2013 Exhibitions
Davis-Standard’s Technical Centre in Pawcatuck, Connecticut increases capabilities to accommodate customer R&D projects and internal technology development; including a four-extruder coex sheet line; a high-tech medical tubing line in a clean room environment; and a high-speed extruder. The high-speed extruder is already operational with the other two projects slated for completion by the end of the year.
The coex sheet line highlights the expansion. . At 40 inches (1,000 mm) wide, which will be equipped to run a wide range of product and thicknesses, the sheet line features four extruders configured to run both monolayer and coextruded products. This includes two 1.5-in (38 mm) extruders; a 2.5-in (65 mm) extruder; and a 3.5-in (90 mm) extruder. The 2.5-in (65mm) and 3.5-in (90 mm) extruders will be arranged in either a 30:1 or 34:1 L/D configuration and either vented or non-vented. An inventory of the most advanced screw designs for various materials will be available based on application.
The line will have the capability to use shear technology for thick, rigid products that cannot be wound. It will also be equipped with a cantilever winder capable of producing rolls of various diameters. This winder has several modes of operation and is capable of winding over a wide tension range. Other advantages of the line include gravimetric blending stations with in-line drying; coextrusion capabilities with a coextrusion feedblock and available microlayer technology; thin gauge capability using roll stand skewing; a roll stand unwind station for sheet laminating applications; protective film unwind stations at the pull roll; thickness measurement using x-ray backscatter gauging technology; and melt pump and screen changers.
The highlight of extruder development has been the 2.5-in (65 mm) 40:1 L/D high-speed extruder. This extruder will be used to improve the performance of Davis-Standard sheet, cast film and extrusion coating product lines.
The lab upgrade for the medical tubing line will feature Davis Standard’s patented Alternate Polymer technology. It will be located in a dedicated clean room area to optimise development.
(PRA)
