EoW July 2012

News Technology

Research and testing pays off for SAMP

The new SAMP extruders are the result of many months of continuous research and testing. The project aims at maximising productivity while at the same time ensuring maximum flexibility, efficiency and reliability during the extrusion process. significantly increased thanks to the new extrusion screw and cylinder profile that allows a high material drag flow (litres/min/ screw rpm), without altering the physical product characteristics. The process is continuously monitored by the innovative SAMP single and dual-loop thermoregulation system that controls the compound thermal and pressure stability through the whole manufacturing process. New dedicated software has been developed to ensure the process thermal stability and the extruder linearity also during the start-up and set-up phase, as well as during acceleration and deceleration ramps. The system automatically adjusts the screw rpms and the line speed during both the start-up phase and the manufacturing process. In addition, the software automatically detects the need for using the screw thermoregulation and employs it only when necessary. These speed variations are managed so accurately that they can be rightly considered as cable production phases. In this way the start-up phase and ramp times have been considerably decreased, with a consequent increase in the capacity and reduction of the scrap rate. Productivity has been

▲ ▲ Part of the new SAMP extruders

the number of people needed to operate it. A single operator can manage the whole extrusion line. Access to the machine is much easier now because of the low hopper height. Neither burdensome platforms are needed for the feeding, nor are ladders or special equipment for the hopper cleaning. For this reason all machine processes are monitored and managed through the line operating panel, including the ones that have been mentioned above. Statistical and graphical analysis is also possible. The extruder stability and linearity can be monitored in real time both during the manufacturing process and during fast acceleration ramps. All SAMP machines have been designed and developed as plug-and-play solutions for a fast and easy installation. Ordinary maintenance operations have been further simplified and speeded up to ensure the efficiency and reliability of the cable manufacturing lines at any time.

Thanks to the numerous sensors placed in the feeding area, the system knows the positions of all its hoppers and the exact quantities of the remaining material in the feed throat. All this data is the result of an elevated automation system of the feeding area and of an accurate material measurement during the feeding of the pellets. As a consequence, a large amount of material can be saved (both in terms of raw thermoplastic material and of additives and colourants). The automation of the hopper area is also a great advantage for the machine operator. Moreover, it drastically reduces

SAMP SpA – Italy Website : www.sampspa.com

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EuroWire – July 2012