Compared with dehumidifying dryers, the LPDTM dryers from Micron significantly reduce the time required for start-up and conversion, which not only reduces energy usage, but also improves efficiency and uniformity.
Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, UK, May 29, 2018: As a company specializing in the injection stretch blow molding of PET bottles, R&D / Leverage TM announced that it will change from dehumidifying dryers to vacuum dryers. Several problems were solved, especially the drying time of the polymer was greatly shortened.
According to the general manager Alan Tolley, the seven Nissei ASB and Aoki injection stretch blow molding lines from R&D / Leverage were originally used as dehumidification dryers. After replacing them with LPDTM vacuum dryers Save a lot of time.
Mr. Tolley said: 'Dehumidification dryers take four to six hours to complete the drying process. The LPD dryer takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes from the cold start, and it is shortened to 40 in the subsequent drying cycle. Minutes.'
In addition to start-up time, dehumidification dryers also face problems in conversion. R&D / Leverage manufactures single-chamber 'trial production' tools for manufacturing samples and multi-cavity tools for large-scale commercial operations. These tools are used in seven injections. The pilot production is carried out on a stretch blow molding line with a processing speed of up to 70 kg/h. R&D / Leverage is usually changed five or six times per week.
Mr. Tolley stated: 'The LPD dryer gives us more flexibility when testing different grades of resins on the same tool. Since we are not a production plant with a long production cycle, dehumidification dryers are for us. It is always a challenge, and it faces the problem of material drying. The worst part is that when a customer came to visit the factory from China or South America and other places, we had to delay production because of the drying problem.
Five of Seven LPD Dryers at R&D Leverage
According to Mr. Tolley, other advantages of the LPD dryer include: Improved resin filtration performance, which enables higher bottle transparency through reduced contamination; and greater flexibility when using single-chamber pilot production tools than when using high-cavity production tools. Control throughput.
In addition to the seven LPD dryers, R&D/Leverage also installed a Central Microlift weighing mixer, because the current industry requires the use of more recycled materials, highlighting its importance. This mixer can be The molding process supplies precisely controlled raw and recycled materials, batches of masterbatches and batches of additives. Most customers ship their own materials to R&D Leverage for the production of bottle samples. The company uses a different percentage Up to ten different colors.
Because LPD vacuum dryers can dry materials more quickly and more efficiently than dehumidifiers, they apply less stress on the materials and heat up time. Mr. Tolley pointed out: 'The vacuum dryer will undoubtedly provide more stability. Material. In the past, we always had to replace the molecular sieve every six months, so the stoppage and start-up of the injection molding process was much more frequent at the time. This means increased costs and maintenance.
Injection Stretch Blow Molding Lines at R&D Leverage
According to Paul Edmondson, general manager of Micron Europe, although the vacuum drying technology has many significant advantages mentioned by R&D/Leverage, the primary reason for moving from a dehumidification system to this technology is still a huge energy saving effect of the technology.
Mr. Edmondson said: 'Given that the polymer drying process may account for up to 15% of the overall energy consumption of the injection moulding business, one of the strong reasons for using vacuum dryers is that they use up to 80% less energy than dehumidification systems. R&D This example of Leverage proves that the speed and quality of vacuum drying technology can enable tool manufacturers and laboratories to make huge gains in productivity, and that processors can also enjoy the benefits of this technology over dehumidification systems in full production. Always need to save energy and increase production efficiency, so vacuum drying technology may also become the dominant technology in the field of polymer drying.
Since the plastics processing industry introduced vacuum drying technology in 2000, Miho has sold more than 2,500 dryers. In addition to LPD dryers, the company also supplies VBDTM vacuum dryers. Both systems are sold worldwide. For five years.
In the field of bottle injection stretch blow molding, R&D / Leverage's European Business Unit is the world's leading supplier of single-stage tools for all major brands in the food and beverage, personal care and healthcare markets. The company is located in the United Kingdom. The Product Solutions Laboratory in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, provides sample manufacturing, tool development and customer training services.