• Create truly unique yarn designs: with up to 6 colors from a large predefined color range and infinite combinations of twisting & air entanglement
• Endlessly recyclable yarn solution – available in both standard PA6 and 75% recycled content EqoCycle PA6 yarn
• Efficient and flexible – all colors in stock to shorten lead-time; customized lot sizes

B.I.G. Yarns brings inspirational design freedom to high-end loop-pile contract and automotive carpets with the unveiling of ColorMind. The innovative yarn technology is B.I.G. Yarns’ first venture into a two steps yarn collection, offering a unique solution for creating multi-color PA6 yarns for any carpet design. Available from mid-June 2021 in both standard and EqoCycle 75% recycled content yarn, designers are invited to work closely with B.I.G. Yarns experts to realize the designs they have always wanted. Combinations of variable levels of twisting and air entanglement, using up to 6 colors at once, elevate design possibilities beyond current limitations. The ColorMind color bank features predefined colors, always in stock, meaning short lead times. Manufacturers can also benefit from customized lot sizes and bobbin length, creating even more flexibility and design freedom.To preview a taster of the potential directions opened up for loop-pile carpets, B.I.G. Yarns has used the technology to achieve its own “Optica” dot effect and “Illusion” wave effect as inspiration for customers’ design explorations.“ColorMind offers never-seen yarn diversity to support a new level of design sophistication in high-end carpet segments. We’re very proud and excited to enter into two steps yarns with a solution offering something truly special, the result of intensive dedication from our design and development teams,” comments Emmanuel Colchen, General Manager, B.I.G. Yarns. “ColorMind combines our strengths in delivering high-performance, more sustainable yarns to fit the evolving demands of these segments, underpinned by our expertise in color sequencing and color mixing. We’re looking forward to exciting collaborations and innovative, eye-catching designs for future loop-pile carpets.”
ColorMind PA6 yarns are based on a unique Solution Dyed Nylon yarn and are suitable for Class 33 certification (heavy commercial use). The EqoCycle yarn version is mainly based on post-industrial waste and supports contract and automotive carpet manufacturers with a drop-in circular solution to reduce the ecological footprint of their end carpets.

www.colormindyarns.com.

HST Maschinenbau GmbH, which has been part of the Krones Group since 2014, can draw upon decades of experience in developing and manufacturing high-pressure homogenizers and piston pumps. These products complement Krones’ process technology portfolio with a key process step for producing milk, milk-based drinks, dairy products, juices, and other foods at all the needed throughput ranges.And now, the HLI series has been added to complement the proven HL range. These new 55 to 90-kW systems can process up to 13,000 liters per hour at 200 bar. At launch time, three models are available: HLI55, HLI75, and HLI90, all in the same configurations as the HL series and including an option that fulfils the European Union’s ATEX (Equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres) Directives. Additional models for the lower output range to 45 kW are currently in development. The systems in the new series each consist of a three-piston high-pressure pump with a homogenizer valve at the outlet.

Lower energy and media consumptionThe “I” in HLI stands for “integrated” and underscores the design changes implemented in the new series. A compactly dimensioned drive design eliminates the need for additional units or coolants, which makes for a substantial reduction in operating costs for media and electrical power during production. For example, it cuts consumption of cooling water for the pistons by more than 30 percent compared with conventional piston lubrication. Excellent product quality, lower homogenizing pressureThe homogenizer valve has a crucial impact on product quality – and, by way of the homogenizing pressure, on the energy input required. The homogenizer valve on the HLI series can be perfectly matched to the required physical stability of UHT dairy products, vegan beverages, desserts, and fruit drinks. As a result, shelf lives of up to twelve months can be achieved without compromising the product’s flavor. Optimized flow conditions make it possible to obtain the same product quality at a lower homogenizing pressure. Of course, all areas that come into contact with the product are made in accordance with the latest hygiene requirements.The HLI series can be configured for either aseptic or non-aseptic processing. The aseptic models of HST homogenizers use proven technology that entails a series of sterile barriers and can be equipped with high-grade temperature and flow metering capabilities on request. Particularly suited for the production of UHT diary products and desserts as well as milk-based drinks, vegan beverages, and fruit juices: the new HLI series high-pressure homogenizers from HST.krones.com

• Fourth live broadcast: versatile Internet TV, with input from turnkey experts
• Live link: exclusive insights into Arburg assembly and machine commissioning
• Best practice: Hauff relies on cube technology

• The impact of the global coronavirus epidemic is still too prevalent
• The safety of visitors and employees is highest priority
• We look forward to the 2022 Technology Days

