Modular Extrusion Control System For Blown Film Maximizes Productivity Of New And Existing Production Lines
October 30, 2019An innovative extrusion control system for blown film can be deployed in a new production line as part of a total system providing single-point supervision of all line components, or it can be used in an existing line to increase productivity and reduce material cost. At K-2019, Maguire Products displayed this system in a complete extrusion line employing the new technology.
For a new blown film extrusion or coextrusion line, there are three basic components at the heart of the Maguire® + Syncro extrusion control system: 1) the Maguire® WXB™ Weigh Extrusion Blender, which incorporates a gain-in-weight (GIW) weigh bin and a loss-in-weight (LIW) mix chamber; 2) the Maguire 4088 controller, which controls the loading, blending, and metering of raw material to the extrusion process; and 3) the Syncro® controller, which uses the consumption data from the 4088 controller to control line speed and haul-off. Modes of extrusion control available with the Maguire + Syncro system include pounds or kilograms per hour; weight per length of extrudate; and product thickness in microns.
The Maguire + Syncro system is the product of a partnership between Maguire and Italy-based Syncro srl that began in 2016 with Maguire taking an investment position with Syncro, which specializes in controls for all types of extrusion process. If, in addition to extrusion control, the blown film manufacturer seeks to achieve single-point control of the entire production line, Syncro has developed the Syntrol™ supervisory system, which allows multiple line controls to be visualized and synchronized from one touchscreen. These controls include those for extruder temperature and pressure, air ring, IBC, thickness gauge, cage, and haul-off.
