New Battenfeld product uses less energy and floor space.

New Battenfeld product uses less energy and floor space.

The core of new technical developments in the area thermoforming sheet extrusion focuses on the increase of the line's specific output and the improvement of product quality. The market for processing and converting thermoformed sheet is currently confronted with a need for narrower margins. The in-line extrusion concept by Battenfeld offers high performance with low energy consumption and a small footprint, and it can be directly combined with any thermoforming line.

The line's single-screw extruders are specially adapted for film extrusion. They offer special features such as almost adiabatic process control which reduces the specific energy consumption, a smooth feed bush in combination with a melt pump which promotes constant process conditions and allows any required amount of waste web scrap to be processed, safe and efficient melt degassing which has proven beneficial for PP processing, and solid gear units which allow screw removal from the machine's rear end.

The line's polishing stack meets the special requirements of in-line extrusion. It has a solid and ergonomic design and is equipped with an integrated haul-off unit. The in-line polishing stack offers the technical advantages of conventional units but uses far less floor space. The quality of thermoforming sheet produced in-line is on a par with that of conventional extrusion lines, with a reduction of up to 30 % in energy and production costs.

As an immediate reaction to the increasing demand for compliance with the internationally recognized HACCP hygiene standards for food and dairy packaging lines, Battenfeld has developed a new design which combines hygienic production conditions with ergonomic operation.

First 'plug-and-play' line
The benefits of in-line production are obvious. Therefore, Battenfeld decided to add a micro film line to their range. This line with a capacity of up to 200 kg/h for processing standard materials such as PP, PS and PET is perfectly suitable for processors supplying small regional markets. This solution also allows for the easy production of samples or specialised articles.

The solid film line is the first so-called 'plug-and-play' line engineered by Battenfeld. It is tested on-site, packed into a container in one piece, ready to start production on the day of delivery.