Blow-moulding unit
01 April 2005
New Six-layer Blow-Moulding Unit featuring Permanent Extrusion
Security Layer Technology from Schütz paves the way for multifunctional drum and IBC products
Selters / Düsseldorf. The newly developed six-layer blow-moulding unit from Schütz GmbH & Co. KGaA in Selters is paving the way for totally new, multifunctional drum and IBC products. With the technology it presented at Interpack 2005 in Düsseldorf, the Westerwald company at once underpins its extensive technological know-how and its innovative strength, both firmly founded on the synergetic interaction within its diversified organisation. By concentrating its decades of experience in mechanical, mould and tool engineering and also plant technology as well as in the fields of plastic and metal processing, Schütz has come up with a unique, new development.
The new plant technology aims for optimum process reliability, maximum productivity as well as economy and flexibility of production. The continuous multilayer blowmoulding process (Security Layer Technology) enables the simultaneous use of different functional materials – depending on the desired application. The new technology also guarantees greater productivity than ever achieved before.
How does this work in practice?
First of all, HD polyethylenes with different properties – for a special outer layer with conductive or non-chargeable properties, for example, and/or a protective layer to serve as an odour, permeation and oxygen barrier – are heated up in the unit’s extruders. The materials are continuously processed in the extrusion head and formed into a tube of up to six layers. The software-controlled material infeed guarantees high-precision distribution of wall thickness coupled with minimum material input. The endless tube thus optimised is cut off according to article requirements and transferred to the aluminium blow mould. The scraps are then removed fully automatically and returned to the production process.
The drums and IBC inner bottles produced in this way subsequently undergo a quality test and a final optical quality inspection and are then ready for final packaging and shipping.
The Schütz multilayer blow-moulding unit with its permanent extrusion and perfectly coordinated processes and multifunctional application potential revolutionises extrusion blow-moulding technology in this field of application and opens up entirely new prospects for the manufacture of drums and IBCs.
Thanks to security layer technology from Schütz, plastic bulk containers with two functional layers can now be produced in a single step. A host of combinations based on individual applications or filling goods are also possible. This means that Schütz is now in a position to provide products that feature not only an integrated EVOH barrier preventing the permeation of oxygen and non-polar media, but also a second, outer functional layer that might be conductive/black or non-chargeable/translucent, for example.
Against this background, absolutely new fields of application are clearly opening up for plastic drums and IBCs. Schütz is therefore continuing to pursue its policy of development in tune with market and customer requirements. The company is also underpinning its leading position in a highly competitive market while setting significant industry trends.
