Johnson Matthey has purchased a Maris extruder in a bid to meet demand for its Micraflo range

Johnson Matthey has purchased a Maris extruder in a bid to meet demand for its Micraflo range

Johnson Matthey has completed a Ј1m (E1.5m) investment in its Micraflo range of PVC colourants at its UK site in Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent. The programme is intended to meet rising demand for the product. It is centred on a new Maris TM70/HT/45D extruder fitted with a degassing unit that, according to the supplier, improves the capacity of the line significantly.

The twin-screw extruder is the company’s second line for manufacturing the Micraflo product – a 1mm micro particle colouring system primarily for rigid PVC applications such as pipe or window profile. The expansion also included a Gala underwater pelletiser with self-cleaning dryer via a Trendlekamp continuous flow screenchanger.

The new equipment, supplied by Tripleplas Machinery Sales, offers the ability to change colour rapidly and to achieve the tight colour specifications demanded by the PVC industry. A clamshell barrel design ensures that cross contamination is eliminated by providing access to the screw for rapid clean down, the company said.