Via dei Pioppi 3
CH-6855 Stabio
Switzerland
CH-6855 Stabio
Switzerland
Climate protection and extrusion-blow moulding machines – where is the connection?
Climate protection is a megatrend and a goal of the plastics industry. Plastics producers and plastics processing machinery makers are striving to contribute and propose new solutions. The new AX 880 machine introduced at the K 2022 by ST BlowMoulding is the ultimate step in that direction.
Energy saving: nothing new for ST BlowMoulding!
ST BlowMoulding has been a pioneer of this trend: already since 2012, it became the only blow moulding machinery maker using adiabatic extruders on large scale.
Through their special screw and barrel design, they generate a gentle plasticizing with no melt overheating. Therefore, no cooling fans are needed; on the contrary, a double-layer insulation of the extruder barrel reduces up to 10 times the heat dissipation compared with a conventional extruder.
After 10 years, more than 350 million tons of plastic material have been processed by the ST BlowMoulding adiabatic extruders(1), resulting in an overall energy saving of approx. 35 million kWh – which means approx. 5.000.000 € savings on energy costs(2) for our customers.
The new AX 880 machine with all-electric clamping unit, synchronous reluctance motors and electro-hydraulic parison push-out outclasses the maximum energy efficiency according to Euromap 46.1 (class 10: < 0,29 kWh/kg), even in the large extrusion-blow moulding machines for industrial applications.
Recycled plastics in extrusion blow-moulding: dream or reality?
The answer is in the multi-layer technology, available either in continuous extrusion or in accumulator head process.
The new AX 880 introduced at the K 2022 is equipped with two extruders: each one of them feeds a separate melt channel in the accumulator head. A new design of the flow channels significantly improves the balance of the two layers, resulting in a viable solution for many two-layer applications.
And if a further layer is needed, the Outer Coating Technology – with a separate accumulator chamber – is available.
Weight reduction through foaming technology
Besides saving energy and recycling plastic material, using less raw material is another key advantage both for the environment and for the customers. This is where foaming technology comes in.
This technology generates a foamed structure into the blown part, using a neutral gas (N₂ or CO₂) and a nucleating agent. The density reduction reults in lighter parts, raw material saving, better thermal and acoustic insulation. Both extruders of the new AX 880 machine are pre-arranged with ports to feed the gas for the material foaming.
Towards the “Hydrogen Economy”
The future of climate protection is moving towards hydrogen as an energy carrier. ST BlowMoulding is strongly committed to play a leading role in this challenge, by developing technologies for blow-moulding hydrogen liners: a perfect match between expertise and market demands.
ST BlowMoulding is looking forward to welcoming you at the K 2022 exhibition (Hall14 stand B04),to show you more about the new AX 880 machine and discuss any blow moulding topic of your interest!
