SML sells stretch film line to Peter’s Polyethylene
August 2008
SML, a member of the Starlinger Group, sold a high speed cast stretch film line to Singapore company Peter’s Polyethylene that consists of four extruders for 5-layer configuration.
The maximum net output of the line is about 1,500 kg/h. According to Gerald Ausweger, chief representative of the SML Far East regional office, the automatic die and IR thickness measuring system of the installed line provides the lowest thickness tolerances.
Furthermore, improvement of the film edge fixation at the chill roll increases process stability and reduces system downtime caused by edge trim issues. Inline recycling of the edge trims by Starlinger recoStar basic 85 and direct refeeding to the main extruders help assure that the process conditions are improved.
The Peter’s Polyethylene order includes SML’s innovative shaftless winder type 3000, which allows inline production at line speeds higher than 600 m/min. The bleed trim less production is an additional advantage of the winder type: 3000 which allows decrease of the die width. Due to the elision of recycled bleed trims better melt qualities, increased stability of production process and higher production speeds will be achieved.
The winder is also equipped with fully automatic shaft and roll handling system.
Kuraray opens new polyamide facilities
August 2008
Kuraray has completed the construction of new production facilities for its heat-resistant Genestar polyamide resin, located in Kuraray’s Kashima plant in Kamisu, Japan.
The new 5,500 tpa capacity added, together with the similar production scale at the Kuraray Saijo production site, will raise the total Genestar production capacity to 11,000 tpa. At the same time, Kuraray has also raised its annual production of nonanediamine, the monomer raw material for the Genestar polyamide, to 7,000 tpa with the construction of these facilities.
Developed through proprietary Kuraray technologies and first commericalised in 2000, the Genestar resin is a heat-resistant polyamide that realises lead-free processes in the plastic electrical and electronics field, automotive part manufacturing and other new application fields.
The decision was made in 2006 for Kuraray to upgrade its Genestar and related raw material production facilities to meet growing demand from the heat-resistant resin market. Last year, a further 1,000 tpa capacity was added at the Kuraray Saijo plant to overcome a bottleneck in production and raise Genestar production to 5,500 tpa.
