KraussMaffei Berstorff at the NPE: Solutions for the construction industry

"Our people help shape your success"—this is the slogan with which KraussMaffei Berstorff is presenting at the NPE in Orlando with a series of groundbreaking machines for the construction industry. Once again the company is underscoring its leading position as a system provider of premium-quality pipe and profile systems. For example, the KMD 73 K/P conical twin-screw extruder demonstrates performance and flexibility. The QuickSwitch calibration basket up to 500 mm stands as an example for a high degree of automation.

Booming construction industry requires high-performance profile extruders

KMD 73 K/P conical twin-screw extruder with high output for profile extrusion

"Particularly in North America, we are seeing a very high demand for conical profile machines that can be used both as main extruders and as coextruders," explains Matthias Sieverding, President of Extrusion Technology in the KraussMaffei Group. "Since introducing the conical extruder series to the American market in 2013, we have sold more than 40 models," Sieverding says.As the company stresses, the KMD 73 K/P on exhibit stands out especially because of its very high output, robust machine quality and high pressure stability. These are properties that processors in window profile production—particularly for mass-produced goods—regard as the most important deciding factors. The sophisticated process concept makes the series extremely process-reliable and simultaneously very flexible for using various formulations. The optionally available bimetallic lining of the barrel paired with a tungsten carbide welded screw—a requirement of the North American market—also enables use in pipe extrusion. Space-saving and customer-specific designed coextrusion models can also be installed in the smallest of spaces for efficient production.

Automation and digitalization thanks to QuickSwitch Technology

QuickSwitch calibration basket—heart of the technology for automatically changing dimensions in the 280–500 mm range

"In light of the ever-increasing amount of digitalization and customization, our unique QuickSwitch system, which has proven itself over many years, plays a pioneering role," Sieverding states.

"At the NPE, we are presenting the calibration basket—the heart of this proven technology—which is now regarded as the benchmark for efficiency," Sieverding adds.

The exhibit demonstrates the effective diameter range from 11.023 to 19.685 inches (280 – 500 mm). The system is of interest particularly for large pipe dimensions, because when a change is made to another dimension, the low quantity of waste has an extremely positive impact on the material costs. All process parameters can be set exactly, stored in the higher-level, intelligent all-in-one control system and called up again at any time. "In addition to the enormous cost and time savings, product customization, demand for the smallest possible batch sizes and short delivery times are what make the system so interesting to the 'smart factory' in the sense of Industry 4.0—a topic that American processors are dealing with more and more," Sieverding says in conclusion.

High pipe quality thanks to downstream units

With its KM-VT 250/1/6 vacuum tank, KraussMaffei Berstorff underscores its expertise as a system provider of complete pipe extrusion systems that guarantee finished products of premium quality. The integrated vacuum control and the frequency-controlled pumps, which are fully integrated into the C6 line control system, provide for optimum activation, energy savings and uniform product quality.