Extrusion International 6-2023

38 Extrusion International 6/2023 EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES Highly Innovative – and a Technology Leader in the Extrusion Industry battenfeld-cincinnati has long been one of the most innovative medium-sized companies in the field of plastic processing and extrusion technology in Germany and Austria. This is evident in the company's unique patent performance as well as in its sustainability strategy. New, environmentally friendly processes are promoted, as well as the use of renewable energy. The goal is to achieve results that impress on all levels: with top-notch technology as well as a strong carbon footprint. S ince its founding in 1943, battenfeld-cincinnati has been developing solutions with well thought-out standard machines and custom-made special produc- tions tailored to specific customer needs that simultane - ously advance the industry. The company's success story is built on its extensive technical expertise. With 600 em- ployees, the group is now present at five locations in four countries – in Germany, Austria, China, and the USA. Cus- tomers from various sectors, from the construction indus- try to water management, consciously rely on the exper- tise of this specialized supplier. The range now includes individually manufactured components as well as opti- mally coordinated complete systems. Customers benefit from customized solutions for various applications in the areas of pipe, profile, sheet, film and pelletizing as well as a comprehensive portfolio of single and twin-screw extruders, tools, downstream equipment, calendars and laminating systems of extrusion-based lines, machines, and systems. Additionally, the new standardized pipe line design was recently awarded the IF Award*. According to the motto "Sustainable Solutions World- wide," the focus on energy efficiency, digitization and sustainability is increasing. The space-saving, mainte- nance-friendly, flexible, and powerful machines and components are also known for their economic efficien - cy and user-friendliness. "We manufacture all units from the extruder to the cal- ibration and cooling unit, the vacuum tank to the cutting unit and tilting table ourselves," emphasizes Managing Director Gerold Schley underlining the group's high stan- dards. "Interface problems should be avoided as much as possible. And operation is particularly easy and intuitive thanks to our self-developed BCtouch UX control." On the path to an even smoother production, bat- tenfeld-cincinnati continuously invests in research and development. Successfully so: the company recently achieved a new record in the complex segment of large- diameter pipes. The first lines for the production of pipes with a diameter of up to 2,700 mm have already been delivered. Particularly noteworthy in the large-di- ameter pipeline are the pipe head and the completely redesigned 4-meter-long segments in the downstream process. For the first time, there are now vacuum tanks and spray baths in 4-meter-long elements. Therefore, the enormous dimensions and the associated transpor- tation difficulties are overcome. Particularly practical: the individual units can be easily transported and only need to be assembled at the production site. A clear focus of the group is on ideal extrusion solu- tion for environmentally friendly and durable products. Among many other innovations, battenfeld-cincinnati's Multi-Touch polishing unit now also offers a practical solution for polypropylene floor coverings. These are more sustainable than traditional PVC coverings but, due to their semi-crystalline structure, significantly more complex to manufacture. The polishing unit en- ables the production of a dimensionally stable, visually attractive semi-finished product with ideal flatness and minimal thickness tolerances even with this future ma- terial. Ideal for use as flooring – and thus likely to be a noticeable growth driver in the coming years. At the same time, battenfeld-cincinnati is driving for- ward the automation and digitization of all processes. This not only simplifies daily production life but also increases production efficiency and minimizes setup times. Manual adjustments are largely eliminated or completely reduced, and production changes are calcu- lated and carried out fully automatically whenever pos-