extrusion control Archives - Process Control Corporation

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Product Spotlight: GRAVITROL® Extrusion Control Systems
February 17, 2016 11:08 am Leave a Comment
GRAVITROL® Extrusion Control Systems: The Complete System
This week Process Control Corporation is pleased to spotlight its GRAVITROL® Extrusion Control Systems. Gravitrol® extrusion control offers the benefits of improved product quality, reduced material usage, quicker startups and product changeovers, reduced scrap, and improved product repeatability. At the same time, it reduces the operator’s workload by maintaining a constant output, regardless of screen pack or material variations.
The system uses Process Control’s proven Gravitrol® software to automate the control of the line and hold the extruder output to +/- 0.5% by weight. This tight control of output means that product can be made consistently within tolerance at the lowest possible cost, thereby saving thousands of dollars in resin.
Process Control X Series blenders can be equipped with extrusion control software to allow the blender to control the extruder and line speed on monoextrusion lines for consistent output by weight. Guardian® batch blenders can also be equipped with weigh hopper and extruder and line speed I/O.

Control for X Series 2 Blenders
Process Control X Series 2 blenders monitor the extruder usage in order to follow the extruder rate and insure a consistent supply of material. In an extrusion control system, this extruder rate is used to adjust the screw speed by minute amounts to hold the overall throughput to the value entered in the blender operator station. Because the blender already has a powerful computer and equipment necessary to measure the extruder rate, adding extrusion control on a monoextrusion line with a Process Control X Series 2 blender is a very cost-effective addition. This feature can be easily retrofitted to existing installations with X Series 2 or B Series blenders.
X Series 2 blenders can also be easily integrated into coextrusion applications with extrusion control for controlling product layer ratios and total line throughput. On coextrusion applications the blender computer reports to a master EXB2 Series Operator Station, which also receives weight throughput reading from HG Series 2 Weigh Hoppers mounted on single-component extruders.

