Extrusion International 2-2025

36 Extrusion International 2/2025 EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY, PROCESSING Continuity and process stability thanks to automation As a continuous lter, the COBRA lter has two l - ter inserts, one of which is always active in production mode and the other either in stand-by mode or in inter- mediate cleaning. The automated switchover ensures a smooth changeover between the inserts. The status of the lter inserts is constantly checked by the system and, if necessary, the COBRA lter automatically initiates the cleaning and changeover process. All the operator has to do is con rm this on the user interface – no further manual intervention is required. The process thus con- tinues to run stably and safely without interruption. Operator-related deviations in the switching process, operating errors or delays, all of which could affect the process, cannot occur. Effortless inline cleaning – effective and safe The highlight of the COBRA lter is the integration of BBE’s White Filter Cleaning technology (WFC). This process enables absolutely chemical-free and environ- mentally friendly intermediate cleaning of the lter in - serts using hot steam alone and extends the lter’s ser - vice life many times over. BBE has already had WFC in its product portfolio as a stand-alone solution for sev- eral years. Now, for the rst time, the cleaning system is integrated directly into a lter, bringing additional advantages, like cleaning speed and wear-reduction. Production and cleaning becomes an alternating inter- action. Only after multiple operating/cleaning cycles (the exact number depends on product and degree of soiling) is it necessary to completely remove the lter insert for a service check and full cleaning. The WFC cleaning process only takes around 10 hours, whereas conventional cleaning takes several days. Filtration and cleaning form a self-contained, automated system that guarantees process and operating safety in equal measure: The operator does not have to handle melt or chemicals. Development goals: Simpli ed handling, economic ef ciency BB Engineering pursued clear objectives when devel- oping the COBRA lter: in addition to adapting the sys - tem to the growing challenges arising from increasing levels of contamination in recycling, BBE focused on sim- plifying lter changes and cleaning processes through automation as well as signi cant savings in operating costs. And that has been successful. Comparing the CO- BRA lter with other ne lters with a throughput of 2000 kg/h reveals a saving of 40% in pure operating costs. This saving results from various aspects. One sig- ni cant part of the savings comes from the reduction of melt loss through back ush-cycles. Another key point is the continuous operation with signi cantly longer ser - vice life thanks to the integrated cleaning with steam. This is linked to reduced use of spare parts and consum- ables due to the gentle treatment, conversion costs and a lower energy requirement, as no heating and cooling phases and generally lower cleaning tem-peratures are required. Costs of chemicals are completely elimi-nated. Automation reduces personnel costs due to the low operat-ing effort and training requirements. In terms of operation, the COBRA lter is also very safe – the closed system of ltration and cleaning without chemicals eliminates many of the risks associat-ed with conven- tional lters and cleaning methods, such as the risk of injury and re. The cost savings are even more far-reaching if you ex- tend the consideration to the downstream processes. The outstanding cleaning performance of COBRA saves a great deal of effort, interruptions and further process- ing. The new COBRA lter was presented to the public for the rst time at the PRSE in Amsterdam at the begin - ning of April. BB Engineering GmbH www.bbeng.de www.smart-extrusion.com