Arburg is cancelling the Technology Days event it was planning to hold between 7 and 12 June 2021. Consultations with official bodies and due consideration of the ramifications of the global coronavirus epidemic that are still clearly evident prompted the decision that was taken last Friday. The so-called ‘Federal Emergency Brake’ applied by the German government has a decisive influence on this situation.
“We regret this cancellation hugely but we are compelled to take this step due to prevailing parameters”, explains Juliane Hehl, the Managing Partner responsible for Marketing at Arburg. “Up until the final moment, we were hoping, and were genuinely working flat out, to enable these Technology Days to take place in the form, at long last, of a physical trade fair”, states the shareholder with reference to all the planning and efforts invested over the last few months. Our Technology Days are a brand in their own right, as well as being the largest in-house event in the entire World of Plastics – so we really did do everything conceivable to facilitate, at long last, a personal and physical event experience for our customers.
The safety of visitors and employees The postponement of the traditional timing of this event from March to June, the extension from four to six days, a Covid-compliant invitation and visitor management system, a meticulously planned hygiene and testing concept – with all of these measures, the safety of visitors and employees was always at the forefront of our deliberations.
Eager anticipation of the 2022 Technology Days “As unfortunate as things are at present: We stand by our view that the whole world is looking forward to getting back to normal events and trade fairs”, states Juliane Hehl. The Technology Days could have acted as a beacon for an entire sector, so it was entirely right and proper for us to have made every attempt to organise and hold the event. “We therefore extend an even warmer invitation to the World of Plastics to visit our Technology Days here in Lossburg in March 2022!”
arburg.com

Destination circular economy: Starlinger’s new backflush filter allows manufacturers of woven bags made of polypropylene tapes to use a proportion of recycled polypropylene of 50% and more in the tape extrusion process.

In times where buzzwords like sustainable packaging and closed packaging cycles are on everyone’s lips, Starlinger & Co. GmbH is now able to provide another solution to the plastic packaging industry that will ensure greater sustainability. “With our SPB filter, we are offering tried and tested technology that enables woven bag manufacturers to use recycled material for bag production without compromising on quality and cost-effectiveness. As such, you get exactly the same specifications and properties with recycled input material as with tapes made from 100% virgin material,” explains Hermann Adrigan, Head of Sales at Starlinger. Especially when it comes to packaging made of tape fabric, which is characterised by its high strength properties, high-quality tapes are the most important requirement. The tear-resistant sacks are filled with up to 50 kg of contents – in the case of big bags, the fabric even has to sustain two to three tonnes of weight. When using recycled material, the Starlinger SPB filter ensures excellent melt filtration for the high tape quality required. “This enables fabric bag manufacturers to work even more sustainably and at the same time meet a criterion that is becoming increasingly important in the packaging market: the amount of recycled content in the product,” says Adrigan.

50% and more of recycled content

In tape production, impurities and, in many cases, the range of different polymers in the recycled input material cause problems such as filter blockages or tape tears, which, in turn, reduce production efficiency. The SPB melt filter from Starlinger, on the other hand, achieves a high melt throughput with excellent cleaning capacity even in the case of more heavily contaminated input material. This way, a stable production process and high degree of efficiency are ensured.Thanks to the hydraulic backflushing function of the filter, the respective filter screen is backflushed and thus cleaned when a defined degree of contamination is reached. The backflush cycles are relatively short due to the high pressure build-up in the filter, and the extrusion process is not interrupted – an important criterion that saves material and time. Depending on the degree of contamination of the melt, the filter can achieve throughput rates of up to 720 kg/hour and allows for 50% and more of recyclate in tape production.

Know-how for a closed packaging cycle

“For optimum recyclate quality, our division Starlinger recycling technology offers recycling plants that are tailored to the specific needs of bag manufacturers,” adds Hermann Adrigan. “In principle, we at Starlinger combine the know-how and technology for “circular packaging” under one roof: From the manufacturing process and the packaging recycling process to reusing the recyclate for the same product. And our customers benefit from this. With our equipment, it is a lot easier for packaging manufacturers to use recycled material in the extrusion process because they can rely on the quality of the recycled pellets.” Design for Recycling is another important criterion for implementing a circular economy in the packaging sector. “In this respect, woven bags made of polypropylene are the perfect example,” says Adrigan. “They are a mono-material packaging consisting of 99% PP – even if they are coated. Considering this, it is obvious that the bags should be collected after usage and recycled. We want to promote and advance this process with our technologies.”

www.starlinger.com

MEAF Machines has added a PROMIX physical foaming installation to its in-house extruder test and demonstration line. As of mid-May this will allow customers to get hands-on experience with this material saving equipment while using their own polymer grades in the process. The potential savings from the PROMIX equipment come in addition to the benefits of the MEAF extruders, that are already among the best for energy efficiency and economy.