Check back next week for a brief introduction to the GRAVITROL® Extrusion Control Systems’ special features and products.
For this information and more on our GRAVITROL® Extrusion Control Systems, please click here to access our website, or send us an e-mail at sales@process-control.com.
Upgrades Available for Gravitrol Extrusion Control
December 3, 2014 1:34 pm Leave a Comment
Process Control offers a new selection of upgrades for Gravitrol, including a color touch screen controller, PLC based extruder line speed control, and a DSP weigh module upgrade kit, that will improve your systems performance and longevity. These upgrades not only add years to your Gravitrol’s life, but can actually improve your accuracy as well. Additionally, the upgrades offer a way to simplify the process and postpone future replacement, making operation easier and saving you money all at once. Your older Gravitrol systems controls, drive modules, and weigh module chips are facing the threat of becoming obsolete; ensure that will not happen by upgrading today.
A new brochure is available detailing the features and pricing of our Gravitrol upgrades. Click here to download a copy.
Product Spotlight: HG Series 2 Weigh Hopper
June 18, 2014 12:47 pm Leave a Comment
Today’s product spotlight focuses on the HG Series 2 Weigh Hopper for extrusion control.
The HG Series 2 incorporates engineering and design breakthroughs to help achieve the optimal result in extrusion: a uniform product within tolerance at the lowest possible manufacturing cost. The touch screen interface will be able to communicate with a new supervisory system to be announced later this fall.
Click here to view the spec sheet for the HG2.
Please email us at sales@process-control.com for more information on this product.
Standard Features:
- Integral loader support platform
- Clear polycarbonate inspection/cleanout door (2.3 cu.ft. models and larger)
- Inspection sightglass (on 0.3 cu.ft. models and larger)
- Butterfly drain valve (on 2.3 cu.ft. models and larger)
- High-resolution PCC based weighing system
- Integrates with a complete Gravitrol extrusion control system for precise, consistent throughput control
- Mild steel construction
- Color touch screen operator interface
Options:
- Integral blender support for 2.5kg & 5kg Guardian Series 2
- High temperature design
- Stainless steel construction
- Special electricals
- Positive shut-off knife-gate or swing-gate valve for gravity loading material from above
- Integral extruder and line speed monitor/control
AgruAmerica Upgrades to Continuous Blender with Existing PCC Gravitrol System
February 14, 2014 10:01 am Leave a Comment
Gunther Niedermoser, Plant Manager at AgruAmerica was looking at an economical way to upgrade his 90 mm pipe extrusion line, utilizing existing equipment on the line and blending equipment received from Process Control GmbH. The 90mm line was already equipped with a Gravitrol® (gravimetric extrusion control) system from PCC, which was designed to control the weight per unit length of the pipe by monitoring extruder output and adjusting the puller speed.
With the assistance from PCC’s service manager, Jonathan Phelps, the PCC continuous blender was mounted on a mezzanine above the extrusion line and the existing Gravitrol system was combined with the PCC blender control system. With the addition of hardware and software for the control of the extruder output, now the material blending and full gravimetric extrusion control were integrated into one system.
With the new on-line blending capability, in addition to gravimetric control of both the puller and extruder, the materials feed and total line yield were now fully automated and accurate to within +/- 0.5% by weight. This resulted in faster line start-up, reduced overall scrap and improved product quality. Gunther and Jon were successful in adding a significant level of automation and process improvement to the line, with a minimal capital expenditure and utilization of surplus equipment.
To download press release, click here.
New Literature for Gravitrol Extrusion Control
November 20, 2013 2:47 pm Leave a Comment
Updated literature is now available for Process Control’s Gravitrol – Extrusion Control System. The new literature features the HG Series 2 Weigh Hopper with touchscreen controls and the new EXG Series supervisory operator station.
Gravitrol extrusion control offers the benefits of improved product quality, reduced material usage, quicker startups and product chagneovers, reduced scrap, and improved product repeatability. At the same time, it reduces the operator’s workload by maintaining a constant output, regardless of the screen pack or material variations.
Click here to download a copy of the new Gravitrol brochure.
Savings with PCC’s Gravitrol Extrusion Control System
November 13, 2013 1:12 pm Leave a Comment
Click image to view full size
Process Control featured our Gravitrol Extrusion Control ad in last weeks issue of Plastics News magazine. This ad is a continuation of our 2013 Savings campaign.
This ad illustrates a complete diagram of how our Gravitrol system works in addition to a breakdown of the weekly savings one can expect from our system. Savings are accomplished by quicker start-up, reducing scrap, and minimizing overfeed. A better product is accomplished by on gage product and layer thickness control. Every extruder should be equipped with a Gravitrol system.
For more information, please contact Mark Venable to discuss your next extrusion control system.
New HG Series 2 Weigh Hopper with Touch Screen Controls
September 25, 2013 2:50 pm Leave a Comment
PCC would like to announce the HG Series 2 – a weigh hopper (now with touch screen controls) designed for use as part of the Gravitrol Extrusion Control System. The HG Series 2 incorporates engineering and design breakthroughs to help achieve the optimal result in extrusion: a uniform product within tolerance at the lowest possible manufacturing cost. The new touch screen interface will be able to communicate with a new supervisory system to be announced later this fall.
Click here to view the spec sheet for the HG2.
Please email us at sales@process-control.com for more information on this product.
Standard Features:
- Integral loader support platform
- Clear polycarbonate inspection/cleanout door (2.3 cu.ft. models and larger)
- Inspection sightglass (on 0.3 cu.ft. models and larger)
- Butterfly drain valve (on 2.3 cu.ft. models and larger)
- High-resolution PCC based weighing system
- Integrates with a complete Gravitrol extrusion control system for precise, consistent throughput control
- Mild steel construction
- Color touch screen operator interface
Options:
- Integral blender support for 2.5kg & 5kg Guardian Series 2
- High temperature design
- Stainless steel construction
- Special electricals
- Positive shut-off knife-gate or swing-gate valve for gravity loading material from above
- Integral extruder and line speed monitor/control
Blending System for Mono-Extrusion Control
October 11, 2012 2:07 pm Leave a Comment
PCC recently supplied a Blending System for Mono-Extrusion Control. This impressive structure, which includes a Model XLE 6-Component Continuous Gravimetric Blender, vacuum receivers, surge hopper, weighed down comer and custom magnet drawer, is extruder mounted. The Blender, equipped with brushless motors and drives, uses a combination of high rate pellet hoppers, low rate tube hoppers and a regrind hopper for a throughput of up to 2,000 PPH. A nice twist allows the 10 cubic foot surge hopper to be filled with blended material when the extruder is down, by pneumatically conveying from an aspirated stub on the side of the magnet drawer.
Blending System for Mono-Extrusion