By Ron Shinn
KraussMaffei launched an entirely new extruder line at K 2025, the co-rotating twin-screw ZE Petrochemical (ZE-PC) series, designed for a wide range of applications, as well as new designs for the ZE BluePower series.
The German manufacturer said the ZE-PC machines are for melt-to-pellet, powder-to-pellet and large-scale industrial recycling operations.
The ZE-PC series comes in screw diameters ranging from 260mm to 400mm. It has a large outer diameter-to-inner diameter ratio (Da/DI) of 1.65 and high torque density.
“Petrochemicals is one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide,” said Ralf Benack, CEO of KraussMaffei Extrusion, in explaining why the ZE-PC was developed to get KraussMaffei into this market. “Our many years of experience with large-scale single-screw extruders — especially in the diameter range from 400mm to 800mm — and the successful BluePower series, have laid the foundation for us to now also enter the raw polymer production market with our own twin-screw solution.”
The ZE-PC series is equipped with a variable-speed drive.
Low screw speeds reduce the risk of thermal degradation of the material. Lower melt temperatures make higher throughputs possible and provide a wider process window. KraussMaffei said throughputs range from 27 tons to 143 tons per hour.
Modular screw sizes include 260mm, 300mm, 330mm, 365mm and 400mm.
KraussMaffei said the ZE-PC machines are designed for wear-resistance, low energy consumption and lower operating costs.
The company said a petrochemical group in China has already ordered three ZE-PC 330 machines.
The redesigned ZE BluePower compounding line offers improved operation and greater energy efficiency, digital networking via the Pioneer ProcessControl (ppC) system, optimized price-to-performance ratio and shorter delivery time.
The ppC system has an improved design to deliver data through widgets and dashboards, making key production values easy to read and providing intuitive, abstract visualizations of the entire production process. A role-based interface provides accessibility for all operator skill levels, while process-oriented navigation and smart guided workflows simplify complex production steps.
The modular machine series integrates easily with additional components, including feeders, vacuum pumps, melt filters, granulators and extrusion heads, the company said.
Screw diameters range from 28mm to 186mm. Da/DI is 1.65.
KraussMaffei’s UltraGlide system for easy screw removal is an available option.
The redesigned unit handles a wider range of formulations, including high filler loads, recycled content and sensitive polymers.
KraussMaffei said that for sheet, the redesigns mean improved melt homogeneity that minimizes thickness variations and surface defects, reduces scrap and boosts downstream yields. For pellets, stable throughput results in clean pelletizing and consistent additive dispersion. For profiles, dimensional accuracy and surface quality are improved, while modular screws support frequent product changes without extended downtime.
The ZE BluePower line was first introduced in 2013.
Contact:
KraussMaffei USA, Florence, Ky., 859-283-0200, www.kraussmaffeigroup.com
