PETpla.net Insider 07+08 / 2018

TRADE SHOW REVIEW PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 07+08/18 www.petpla.net 42 New Viper granulator product line At NPE 2018, Conair officially launched its entirely new portfolio of Viper granulators with standard features that include improved sound insulation, hardened and water-cooled cutting chambers on most models, as well as bigger screens for increased throughput compared to the company’s previous offerings. Seven different models have been shown on display at the show, in configurations for injection moulding, blow moulding, and both pipe/profile and film/sheet extrusion. From small press-side units to large, central granulators, the new Viper product line includes 14 different models with rotor diameters of 140, 200, 300, 420, 570, 810 and 900mm. The maximum throughputs are from 80 lb/hr (36 kg/hr) to 13,200 lb/hr (6,000 kg/hr). Tangential-feed cutting chambers are standard on smaller grinders, while large units come in a super-tangential configuration to facilitate feeding of large and bulky scrap. Three-blade open rotors are also standard, and other rotor designs are available. More standard features “The design of our new Viper granulators has been totally customer- driven,” Sam Rajkovich, VP, Sales & Marketing, said. “Our objective was to develop a straightforward, uncom- plicated suite of Conair-designed machines, suitable for most appli- cations. We also wanted to make standard as many popular features as possible. I think we have done just that and very successfully. This may well be the largest product launch at NPE 2018 and it certainly is one of the most exciting.” Amongst the benefits and advan- tages the company claims for their range of granulators, the following are key. The operation is said to be quieter thanks to full sound insulation. Wear is reduced on the cutting cham- bers by the use of abrasion-resistant steel. The system has water cooling. Larger screens allow more granulate through the cutting chamber. Other benefits claimed by the company include easier clean- ing, low energy consumption and rapid knife changes. Feeding and discharge Every one of the new Viper granulators can be configured for the safe and convenient feeding of scrap in a wide range of shapes and sizes. For basic hand feeding, an upturned feed tray accepts most parts and/or runners. A similar feed-tray configuration suits robot feeding and front-facing hopper opening accepts metered feeding of scrap via conveyor. Conveyor speed can be automatically regulated to pre- vent excessive loads on the granula- tor drive motor. For reclaiming film scrap, the granulator infeed can be fitted with feed rollers (slaved to drive motor amps) that draw film from large rolls. A relief head can be mounted on top to receive blown-in edge trim. When small parts, blow-moulding tops and tails, or pre-shredded scrap is fed by a blower, a cyclone can be fitted to the top of the hopper. And, for long pipes and profiles, an angled side feed chute is used. For other unusual applications, custom infeed configura- tions can be engineered. Several evacuation options are also available, including self-powered vacuum motor loaders that draw gran- ulate out of the catch bin and deposit into a Gaylord or bin. Compressed air evacuation via venturi can be used to move regrind to a Gaylord or barrel, which can be fitted with flexible covers to minimise dusting. Finally, multiple granulators can be emptied by a cen- tral vacuum system to a common col- lection bin or box. Each granulator is equipped with a vacuum pick-up tube and a material line valve, sequenced by a central loading control like the Conair FLX-128 Plus. In each of these cases, evacuation can be set up to convey continuously, on a timed basis or a signal from a level sensor in the catch bin. Blower/cyclone evacuation systems, including back filters when needed are also available. www.conairgroup.com