Filtration of high-performance and control of viscosity in the manufacture of tapes for packaging

Due to its enormous benefits, PET packaging tapes are replacing rapidly worldwide tapes of steel, both for the strapping of, for example, paper and cotton, as also of wood and stones. On the one hand they are highly resistant to sudden changes in tension, and at the same time are so elastic that, although the charges that are applied are shrinking, continue holding them firmly. On the other hand, the tapes of strapping of PET are easy to handle, are lighter than the steel tape, resistant to weathering, not rust and to cut them not produce lesions with sharp cutting edges or by sudden openings.

Interstrap has specialized in this growing market and, in addition to other products, manufactures tapes of PET for packaging in widths of 8 to 16 mm. Interstrap belongs to the group, Orgapack Strapex, an Association of companies that provides solutions for the packaging and logistics sector. In addition, he is a member of group ITW, one of the largest producers of packaging tapes.

For the production of tapes, usually green in colour, the Dutch producer exclusively uses materials discarded by consumers, which are obtained at a good price. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the production line is functioning without interruption despite the use of recycled material, which contains significant amount of dirt and foreign particles in varying percentages, such as paper, sand, adhesives and other types of plastics.

The filtration continuous mass of polyester cast for the production of tapes is insured by the system of filtration Gneuss Kunstofftechnik RSFgenius, which operates fully automatically and ensures consistency of the pressure and the process. Despite the relatively high degree of contamination with dirt of the scales of PET, the filtration is performed in a single filtration system, without prior or subsequent leakage.

Rotary filtration system RSFgenius was purchased to replace a changer of nets with pins, which, due to the interruptions in the process related to changing, is not suitable for processing very large amounts of recycled materials.

The RSFgenius has an integrated system of standard segments of high pressure, which guarantees a complete cleaning of the mesh. Depending on the degree of fineness of filtration, the mesh can be reused up to 400 times, which enables changing is only necessary after about 2 months. Channel flow with optimal design avoids deadlocks, the cracked product training and ensure short residence times. Its completely encapsulated constructively, the filter prevents the molten mass suffers the influence of contact with oxygen or moisture. In addition, the system stands unparalleled profitability, as well as its simplicity of operation and maintenance. Because of these advantages, the RSFgenius has been established worldwide as the filtration system ideal for the processing of PET bottle flakes, and is used in the most different areas, such as the manufacture of bottles, fibres, ribbons, felt and sheets.

In addition to Rotary filtration system, Interstrap also uses a signature Gneuss online viscometer. This Viscometer with flange measure the viscosity of the mass cast on an ongoing basis, which is critical for resistance to breakage of packaging tapes. For the first time the fluctuations in the drying process, as well as also the fluctuations in the use of recycled material, can be measured allowing the taking of countermeasures in good time.