News items November 2004

Narviflex is European Champion Vulcanising ! On Saturday 20th November, the last 28 teams competed at the Fenner-Dunlop Factory in Drachten, Holland, for the title of : European Champion Vulcanising ! The teams, divided in 3 heats, had to make a finger splice in the new Fenner-Dunlop UsFlex belt. The UsFlex belt is a belt that can stand up to 5 times longer als a normal EP-belt. This belt is hot vulcanised by the special technical complicated UsFlex Fingersplice, who is, if well done, much stronger as a normal EP-splice. The goal of the competition was to make the fastest splice, that fullfilled all technical criteria and was tested in the Fenner-Dunlop lab. Contestants came from all over Europe : Italy, UK, Spain, Austria, Switserland, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Danmark, Sweden, ... Three companies had the best cards, based on their experience in joining difficult belts : Dunlop factory joiners (Holland), Fenner factory joiners (UK) and Narviflex of Belgium, who worked closely together with

Sartorius will present an additional member of the successful X-Family at Interkama 2004: the new BATCH-X4 Controller - an intelligent controller for automatic recipe management. The versatile BATCH-X4 controller, like the other X-Family controllers, is a compact unit with integrated PLC (programmable logic controller, programmable in accordance with IEC61131) and automatic recipe testing including an internal material and recipe database. High-performance scale and batch control is integrated to provide automation of complete batch and recipe processes. At the same time, control and batch functions requiring manual addition can also be carried out. Process functions, such as heating, cooling, stirring or mixing, as well as the batch steps of the individual raw materials with their setpoints, are all written down in detail in the recipes. In configuration mode, individual functions can be assigned to the digital inputs and outputs. These freely configurable inputs and

The MULTIGRAV Mulit-station Feed System MULTIGRAV® in action So as the need grows, so can the MULTIGRAV® multi-station feed system of the plastics and chemical industries. But this is all mere theory. Come to experience how the granules are fed into the process via a vibro feeder The system module, consisting of the scale hopper and the vibro feeder, is connected in an statically balanced way to an environmentally protected scale module. Each system module operates according to the loss-in-weight principle, with a controlled loss in weight per time unit with a possible setting range of the feed rate of 1:80 and highest feed accuracy and constancy. For the formation of a mixed, the vibro feeders convey the material into a blending vessel specially equipped for optimum blending quality of the various materials to be mixed. Depending on requirements, the blending vessel can also be used as buffer for the downstream process.

MULTIGRAV Multi-feed Station Now With EasyClean For ages Schenck Process has been offering specific solutions for the most diverse industries, e.g. for the carpet fibre industry feeding PP granules, master batches and stabilisers. For these processes, quick and clean product change is an important consideration. Based on the classic MULTIGRAV, Schenck Process specialists have developed a tailored solution with a new feature: the MULTIGRAV EasyClean Multifeed Station designed to handle feed rates from 300 g/h to 200 kg/h. - Product change in a few seconds, virtually maintenance-free - Easy access and simple cleaning - High feed constancy and accuracy (better than + 0.5%) through optimised vibro feeder - Nominal feed rate per system module between 0.3 and 400 kg/h (EasyClean: up to 200 kg/h) - Optimal accuracy over a wide setting range - Reduced cabling requirements through MechaTronic installation

Recipe changeover in record time for extrusion processes For feeding of free flowing bulk ingredients Brabender Technologie KG has developed a gravimetric feeding station with up to 8 metering feeders. A novel feeder design saves time when changing over from one ingredient to another and reduces downtime during recipe changeover to a minimum. The system can be adapted to varying ingredients and feed rates. As a particularity, the system features the Brabender ScrewDisc Feeders with a novel feeding principle. The feeders are equipped with a vertical screw mounted on a horizontal rotating disc, arranged in a vertical cast PUR tube suited to the feed screw used. The central mounting column, which is also the extruder inlet shaft, can accommodate up to 8 gravimetric metering feeders and vacuum loaders. Feed unit and outlet can be lowered and turned into a discharge position. For cleaning the feed unit can additionally be swung out. None of the working steps requires any tools. Beside handling advantages and a compact