TPT May 2009

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39 May 2009
Technology Update
›
Sawing.
Lowering
costs!
Sawing large tubes 10 times faster.
How?
RSA Entgrat- u. Trenn-Systeme GmbH & Co KG • Tel. +49 2351 995-5 • E-Mail
egeplast, Germany, is an independent
producer of polyethylene pipe, and claims to
have the most advanced PE pipe production
plant in Europe. In late 2007, egeplast began
producing 3-layer telecommunications pipe
on its new KraussMaffei Berstorff extrusion
line. The line is an example of how very
high production speeds and output can be
successfully combined with very tight space
constraints.
egeplast uses the new line to produce
3-layer HDPE and PP pipe from 32 to
63mm diameter. A KME 90-36 single-screw
extruder produces the middle layer, while
two KME 60-36 single-screw extruders
produce the inner and outer layers
respectively. The layers are joined in a
KM3L RKW 73 3-layer pipehead.
A small coextruder,
mounted above the line
to save space, supplies
the material for the
marking stripe. The motor
and gearing for the melt
pump and upstream
screen changer are also
mounted above the line,
to make optimal use of
available space.
Production of 3-layer
telecommunications pipe
is a unique production system for fast
pipe dimension change without stopping
production.
KraussMaffei manufactures machines and
systems for plastics and rubber processing.
The group markets its products under the
KraussMaffei, KraussMaffei Berstorff and
Netstal brands. The KraussMaffei brand
covers the whole spectrum of injection and
reaction moulding technology, while the
KraussMaffei Berstorff brand represents
extrusion solutions.
The injection moulding machines of Netstal,
the company’s Swiss subsidiary, are
designed to meet the highest requirements
imposed on process implementation, parts
quality and production performance, and
are mainly used to make sophisticated
technical and thin-walled plastic parts.
The group offers a wide range of solutions,
including specialised and fully integrated
turnkey systems.
Worldwide, KraussMaffei operates a
network of 140 subsidiaries and sales
agencies, and deploys over 570 service
technicians, ensuring fast response and
closeness to customers.
egeplast – Germany
Fax: +49 2575 9710 110
Email:
Website:
KraussMaffei – Germany
Fax: +49 89 8899 3092
Website:
 A KraussMaffei Berstorff
extruder combination for
high-performance extrusion
of multi-layer PE pipe
The extrusion line has two operator
consoles, from either of which the whole
line can be controlled. One of the consoles
could, for example, be placed at the end of
the line, up to 50 metres away.
This enables the operator to control the
line from the most practical location. With
speeds up to 40 metres per minute, the line
meets egeplast’s expectation of very high
output.
egeplast has also optimised its production
processes in other ways. More than ten of
the company’s extrusion lines are fitted with
QuickSwitch, a system for pipe dimension
change on-the-fly, which was developed
in a close partnership between Krauss
Maffei Berstorff and egeplast. QuickSwitch