Extrusion International 6-2019

23 Extrusion International 6/2019 roboTest N – Fully Automated Small Series Testing in the Lab Digitalization, buzzword “Industry 4.0”, is still the main industry topic worldwide. For years, permanently installed robot systems in testing labs have been performing one suc- cessful test after another. They relieve qualified personnel from tedious and boring series testing, whether it be 100 specimens or 1000. A ZwickRoell innovation has elevated this concept to new heights: from now on, with roboTest N even small series tests can be quickly and easily automated. Up until today, constantly changing series with small num- bers of specimen could not be efficiently processed with a ro- botic testing system: both the hardware and software instal- lation was too cumbersome. With ZwickRoell’s roboTest N, the first collaborating robotic system for materials and com- ponents testing, even small test series can be processed fully automatically. The Cobot is fully integrated with the Zwick- Roell automation software autoEdition 3 , and can be used entirely, without a robot operator panel. Special knowledge of robot programming or operations is not required. The ro- boTest N easily and flexibly supports employees in the test- ing laboratory with monotonous or time-consuming tests. Integration of individual company specimen magazines that, for example, were manufactured with 3D printing process- es, underlines the adaptability of the system and where ap- plicable, extends the workday based on the capacity of the magazine. With its compact, space-saving design, the Cobot is easily implemented in existing testing labs, especially since it does not require complex operator safety measures due to its safe construction. ZwickRoell GmbH & Co. KG www.zwickroell.com roboTest N for sample feeding for a bending test (Source: ZwickRoell) Commitment to Plastics Recycling stepped up On 3 October, Borealis and Ecoplast celebrated the successful conclusion of a strategic investment at their plastics recycling lo- cation inWildon, Styria/Austria. Ecoplast processes plastic waste from both domestic and industrial consumers into top qual- ity recyclate and now its existing production capacity has been boosted with an ultramodern polyethylene (PE) film recycling line. The new plant improves operational procedures and raises markedly the output of recycled material. It also represents a move that enables Borealis to further consolidate its presence in the plastics recycling field, especially in its home country of Austria. In August 2018 Borealis acquired Ecoplast Kunststoffrecycling GmbH in addition to mtm plastics GmbH and mtm compact GmbH, one of the largest European producers of post-con- sumer polyolefin recyclates in Germany. The Ecoplast company in Wildon, Austria, processes post-consumer plastic waste into high-quality recyclate, which is predestined primarily, but not exclusively, for the plastic film market. The current investment was already planned prior to the company purchase. The investment at the Ecoplast constitutes an appropriate re- sponse to rising market demand for recycled material and facili- tates a 60% rise in production capacity. This meets the market need for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) recyclate, which is the preferred raw material for film packaging, while securing un- changed top quality levels. With this sizeable capacity increase, Borealis has again underlined its leading position and pioneer- ing role with respect to the furtherance of circularity in the plas- tics industry. The newmechanical recycling system employs a fully automatic process for the preparation and comminution of plastic wastes, as well as optimized washing technology and improved near- infrared (NIR) sorting steps. Owing to their differing chemical compositions, the various types of plastic absorb the NIR waves and can therefore be classified with a high degree of homoge- neity. This not only reduces the amounts ofwaste, but also raises yield and permits more economic operation plant operation. Borealis AG www.borealisgroup.com F.l.t.r.: Lukas Intemann, Managing Director Ecoplast; RaimundWoitsch, Managing Director Ecoplast; Ton Emans, President Plastics Recyclers Europe; Helmut Walch, Mayor of Wildon; Guenter Stephan, Borealis Head of Mechanical Recycling (Photo: © Peter Reiter)