Kurtz News 31 - the kurtz ersa Corporation

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EPS transport with reduced dust share
By Kurt Albrecht
By Norbert Reuber
KURTZ develops favourable cyclone solution
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is transported
a number of times during processing
via - frequently branched - pipe
systems. In this context, two systems are
essentially known. Unfortunately, both
of them have certain disadvantages.
KURTZ is now presenting the solution to
this problem.
The easiest method up to now is
transporting the material with and
literally through a fan. This is very often
done with pre-broken or granulated
material. However, the disadvantage
in this context is that the material is
damaged by the impeller of the fan and
correspondingly large amounts of dust
are caused.
Another possibility of material transport is
applying the Venturi principle. Here, the
The new KURTZ fillers provide our customers with optimum
installation and maintenance possibilities. Their decisive
advantage is that even when the fillers are installed, the complete
pneumatic drive and also the plunger can be removed and
cleaned with only one manoeuvre.
A tooth system against distortion ensures that the material hose
always runs in the correct direction and does not obstruct any
moving mould parts. These new functions can only be achieved
with high-quality plastic injection moulding parts. These parts
have been developed together with experts for technical injection
moulding parts.
After some plastic parts processed by shape cutting, closeto-series
parts were produced in a number of development
stages with a rapid prototyping tool and then tested under
production conditions.
At the end of the development, we now have filler parts of a high-
material can be transported
without, for example, being
damaged by an impeller, However, this
system is very cost-intensive.
To eliminate the disadvantage of the
high costs and to allow for a gentle
material transport, KURTZ developed
a new concept: A cyclone is used with
the transport fan being separated from
the direct volume flow of the material.
In this way, EPS can be transported at
favourable cost without having to pass
through the transport fan.
Specifically in combination with the
slow-running granulators of the KURTZ
KDG series, it is possible to implement
a material processing concept which
considerably reduces the production
of dust.
EPS is no longer damaged during
transport: With the favourable KURTZ
cyclone solution
Red = EPS material flow
Yellow: Air stream
Dismantled in no time at all
New fillers with optimum installation
and maintenance possibilities
Higher Efficiency & Returns
By Pete Tatro
A key to optimal shape moulding
performance is the proper functioning of
fill injectors, commonly referred to as fill
guns. While EPS shape moulders debate
the “best” fill gun available on the market,
one fact is common regardless of the
manufacture: a poorly maintained fill gun
will cost the moulder in significant ways.
When consideration is given to the number
of times a fill gun opens and closes
during a production run, you realize just
how important a fill gun is to the moulding
operation. A properly operating fill gun
will not leak air and will not create wasted
EPS. The costs of these negative results
can become exponential ~ because it
took energy to expand and process the
EPS. Already expensive production costs
can be easily wasted due to improper fill
gun maintenance.
When properly operating fill guns are
readily available to prepare a mould for
use, the mould change times decrease
significantly, the availability of a moulding
machine is maximized, and the true
yield from shape moulding machine
investments are realized.
The KURTZ Fill Injector Maintenance
Programme impresses EPS processors
These statements are not theory, but
rather they are a reality. We realized this
after our customers asked for a way to
assist them to become more efficient in
their operations.
KURTZ North America (KNA) established
a programme by which customers
can routinely send in a box of up to 30
fill guns. These fill guns are routinely
maintained, completed with new O-rings,
fittings, and a good cleaning followed by
a test for proper operation. The results
showed significant savings:
fewer wasted parts or scrap due
to fill gun malfunction
up to 40% faster mould
change times
greater machine up-time
increased reliability
The fill gun programme – originally
offered as a temporary service –
ensures a cost effective production
and offers its participants savings in
unexpected areas.
Fill injector test stand
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