WM Wrapping MachinerySA, Switzerland, has successfully completed the testing of a complete production line for the production of two-color disposable multilayer polypropylene cups. WM's line, named INTEC FT 900/3, includes a system for automatic metering and feeding of granular raw materials, as well as a system for managing and recycling waste from the crushing line.

   WM Wrapping Machinery SA of Switzerland has successfully completed the testing of a complete production line for the production of two-color disposable multilayer polypropylene cups. The production unit was delivered to a leading European manufacturer of disposable products.
  The Swiss company named the line under test INTEC FT 900/3, which includes a system for automatic metering and feeding of granular raw materials, as well as a system for managing and recycling waste from the crushing line.
  The extruder unit (also supplied by WMWrapping Machinery Sa) consists of a main extruder with a screw diameter of 120mm and two co-extruders with a diameter of 80mm. The total extrusion capacity of the unit is 1096kg/h.
  The extruder flat die head feeds a vertically laminated three-roll calender to produce sheets with a width of 930mm and a thickness range of 0.2-2mm.
  The extruded sheet is fed into the conveyor system on-line by a toothed chain of the FT900 thermoforming machine (equipped with a inclined lower form and a servo-assisted insertion device). The molding tooling can accommodate molds with a maximum size of 880x520 mm and a closing force of 75000DaN(75 tons). The tilt system of the movable lower template is based on an innovative double CAM and lever system driven by a servo motor.
  The mold has 51 cavities for the production of finished cups with a rim diameter of 73 mm and a height of 95 mm.
  After thermoforming and punching (simultaneously in the same die), the cups are removed from the bottom half die (at a 75 degree Angle from a template with an aspirated spindle) and automatically transported to a collection cage, which automatically removes the stacked rows of cups from the conveyor belt and continuously feeds into a flanging device with 3 rotating screws (WM Company products). With the top edge of the cup facing up, the cup is then placed into the auxiliary counting and packaging device.
  The waste or the remaining punched polypropylene sheet after punching the cup is sent on-line to a soundproof crusher, where the waste is crushed into pieces, which are then transported by a blower bank to a metering/mixing unit located above the extrusion unit. This makes use of on-line direct recycling of waste from raw materials to finished products in a closed loop.
  The INTEC 900/3 system can produce up to 120,000 200cc cups per hour, reducing energy consumption and significantly reducing the labor required.