Lab Extruder Easy to Operate, Performs Better | Plastics Technology

Relaunched machine offers higher efficiency, shorter delivery times and increased cost effectiveness.

The ZE 28 BluePower laboratory twin-screw extruder from KraussMaffei is now available with shorter lead times and a more attractive price. The machine was relaunched last October at the Fakuma show in Germany.

The new high-performance laboratory-scale extruder offers a free volume of OD/ID=1.65 and high torque density of 13.6 Nm/cm³. Depending on the specific process requirements, the processing section can be configured within a length range of 32 to 64 L/D and equipped with up to three side feeders.

Just like the other extruders in this series, the ZE 28 BluePower is available in three material variants to provide the wear resistance and corrosion protection required for customer-specific applications.

The laboratory extruder is designed to accommodate customized process solutions because it offers a a wide variety of configuration options. These include processing section elements in high-temperature design with a thermal resistance of up to 420°C. In addition, the automatic screw removal toward the drive — called UltraGlide — further expands the range of applications for this machine.

Since October 2022, the standard version of the ZE BluePower extruder has been equipped with KraussMaffei’s “pioneer processControl” (ppC), featuring wizards (assistants) for enhanced production reliability. These wizards provide the operator with step-by-step instructions for certain procedures such as starting the production line or shutting it down. As a matter of course, common upstream and downstream systems can be integrated into the new control system.

“After intensive discussions with our customers, we have responded to current market requirements and improved our twin-screw extruder accordingly,” says Michael Tieben, product manager for the ZE BluePower series. “In the future, we will offer our extruder with a cost advantage as compared to our competitors and an attractive delivery time.”

KraussMaffei adds the machine offers high energy efficiency, excellent temperature control within the processing section, improved surface cleaning, enhanced power electronics protection and an optimized strand extrusion die. The processing sections, including the screw configurations, are still customized. All process engineering results can be scaled up without any problems to the entire BluePower extruder range from size ZE 42 up to the ZE 186.

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The melting mechanism in a twin-screw extruder is quite different from that of a single screw. Design of the melting section affects how the material is melted, as well as melt temperature and quality.