Hosokawa Alpine upgrades film-stretching unit with vacuum roll
Hosokawa Alpine has introduced vacuum technology to its Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) film-stretching units, which can optimize the production of oriented blown film, the company said.
MDO technology is based on monoaxial orientation, which reduces thickness and improves barrier properties and optics. The MDO units run the film over eight to 12 rolls, two of which are stretching rolls. The second of these stretching rolls is now a vacuum roll with a porous surface. The vacuum holds the film tightly against the roll, which significantly improves flatness, optimally preparing the film for lamination or printing, the company said.
“We are proud to use our more than 20 years of experience in MDO technology for this further development,” said Holger Niemeier, managing director and head of blown film extrusion at Hosokawa Alpine. “This will significantly improve the production of fully recyclable mono-material films and contribute to the packaging solutions of the future.”
The new technology can play a crucial role in the production of high-performance multilayer films made entirely of PE. It will help processors produce recyclable films, according to Hosokawa Alpine. Typically, to generate certain properties, manufacturers produce films with layers made from different types of resins, which makes them harder to recycle.
Films made solely from PE can be fully recycled without material loss, for improved sustainability and resource conservation, the company said.
The new vacuum roller also decreases neck-in by up to 70 percent, the company said. Neck-in refers to the reduction in usable film width due to the film being damaged at the edges during stretching. So, reducing neck-in further saves resources by reducing the amount of film that is trimmed.
Another recent introduction by Hosokawa Alpine is a high-performance film winder.
The AW winder, manufactured at Alpine’s subsidiary Hosokawa Kolb GmbH in Niederkassel, Germany, allows for fast reel changes and works with a wide range of film widths.
“With the new AW winder, our customers benefit from maximum flexibility and the best reel quality,” Niemeier said. “We have been able to optimize the effective reel change time to less than 45 seconds — this is top in the industry and saves valuable time.”
The AW winder allows working widths of 3.3 feet to 9.8 feet and a roll diameter up to about 5 feet. The winding speed is up to 984 feet per minute with a maximum tensile force of 250 newtons. The winding shaft diameter is detected automatically. Winding shafts are available in 3-, 6- and 8-inch versions.
The AW winder can wind in both directions — right and left — thanks to its reverse function.
Bruce Geiselman, senior staff reporter
Contact:
Hosokawa Alpine American Inc., Northborough, Mass., 508-655-1123, www.halpine.com
About the Author
Bruce Geiselman
Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman covers extrusion, blow molding, additive manufacturing, automation and end markets including automotive and packaging. He also writes features, including In Other Words and Problem Solved, for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He has extensive experience in daily and magazine journalism.