‘Physical foaming offer a significant material saving potentials for extrusion processes,’ says Roald de Bruijne, Sales Manager at MEAF. ‘PROMIX are setting new standards in the production of microcellular foam products with a very homogeneous cell structure and unprecedented process stability, while using eco-friendly CO2 and N2 blowing agents. Depending on the application, density reductions of 5 to more than 30 % can be achieved. The resulting material saving will not only benefit the plastic processors, but also their customers and the environment.’
‘When opting for a new type of raw material, material mixture or a new machine supplier, it is always helpful to be able run a test before deciding the best way forward,’ adds Roald. ‘It is like taking a test drive when you are looking to buy a new car. With MEAF’s new in-house test & demonstration line, we provide this capability to our customers. Our extrusion line has been designed and build to accommodate the latest technologies, such as physical foaming, and a wide variety of materials for our customers’ packaging needs, be it PET, PE, GPPS, PS, PP, PLA or biodegradable grades.’
For any sheet or film extrusion, the largest contribution to the production costs are by far raw materials, often surpassing 70 % of the total production expenses, usually followed by energy consumption. Therefor every manufacturer is looking to reduce its overall production costs by reducing the raw material expenses. One approach is to increase the amount of recycled material, regrind skeletal waste or bottle-flakes in the case of PET film extrusion, or the utilisation of filler components such as CaCO3. ‘To reduce the overall raw material costs further, even more needs to be done,’ explains Roald. ’This is where MEAF’s sheet extrusion line in combination with PROMIX physical foaming comes in. Not only will it typically reduce the cost of plastic raw material by 20% compared to conventional packaging, the overall weight reduction of 10 to 30% has further benefits, as some countries use this a basis for packaging taxes. In addition packaging can be made 100% recyclable, while also allowing the utilization of recycled raw material, also foamed.’ The micro foam process offers excellent rigidity, insulation and insensitivity to scratch marks, and results in the lowest energy consumption per kg in the industry. With the set up processors can work with multiple types of materials in one extruder, such as PP, PS, PET, PE, GPPS and PLA. Both foamed and non-foamed sheets can be produced on the same line, even allowing for multilayer A/B/A sheet, where the A-layer is a solid non-foamed layer, and the B-layer is of a foamed material.

https://www.meaf.com.

• Polystyrene serves society for 90 years, making it one of the first polymers deployed at commercial scale

• Polystyrene is made for recycling, making it best suited for a circular economy and low-carbon economy

INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, celebrates 90 years of polystyrene, a material that has significantly contributed to societal well-being for over almost a century. Polystyrene became one of the first commercially available polymers enabling a wide range of products that enhance our daily lives. Polystyrene is made for recycling, making it the material of choice for the future.

The road to the production of polystyrene was paved in 1929 with the first patents on the production of styrene monomer from ethylbenzene and a year later for the continuous polymerisation of styrene monomer to polystyrene. The technology was perfected through 1931, when the first ready-to-use polystyrene was produced. Today, polystyrene and styrenic polymers in general are an indispensable part of our lives. Polystyrene helps insulate our homes resulting in less energy consumption. Polystyrene is a great choice for food packaging as it helps reduce the amount of food being wasted, keeping it fresh and safe. Being both lightweight and durable, high-performance Styrenics also help to reduce the weight of cars resulting in reduced energy use and enabling longer range.

Styrenic materials are used to make life-saving applications in the healthcare industry, including virus detection kits, respiratory devices, safety goggles and face shields to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Polystyrene can be recycled via a wide range of technologies from mechanical recycling to more advanced recycling methods such as depolymerisation and pyrolysis. According to latest developments, mechanically recycled polystyrene even promises to enable food contact.

INEOS Styrolution is now focusing on advancing a circular and low-carbon economy by recycling styrenic materials including polystyrene and substituting fossil feedstock with either recycled or renewable sources in our production processes. Alexander Glück, President EMEA, says: “INEOS Styrolution’s ECO grades are the result of our strong efforts driving our circular and low-carbon agenda forward. Our ECO portfolio includes mechanically recycled solutions as well as materials made from recycled or renewable feedstock. Both are now available commercially and products based on advanced recycling technologies will come soon. These sustainable materials continue to offer the best performance to our customers and end-consumers, with no compromise on quality or safety.” Gregory Fordyce, President Americas, adds: “With the different recycling technology options we are actively pursuing, we are convinced that polystyrene will continue to be the material of choice for decades to come. Together with our partners, we are investing significantly into commercialising advanced recycling solutions.”

