Heaters and Control Systems for Extrusion, Injection Molding, and Thermoforming Applications are Featured
St. Louis, MO (October 25, 2001) - Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company is featuring several new thermal system solutions for a variety of plastics processes at K 2001 in Dusseldorf. These include heaters and control systems for extrusion, injection molding, and thermoforming applications.
New PPC-2000 for Advanced Extrusion Process Control
Watlow is introducing a new product for extrusion control at K 2001. The PPC-2000 Programmable Process Controller, featuring multi-loop PID control algorithms has been developed for this use. At the Watlow stand at K 2001, an interactive display shows an operating PPC-2000 system with multiple extruder setpoints on a touch-screen.
The PPC-2000 offers extrusion processors complete production run documentation. Features such as data communication, process monitoring, and recipe storage, along with other extruder-specific capabilities, are built into the PPC-2000 software. Some these extrusion-specific features and benefits of this control system include:
Autotune software for fast start-up
minimizing over/undershoot in response to setpoint changes
optimizing material usage by monitoring use
reduced power costs
extended motor life
water, air, and oil cooling control
screw speed control for consistent operation
pressure monitoring capabilities
The versatile PPC-2000 is a new class of high performance controller that utilizes multi-loop PID control integrated with programmable logic in a modular, flexible package. The PPC-2000 is a uniquely powerful and cost-effective approach for processors dealing with many temperature and process control applications where existing controllers are awkward, time-consuming, or do not adequately solve the problem. It offers a very user-friendly alternative to the use of individual controllers and PLC units from different vendors.
Other Watlow products for extrusion applications on display at K include:
Full line of MI Band and Ceramic Knuckle Heaters for extruder barrels
FIREROD® Cartridge Heaters for extruder dies
New ThickFilm Heating Technology for Hot Runner Systems Provides Injection Molders With Enhanced Final Part Quality
Also at K, Watlow will feature a line of new hot runner nozzle and manifold heaters that give operators more control over temperature uniformity while helping to shorten overall cycle time and eliminating the disadvantages and unreliability of traditional cable and tubular heaters.
After two years of research and development and beta-testing, this new thick film heating technology, patented by Watlow and UL®-recognized, is now being marketed and distributed globally. This technology lets hot runner manufacturers uniformly apply precisely calibrated heat with pinpoint accuracy, at temperatures up to 500°C (925°F). By doing away with hot spots and cold spots along the hot runner manifold and nozzles, these new Watlow heaters help injection molders by ensuring consistency from shot to shot and greatly improving final part quality.
Nozzle Heater Advantages
The extremely low radial profile of the thick film nozzle heater allows much closer pitch, or center-to-center distance, between nozzles. This increases potential nozzle density, making it possible to increase the number of hot runner nozzles and thus increase the number of parts per mold.
The unique sleeve design of the nozzle heaters gives better temperature profile along the length of the nozzle due to more uniform contact. Hot runner system nozzles need heat applied at the tip area, as close as possible to the plastic material's exit point. This is easily accomplished with this new thick film nozzle design.
Manifold Heater Advantages
The new thick film manifold heaters are stainless steel plates that are designed to clamp directly to the outer surface of the hot runner manifold. This provides several advantages: more uniform heat distribution; more design flexibility, as the shape of the heater matches the shape of the hot runner manifold, so it can adapt easily to any hot runner geometry; and simpler manufacturing, as the grooves that traditionally needed to be machined in the steel manifold to accept tubular heaters are eliminated. This also allows for smaller-mass hot runner manifolds, since the extra steel required for the heater channel is eliminated. Smaller manifolds will heat up more quickly, reducing the overall start-up time of the injection molding machine.
Other Watlow products for injection molding applications on display at K include:
Full line of MI Band and Ceramic Knuckle Heaters for injection machine barrels
FIREROD cartridge heaters for injection molds and distributor blocks
Temperature sensors and power switching devices
Watlow RAYMAX® Radiant Heaters Ideal Solution for Thermoforming Applications
Watlow will show its family of RAYMAX radiant heaters at its stand at K. Ideal for thermoforming applications, the Watlow RAYMAX® family of radiant heaters offers uniformly heated long-wave radiant panels, quick responding medium-wave quartz tubes and rugged metal sheathed tubular elements with a reflective housing. Watlow provides replacement elements or complete oven upgrades with integrated temperature sensors, controllers and power switching devices for cut sheet or roll fed machines. In-house lab testing of customer materials and 25 years of experience in thermoforming allows Watlow to provide the best heating solution for your application.
About Watlow
Since the company's founding in 1922, Watlow has brought its thermal expertise to numerous applications, including semiconductor, plastics processing, foodservice equipment, life sciences, aerospace and others. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Watlow is the largest custom designer and manufacturer of industrial heaters, sensors, controllers and software with offices and manufacturing facilities around the world.
For additional information or the name of the nearest Watlow representative:
United Kingdom
Telephone: ++44 (0) 115-964-0777
Telefax: ++44 (0) 115-964-0071
Internet: www.watlow.co.uk
Watlow Europe
Germany
Telephone: ++49 (0) 7253-9400-0
Telefax: ++49 (0) 7253-9400-99
Internet: www.watlow.de
France
Telephone: ++33 (0) 1 3073-2425
Telefax: ++33 (0) 1 3073-2875
Internet: www.watlow.com
Italy
Telephone: ++39 02 458-8841
Telefax: ++39 02 458-69946
Internet: www.watlow.com
Watlow USA
Phone: 1+ (800) 4-WATLOW, 1+ (314) 878-4600
Fax: 1+ (877) 893-1005, 1+ (314) 878-6814
Internet: www.watlow.com
E-mail: info@watlow.com
