Gravimax Wittmann Battenfeld has upgraded its Gravimax gravimetric blenders, which can be used with injection molding machines, blow molding machines and extruders.
What's new? The lids. Blenders with throughputs of up to 176 pounds per hour now feature a stationary lid that is set up so that the material loader can be attached to it. This allows workers to remove the hoppers without also having to remove the material loaders. Blenders with the stationary lid configuration (above) have an SL designation. Larger Gravimax blenders (at right) use a different mechanism, a stainless-steel hinged lid with a handle that users rotate to tightly close the lid, eliminating the need for screws or clamps. Two guide rails attached to the lid help the operator to open it, and a locking device on the rails prevents unintentional closing of the lid. Existing Gravimax blenders can be retrofitted with the hinged lids. The company introduced the upgrades in October at Fakuma; blenders with the new features will hit the U.S. market in 2018.
Benefits Easier, more convenient access to the machine hoppers for cleaning and material changes. Also, the stationary lid is less expensive than a lid that requires pneumatic cylinders to lift it.
Wittmann Battenfeld Inc., Torrington, Conn., 860-496-9603, www.wittmann-group.com
