Extrusion International 6-2019

47 Extrusion International 6/2019 At its trade fair booth, the battenfeld-cincinnati Group ex- hibited a fast-dimension-change pipe head, which permits dimensional changes during ongoing pipe production, as well as two new Spider pipe heads for PVC processing. With these three models designed and manufactured in- house, the extruder specialist demonstrated its enormous expertise in the field of extrusion heads. The two PVC pipe heads belong to the new generation of Spider heads (NG), which offer the advantages of low material consumption and narrow tolerances resulting from optimized layout. The Spider NG 160 mono-layer head is suitable for pipes with dimensions ranging from 32 to 168 mm and output rates from 250 to 800 kg/h, the 3-layer Spider NG 250-3 for pipes from 110 to 250 mm in diameter and outputs from 400 to 850 kg/h. Both these heads was shown directly in combination with suitable extruders. While the mono Spider is flanged onto a conical conEX NG-65 twin screw extruder, the practical example involving the 3-layer pipe head, Spider NG 250-3, is part of an extremely space-sav- ing piggyback solution. The smaller conical twin screw ex- truder model conEX NG 54 was shown mounted on top of the twinEX 93-34 R parallel twin screw extruder with a pipe head. With the latest further development of its proven pipe die series, battenfeld-cincinnati has managed to meet all at once the various demands from customers for low mate- rial consumption, a wide process window, high through- put rates and low investment costs. The 3-layer-Spider of the new generation comes with a completely new design. Here, the middle layer is distributed via spider-type man- drel geometry. It ensures that an extremely wide range of different materials, such as compounds with high filler content, regrind mixtures and even foaming compounds can be processed without any problems. A spider-type mandrel which offers the same advantages is also used for the inner layer. The flow channel geometry of the outer layer consists of several coat hanger distributors posi- tioned around the circumference and a matching pre-dis- tribution unit supplying themwith even flow quantities. In this way, extremely narrow wall thickness tolerances can be achieved. What is more, this system shows excellent flushing proper- ties. The pipe manufacturer who has been testing this die in practice for some time is very satisfied with its lowmate- The New PVC Pipe Heads Already Tested in Practice rial consumption and narrow pipe tolerances. The Spider NG 250-3 was presented to the public for the first time at the K 2019. Not only the 3-layer dies, but also the mono- layer heads have been completely revised. From the K on- wards, the pipe heads of the Spider NG series are available in six sizes for pipe diameters ranging from 6 to 630 mm. With the help of flow simulation, the performance of the well-known mono dies has been significantly improved in the course of their re-design. The newly developed “twin compression” concept is ap- plied here, which enables the production of pipes with op- timal wall thickness tolerances and virtually without spider lines. The inner surfaces can also be adapted according to customers’ wishes. The new distribution concept is round- ed off by numerous design optimizations, which substan- tially simplify the change of die sets in particular and thus minimize changeover times. From this series, too, a model already being tested in prac- tice is proving successful in every respect. By the way, new- generation Spider pipe dies for twin-strand lines are also available. battenfeld-cincinnati www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com TwinEX with conEx NG 54 piggyback and Spider NG 250-3 pipe head