Extrusion International 4-2025

30 Extrusion International 4/2025 costs. Chalk contents of up to 65 parts (ppH) are quite common. How- ever, the high contents do not make the production and dosing of the typically used premixes very easy. On the one hand, the high chalk content leads to increased machine wear due to its abrasiveness, both in the heating/cooling mixer and in the conveying lines, and on the other hand it can lead to demixing before being fed into the extruder, which in turn leads to reduced material ho- mogeneity. These disadvantages are a thing of the past with the new dos- ing unit. Pipe manufacturers such as Bahrain Pipes can now use premixes with a low chalk content and feed the remaining quantity directly into the extruder. On the one hand, the standardized premix reduces wear in the heating/cooling mixer and, on the other hand, allows higher over - all outputs, as high chalk content en - ables longer mixing times and small- er quantities due to its large surface area. At the same time, the standard mix in combination with the dosing unit enables product-specific recipes to be configured on demand directly on the extruder. To ensure a smooth process, the dosing unit is equipped with a closed chamber in which the chalk is kept in constant motion to prevent bridging and to guarantee dust-free operation. It is fed directly into the main extruder, the twinEX 93-34R. This is equipped with a spe- cially adapted and wear-resistant screw geometry and ensures perfect homogenization of themiddle layer. The conical conEX NG 54 twin-screw extruder ensures shiny and abso- lutely smooth inner and outer layers for the up to 250 mm wastewater pipes produced in Bahrain. To the customer's complete satisfaction, the line has recently been running at an output rate of 750 kg/h. battenfeld-cincinnati www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com Bahrain Pipes (BP) www.bahrainpipes.com PIPE EXTRUSION / CORONA TREATMENT – INTERVIEW Twin screw extruder twinEX and coextruder conEX with permanently installed gravimetric dosing unit The First 100 Days When Michael Behrens was appointed CEO at Vetaphone at the end of 2024 it marked a significant milestone in the company’s long and illustrious history. Established in the early 1950s when plastic packaging was growing in popularity after the Second World War, Vetaphone was the brainchild of Verner Eisby, who is universally acknowledged as the inventor of what we have come to know as ‘corona surface treatment’. Management of Vetaphone subsequently passed to Verner’s two sons, Frank and Jan, and the company, which remains in family ownership, has grown to become a global market leader in industry sectors from extrusion to printing and converting. Throughout its history the company has continued to pioneer surface treatment technology and as it looks to expand its capabilities and product portfolio into the 21st century, it has made a significant management change at the top with an outside appointment. Industry publicist Nick Coombes spoke with the new CEO Michael Behrens after his first 100 days in office to find out what his plans are for the future. NC: What attracted you to the job of CEO at Veta- phone? MB: Vetaphone is a technical company that has a full value chain, from engineering to 24/7/365 support, and is exporting its technology and expertise all over the world. That was important to me because my experi- ence comes from this kind of company. I also liked the fact that it is a family-owned business, and continues to be so, with the short decision times that this struc - ture allows. Background research showed me that the company has consistently grown and has a professional Board of Directors already in place, so I knew that I was looking at an ambitious enterprise with a commercial mindset and great values. Finally, I learned very quickly that Vetaphone is a premium brand within the Corona and Plasma surface treatment markets, and I found that very appealing. NC: What were your impressions of Vetaphone be- fore you joined?