standard and results in extruders with high performance and low energy consumption, an optimum price/performance ratio and simple opera- tion. CONEXTRU C series extruders are ideally suited to produce profiles made of ABS, PC, PS, PPS or PA, for the extrusion of single-layer pipes made of PE or PP and as coextruders for multilayer pipes. A machine portfolio with different screw diameters and process lengths of 25, 30, 37 and 40 L/D for output rates between 10 and 2,000 kg/h is available for all these applications. Individuality begins with the drive "Of course, we also work with a certain standard, but only when it makes sense for the customer's applica- tion," explains Josef Dobrowsky. After a detailed con- sultation, the customised design of his extruders begins with the selection of a suitable drive. Depending on the customer's energy consumption requirements, CON- EXTRU extruders are equipped with an energy-saving, gearless torque motor or a conventional motor-gear- box design with an AC motor. The customised drive concept even includes the com- bination of the motor with single-stage, two-stage or three-stage gearboxes. Their shortest design is the three-stage gearbox motor combination. The frame de- sign is also customised, with an extruder platform and a slim version for small available space in addition to a low boy version for overhead arrangements. Process understanding facilitates design The processing unit is the centrepiece of every ex- truder. When designing, CONEXTRU's fundamental aim Author Josef Dobrowsky