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Micro Dosing
25th November 2011

The "Picko" Micro Doser.

NEW PRODUCT RELEASE

The PLAST-CONTROL "Picko" Micro dosing unit offers ultra high accuracy uniformed surge free metering of plastic granules from 100 g to 5000 grams per hour.

Gravimetrically controlled,  the delivery system guarantees consistent feeding of plastic granule without the problem of surge or starvation of the granule feed, ensuring  minimum material consumption and consistent product quality.

Using an ultra high resolution stepper direct drive motor there is no loss in resolution across its speed range,  with tool less removal of the weighing hopper and the dosing unit, material change is quick and easy.

The system can be used standalone or fully integrated within an integrated frame with other Micro dosing units or our standard Gravimetric auger based dosing unit and loss in weight gravity feed hopper.

Constructed to a high standard the "Picko" dosing unit is designed to give years of service with a full international warranty and guaranteed spare parts supply and technical support.

System AIR CC - True Non-Contact Gauge Measurement
13th May 2011

UK installation of PLAST-CONTROLS Air CC NON CONTACT gauge measurement system.

The design of the system offers a true non contact measurement using a clean solid state capacitive based device which requires no special safety requirements or disposal worries at the end of its working life.  

Developed from the companies existing C-Scan flat bed non contact technology the Air CC system is designed specifically for blown film applications were the use of a double sided measurement device is not possible.

The measurement head is mounted on a radial control device which automatically adjusts the position of the head relative to the bubble diameter and shape, with the measurement head and the radial arm driven around the circumference of the bubble profile scans are completely independent of process rotation.

In addition to measuring all standard PE films the Air CC is suitable for Sticky film applications or surface sensitive films were surface marks cause quality issues. The gauging head is accurate to less than 1 micron and  profile tolerances are displayed graphically on the companies central line management system which can be integrated into the complete line control system including the PRO-CON profile control system.

Batch Blending - Nano Batch
2nd August 2010

Nano Batch Blender 4 & 6 component

New product launch to our range of Gravimetric dosing and Batch system.

The Nano Batch range of blending systems bridges the gap between it continuous high precision dosing system and it PRO Batch hybrid Batch blender / loss in weight dosing system.

Both Pro-Batch and Nano Batch offer a wide operation al range of 50 to 650 Kg/Hr output range from an extremely small compact foot print avoiding the problems associated with mounting large low tech blenders on the extruder throat.

Nano Batch can be supplied in either 4 or 6 station with or without integrated hopper loading and features many design features to aid easy operation and accuracy.

Borrowing its bigger brothers variable valve technology the system will handle feed rates of 0.5% to 100% through one valve without the need of modification or operator intervention and without loss in accuracy.

The metering valves also feature the option of compressed air purge of the valves for fast tool free clean down of the metering valves during order change , Easy access and tool free removal of the batch weigh station and the mixer hopper.

Crimped edge trim can also be handled be both the Nano and Pro Batch systems using an optional feed system incorporating the edge trim feed directly into the Gravimetrically controlled blend.

As with all PLAST-CONTROL Metering and Blending systems the Nano Batch can supplied with integrated extrusion control for both mono and co-extrusion control using their standard GDC or ACS system platforms with touch screen control and easy to understand target entry in percentage feed rate and micron set point for the extrusion line (in the case of film extrusion) or Gr/Metre or kilogram per hour control (for tube and profile extrusion) application.

The GDC or ACS control system can be set up to regulate more than one blender fully synchronised (in the case of Co Extrusion with layer ration control) or multiple stand alone applications for central control of the blenders and material handling systems.

Both the GDC and ACS system platforms can be linked to their PCC central production reporting server for

The PLAST-CONTROL Batch controller module can also be retrofitted to other blender hardware for conversion of the equipment to standard PLAST-CONTROL functionality and the option of integrated extrusion control and material handling into the one system.

All PLAST-CONTROL system are supplied with Sameday or next day parts supply, free  off site technical support (for the life of the equipment), optional dial up service and 24 months parts warranty.

PRO-SONIC IBC Control
20th July 2010

Often overlooked the accurate control of the IBC system offers many advantages to the film producer in regards yield, reduced order change time, reduced production scrap and improved product quality.

Many production lines suffer from poor installation and outdated technology in this area

Rather than replacing like for like the PRO-SONIC IBC regulation system has been developed to enhance the overall accuracy of the IBC regulation. It utilises high resolution ultrasonics running with their own high speed data acquisition software /electronics with ultra high resolution multiple sensors are scanned to measure bubble diameter and position.

This high speed update of the controller software makes almost instantaneous alteration to the control set point for the PLAST-CONTROL Stepper Throttle Valve (STV).  

The STV is driven directly by a stepper motor which receives set point information by software; this "fly by wire" principle has virtually no limit in the resolution with no back lash as associated with other form of control.

This virtual "mechanical link" between sensor and actuator executes high speed changes to the air exchange rates resulting in fast almost intuitive reaction in the bubble diameter relative to set point.

In most applications the control reaction is so fast that it is unnecessary to operate the IBC manually,  with the "ALWAYS AUTO"  function the bubble diameter is under control 24/7 even during order change reducing start-up and order change scrap.

The PRO-SONIC system can be retrofitted to most types of calibration basket with either fixed sensor or moving senor mode or used in conjunction with PLAST-CONTROLS own  PRO-CAGE range of calibration baskets.

The PRO-SONIC system can be supplied either as a standalone system or fully integrated with the companies range of extrusion control systems.

Non Contact On-Line Profile Measurement
1st March 2010

Air CC True Non Contact Profile Measurement Sensor

The Air CC non contact capacitive sensor has now been launched into the UK, the sensor uses a clean low energy principle for the accurate on-line measurement of profile variations of plastic films up to 200 micron in thickness.

Air CC offers exceptional performance when measuring sticky films and surface sensitive films were marking of the film structure is not acceptable. Using an air cushion system the capacitive sensor uses a patented principle in order to calculate the distance of the film from the sensor. This accurate solid state principle of distance measurement is used to calculate the offset of the measurement signal compensating any variation in the air gap caused by instability in the film structure during production.

The design of the Air CC is compact and can be mounted as our standard C-Head on an automatic radial arm and rotational scanner for measurement of the profile independent of the process rotation.