PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2014

PRODUCTS 49 PET planet insider Vol. 15 No. 09/14 www.petpla.net PET products New gravimetric blender by Piovan Quantum is the name of the new range of gravimetric blenders designed by Piovan, a leader in the production of auxiliary equipment for the plastics pro- cessing industry. The blender embodies innova- tions that are claimed to change the way injection mould- ing machines and extruders are fed with blends of materials (virgin, recycled, masterbatch and additives). The innovations are said to help increase the efficiency of production, and feature improved design together with innovative technologies and high perfor- mance components, which, according to the company, offer concrete advantages for the user. The Quantum blender can be used in all application environments such as Packaging, Automotive, Indus- trial and Electronics, Building and Construction, Textile, Furniture, Toys and Housewares, Medical and Phar- maceutical, Recycling and Compounds. It features two distinctive characteristics. The first is that all surfaces that come into contact with the process material are manufac- tured from stainless steel, which can be used in critical environments such as the medical and food & beverage sectors. The second characteristic is that every blender comes with up to six dosing stations, which can easily be removed, for emptying or cleaning. Each dosing station is dedicated to a single ingredient-be it principal or addi- tive; easy removal therefore aids material changes and enables optimal operating conditions to be immediately resumed without contamination from powder or residue. These interventions do not require the blender to be dismantled and can be done manually by an individual operator. The dosing stations can be used across all Quantum blenders in a factory. The weighing pan is mounted on two load-cells, even on the more compact Quantum model. Shock absorbers, between weighing pan and load-cells, filter all possible machine vibrations to enable the load-cells to weigh the material with greater precision and mechanically protect the data transmitted to the control unit. The entire batch is transferred from the weighing pan to the mixer by the dump flapper, which opens and closes pneumatically. The mixer is spherical and the mixer blade is round to fit its geometry and prevent material stagna- tion problems. Its strength lies in an intelligent sensor that employs the surface of the mixer as a sensitive element, needing no adjustment caused by powder, electrostatic charges, or changes in material and blend density. The sensor is an integral part of the mixer’s design. The inter- face is designed to maximise intuitive use. The control The Eureka moment Moretto’s advanced drying system can process up to 12,000kg/h of PET, efficiently Ancillary equipment specialist Moretto SpA, headquar- tered in Massanzago, Italy, has launched Eureka, a new version of its drying system. It consists of a Flowmatik airflow management and distribution system; OTX hopper drier; and X Max drier. The company claims that it can process up to 12,000kg/h of material while consuming up to 56% less energy, compared with traditional drying sys- tems. The X drier incorporates a multi-bed single molecule sieve desiccant system and provides a constant –65°C to –85°C dew point. It is larger than conventional beds, works without requiring cooling water or compressed air for the changeover valve and recovers heat during bed cooling. Its multi-stage centrifugal blower was developed in co-operation with Padua University. Up to ten X Max driers can be combined at once, offering 20,000 m3/h air- flow. The Flowmatik airflow management unit matches unit usage to demand and shares air with up to 32 truncated cone shaped OTX (Original Thermal Exchanger) hopper driers. The OTX is available in 28 sizes and has internal geometry designed for even material and airflow. Moretto says that it consumes as much as 40% less energy than conventional hoppers. www.moretto.com panel, with an 8” touch screen, shows the operator the actual configuration of the equipment in real time, without showing redundant or unused elements. Depending on the type of pro- duction, the control system calls up the corresponding recipe and the blender automatically configures accordingly. The control system is designed for integration with WinFactory, the industrial supervisory software operating by application licence developed by Piovan, the outcome of consolidated knowledge in various application environments. WinFactory can interface all Quantum blenders in the factory for: shar- ing recipes, managing material and production batches, and tracking raw materials; these are fundamental data for product certification, in particular in food & beverage and medical- pharmaceutical environments. Piovan has filed a patent application for the two more com- plex parts of Quantum: the dosing device and the mixer unit. The blenders are designed to be produced at all Piovan plants in the world and are part of the “High Efficiency Line”, comprising all products guaranteeing maximum energy and operational efficiency. www.piovan.com