(K-Interview) Reifenhäuser boosts sustainability, digitalization and productivity
Energy crisis is one of the most serious challenges in Europe at present. At the interview with Adsale Plastics Network (AdsaleCPRJ.com), Zhou Yunfan, Managing Director, Reifenhauser Plastic Machinery (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., explained how the Reifenhäuser Group handles the energy crisis and help customers as a machine manufacturer.
If parts are difficult to deliver from Europe, the Group will have its subsidiary in the rest of the world to provide the parts quickly, said Zhou Yunfan. “We have a global organization and have subsidiaries around the world. We are close to our customers and we try to make it more efficient for our customers to get our products.”
Commenting on the market outlook of 2023, Zhou Yunfan expects the customers will be more careful in investing due to the uncertain global economic situation. He remarked that it is normal to have ups and downs in business. All we have to do is be patient and continue to serve customers.
Zhou Yunfan, Managing Director, Reifenhauser Plastic Machinery (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (right) and Michael Ziegler, Content Manager Technology, Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik.
EVO Fusion upgrades recyclate qualities
The Reifenhäuser Group was represented with four booths at K 2022. The extrusion specialists demonstrated solutions for film and nonwoven production focusing on the three major topics of the industry: sustainability, digitalization and productivity.
Reifenhäuser Group's presentations focused on sustainability, digitalization and productivity.
With EVO Fusion, blown film producers can process previously unusable, low quality recyclates into high-performance blown films for simple end uses, such as trash bags or mailing bags. Until now, such low-grade recyclates could only be used for simple and thick-walled injection-molded products.
The EVO Fusion process relies on direct extrusion, which eliminates the need for energy- and cost-intensive regranulation of the raw material. This means that fluff (film shreds) and all types of production waste and PCR material can also be processed directly.
With EVO Fusion, low quality recyclates can be processed into high-performance blown films for simple applications.
PAM calibrates coextrusion adapters and dies automatically
For the first time worldwide, Reifenhäuser presented its new PAM automation option for coextrusion adapters and slot dies in flat film and sheet production, and for extrusion coating, at the trade fair.
With the PAM option, coextrusion adapter and die can be adjusted automatically and mechatronically via the line's operating panel. This is significantly faster than conventional control by hand or expansion bolt automation. Energy consumption is also reduced as manual adjustment bolts replace the conventional thermal expansion bolts.
c.Hub digital solution adopts cross-vendor approach
Reifenhäuser also presented an innovative digitalization solution from RE:, a
Reifenhäuser Group subsidiary specializing in digital products for extrusion line operators. It deliberately turns away from the usual vendor-centric approaches.
c.Hub serves as a single point for merging all production-relevant data from production systems and lines.
The core of the solution is the c.Hub, a middleware that serves as a single point for merging all production-relevant data from different Reifenhäuser and third-party control systems and machines.