More information on INEOS Styrolution’s ECO range is available at styrolution-eco.com.

For 90 years of polystyrene overview,

see https://styrolution-eco.com/90-years-polystyrene/.

US-based Teijin Group subsidiary expands capacity in Sarepta, Louisiana

Continental Structural Plastics (CSP), one of the world’s largest manufacturers of composite components, is expanding its facility in Sarepta, Louisiana in the US, with the purchase of an LFT-D line that includes a DIEFFENBACHER press with a pressing force of 2,500 tonnes (25,000 kN). CSP will use its new LFT-D line, scheduled to begin operating in the first quarter of 2022, to produce tailgate covers for pickup trucks.
CSP has operated three DIEFFENBACHER LFT-D lines with identically constructed presses in Sarepta for 20 years. “Our DIEFFENBACHER lines from 2001 have done an excellent job for two decades. That’s why we’ve decided to order another LFT-D line with a 2,500-tonne hydraulic press from DIEFFENBACHER,” said Dale Armstrong, Advanced Process Engineer at CSP. “In addition, we always feel very well supported by the local DIEFFENBACHER staff here in North America,” he added.
A Teijin Group Company, CSP manufactures composite components for a variety of industries, including automotive, trucking, leisure and construction. CSP is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and operates facilities in the United States, Mexico, France, Portugal, Czech Republic and China.

dieffenbacher.de

Fast charging technology with the DC charging plug CCS

With its portfolio of products and solutions, the HARTING Technology Group is positioned as an electromobility technology partner and pioneer – and thereby driving the energy transition forward. The HARTING Automotive subsidiary is focusing on e-mobility solutions. The subsidiary supplies customised solutions and components for all relevant sales areas. Among other things, the subsidiary is developing and manufacturing charging infrastructure solutions for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As part of the press highlight tour at HANNOVER MESSE, HARTING has now showcased an innovative charging connector.

In this context, the low-loss DC voltage featuring the latest HARTING high-current connectivity charges the battery of the e-vehicle in the shortest possible time. “Over the recent months, e-mobility has picked up tremendous momentum. There’s no denying: high-performance fast charging will further improve acceptance of e-vehicles among drivers,” as Marco Grinblats, Managing Director of HARTING Automotive stated. The breakthrough of e-mobility depends decisively on user-friendly charging infrastructure. “Fast charging technology with the DC charging plug CCS is a prerequisite for ensuring that in future vehicles will be supplied with sufficient power – not in a matter of hours, but in a few minutes,” as Marco Grinblats underlined. Power from wind turbines to charging stations HARTING is a technology partner covering the entire energy process chain – from the renewable energy generation of wind energy to decentralised energy storage and the DC infrastructure all the way through to e-mobility charging plugs. With this comprehensive scope, HARTING differentiates itself from its market competitors. HARTING is an enabler for reliable, clean and environmentally friendly e-mobility. The technology group is supplying charging solutions for Volkswagen’s modular e-drive system (MEB), as well as the Audi e-tron and the Porsche Taycan platforms, among others. Last summer, HARTING Automotive took the prestigious Volkswagen Group Award 2020 in the E-Mobility category. With this award, the Volkswagen Group acknowledged the exceptional achievements and high level of flexibility with which HARTING Automotive is contributing to the success of Volkswagen AG.As part of the HANNOVER MESSE format, the main areas of application for HARTING in the field of today’s charging infrastructure for electromobility were presented. One example of AC charging solutions is the Innogy Wall-Box, which can be used not only as a charging station in public areas, but also in the private sector as a Wall-Box. It underlines the trend towards modularity: with this customized OEM connectivity solution, HARTING ensures flexible and individual use by end users.In cooperation with Porsche, HARTING has created a DC charging solution that can transfer very high power to the vehicle’s energy storage system for a short time. A new innovative cooling technology ensures that all necessary parameters are maintained.HARTING Automotive has put in strong growth over the past three years. “E-mobility topics have shifted up three gears in a very short time. I am most pleased to see the continued strong demand for HARTING solutions in this area,” as Grinblats concludes. A keen eye on the mobility concepts of the futureHARTING has long been involved in the mobility concepts of the future. The Technology Group looks back on many years of successful cooperation with the innovative Swiss automobile manufacturer Rinspeed. The ground-breaking “metroSNAP” concept vehicle launched by Rinspeed AG is also – and once again -relying on innovative HARTING technology. HARTING is contributing a specially designed interface supplying the vehicle with Power, Data and Signals.

www.HARTING.com/IN