Extrusion 3-2017

54 kompakt Extrusion 3/2017 ➠ ST Soffiaggio Tecnica s.r.l., www.st-blowmoulding.com n Another ISIT 400 ST Blow Moulding machine has been deli- vered to South America for the production of a new agricultu- ral pesticide sprayer. The design of the new sprayer is highly in- novative and appealing, but its original shape raised some con- cerns for the blow moulding process. So, from the very beginn- Agriculture in Latin America ing of the project, ST has been working alongside the customer to support him with blow moulding expertise and technical ad- vice. All design issues have been openly discussed, and the so- lutions have been agreed taking into account both technical constraints and functional requirements. At the end of the de- velopment process, the mould has been engineered with three independent core movements and injected inserts to be over- moulded. Among the technical characteristics of the machine, it is worth mentioning the plasticizing unit: an extruder with a diameter of just of 50 mm that provides 195 kg/h of HDPE with no over- heating. The high-efficiency plasticization, together with other energy-saving solutions (such as the comprehensive insulation of all heated surfaces and variable-speed hydraulic pumps) put the ISIT 400 machine in the top range of energy efficiency clas- ses according to Euromap rankings. The special focus on customers’ requests has always been a dis- tinctive feature of ST Blow Moulding’s approach to any new project: the company builds long-term partnerships with their customers by sharing their challenges and ambitions. ➠ Davis-Standard, LLC, www.davis-standard.com ➠ Mid South Extrusion, www.midsouthextrusion.com nents, even on non Davis-Standard brands, is one of its most valued services to customers. Specific to blown film, these ca- pabilities were further augmented in 2016 with the acquisition of Gloucester Engineering Company (GEC). The option to add new technology, improve processing rates and support new ap- plications without purchasing a new line enables company’s li- ke Mid South to get the most out of every equipment invest- ment. “The recent upgrades will support reliability and quality for many years to come,” said Henagan. “With ongoing invest- ment and our dedicated team of employees, Mid South custo- mers can continue to expect the very best films on the market.” n The installation of a new 6-inch (150mm) Davis-Standard ex- truder and strategic line upgrades have enabled Mid South Extrusion of Monroe, Louisiana, to improve throughputs while delivering a broader slate of HDPE procession options. The mo- dernizations were made to an existing Davis-Standard blown film line that has been in continuous operation for nearly 30 years. Mid South, a leading North American supplier of converting and process films for industrial packaging markets, has been a Davis- Standard customer since opening its doors in 1986. The larger MAC extruder along with a new feedscrew, screen changer and control system have enabled Mid South to boost processing rates and options for different HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE films on an existing line while minimizing downtime. This project took approximately six months from order to installa- tion, accommodating Mid South’s customer scheduling. Mid South chose a smooth bore extruder to allow flexibility for a wider range of materials. “We have a strong history of infrastructure reinvestment and are always looking to make operational improvements. Projects like this have a very short return on investment and open the door to greater opportunities,” said Mike Henagan, Executive Vice President of Operations at Mid South. “The extruder and upgrade decisions were based on improved performance, qua- lity and material selection. Davis-Standard is the only extruder manufacturer we trust for smooth bore technology for HDPE. Most manufacturers only offer groove feed. We also appreciate the timely delivery and installation, which allowed us to avoid production conflicts.” Davis-Standard’s ability to seamlessly upgrade line compo- Upgrades Expand Film Capabilities Left to right: Jeff Kennedy, Production Manager, Mid South Extrusion and Mike Henagan, Executive Vice President of Operations, Mid South Extrusion