Extrusion International USA 2-2021

32 Extrusion International 2/2021 EXTRUSION INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS Strategies toReduceMaterial UseAmidst Plastics Resin Shortage „ Muller, a global leader in tool making and automation tech- nology for thin-wall plastic packaging, is working closely with brand owners and processors to employ a range of strategies to enhance the sustainability of plastic packaging and meet today’s challenges posed by plastic material shortages. “We take our responsibility as stewards of the environment very seriously and we’re committed to helping our customers meet the growing demands for more sustainable packaging while also helping customers navigate the current material shortage caused by the February ice storm that hit the Gulf Coast,” said Taras Konowal, director of sales andmarketing forMuller North America. Muller has worked closely with its cus- tomers throughout the design develop- ment stage to reduce the amount of plastic in containers by up to 30% through light weighting and by up to 80% through sub- stitution with paper- board. The company’s Muller Technology Colorado (formerly CBW Automation) www.muller-technology.com latest automation equipment designs have reduced energy consumption by up to 40%. These efforts have distinguished the company in the automation industry as manufacturers explore new packaging alternatives that deliver sustainability benefits and cut costs, according to Konowal. One recent application illustrates how plastics use can be optimized in the packaging industry. Muller is working with leading brand owners in the U.S. to develop polymer-coated paperboard solutions which deliver strong barrier properties and a more sustainable and environmentally-sound packag- ing option. Muller worked closely with Swedish packaging manufacturer Arta Plast to develop a renewable paperboard cup called Fiber Cup. To ensure strong barrier protection and freshness, for products such as crème fraiche, butter, and chilled food, the paperboard is coated with a thin polypropyl- ene (PP) layer on both sides. The cup is recyclable, and its attractive shape and excellent printing and design capabilities showcases the brand. “This new package takes a fresh approach to improved sustainabil- ity while also optimizing the use of plastics materials,” said Konowal. „ BHS-Sonthofen has delivered to the U.S. a system comprising two indexing belt filters for use in the manufacture of interme- diates for a particularly tear-resistant plastic. To meet the high- quality requirements for the industry, BHS designed a cascade reflux wash for treating the filter cake, which ensures reduced water consumption for the necessary retention time. Before delivery, extensive lab and pilot testing was conducted in BHS’s American test center. In the course of expanding production, the BHS customer needed a solution for solid-liquid separation in the chemical pre- stage for a particular polymer. At the start of the process, chemi- cal reactions provide a material that has to be cleaned of by- products. The filtration of solid particles is particularly important here as impurities have a hugely detrimental effect on the tear resistance of the plastic. Technical construction requirements at the customer’s site posed additional challenges for the BHS pro- cess technology experts. A solution that was originally planned, comprising one indexing belt filter with a 12-stage counterflow wash, could not be realized. Following process technology advice provided to the customer, the project team opted for two indexing belt filters (BF) – one with four and one with eight wash stations. An indexing belt fil- ter is a horizontal, continuously operating vacuum filter, which enables uniform suspension feeding and stands out thanks to its versatility in terms of process technology. The filter cake that forms on the filter cloth can be further processed in a variety of ways by means of various process steps, such as washing out, dry suction or pressing. In the present case, only a dilution wash for the filtrationwas possible because of the large inner surfaces of the particles. With a continuously operating filter, however, the retention time of the liquid in each wash zone is relatively short. Regular construction of the filter would therefore cause the wash liquid to pass through too quickly. Drawing on experience from other applications, such as cel- lulose derivatives, BHS therefore built the wash stations in the form of a cascade. Using sieve plates, the wash liquid is distrib- For a U.S. customer, BHS-Sonthofen designed a separation solution with a cascade wash. The separators have a stepped design Ef fi cient Utilization of Resources