K Trade Fair: Brabender Focuses on Circular Economy and Sustainability
There is a lot to see for visitors at the Brabender stand at this year’s K trade fair in Düsseldorf: From October 19 to 26, Brabender GmbH & Co. KG will be presenting its solutions for quality testing as well as for the development of sustainable plastic and rubber products on a laboratory and technical scale. This includes modular torque rheometers with measuring kneader and extruder attachments, as well as compact extruders of various dimensions and devices for special measuring applications in the plastics industry.
In addition to the devices on display, there will also be live demonstrations on site: “Among other things, we extrude recycled plastic pellets from shredded polypropylene at our booth”, explains Jessica Wiertz, Manager Applications at Brabender.
“Circular Economy” and environment in focus
Sustainability and resource conservation have been the focus of the Duisburg-based company for many decades. Current projects with partners from research and industry in which Brabender devices are used include the extrusion of sustainable films from algae or the determination of carbon black from recycled car tires with the help of the Absorptometer C. In addition, the use of the laboratory devices saves resources and costs compared to ongoing production with machines, since only a fraction of the amount of raw material is required for the measurement, as would be the case with comparable tests on large-volume machines.
Modular and compact solutions for rheology and extrusion
Also on the booth is the MetaStation 4E, with which Brabender launched the new generation of modular torque rheometers at K 2019. Like its predecessor, the Plastograph, which is widely used in the industry, the MetaStation 4E serves as a drive for measuring kneaders of various sizes. In addition, the drive has been extended to operate the larger Brabender internal mixers and does not require a docking station. Furthermore, single-screw extruders, the conical twin-screw extruder and the new B-TSE-A 12/36 mini compounder can also be operated with the MetaStation 4E.
Meanwhile, Brabender also offers the MetaStation 8 stand-alone drive, also on display at K 2022. Together with its bigger brother, the MetaStation 16, the two are the successor generation to Brabender’s well-known Plasti-Corder Lab station. At the heart of the MetaStation devices is Brabender’s MetaBridge software. The user interface, which is immediately available without installation, the tracking of measurement results from any location and end device, various data evaluation functions, pre-implemented standards and individually adaptable measurement methods are just some of the software’s advantages. It can be operated via the convenient touchscreen, making the operation of external computer peripherals obsolete.
In addition to the modular MetaStations, Brabender will also show compact extruders, including the TwinLab-C 20/40, with integrated drive at the K booth. As for the modular extruders, different die and screw geometries as well as metering and downstream equipment, including for pellet pelletizing or strand winding, are available for the compact units.
Optimize vehicle tire formulations
A product innovation at the trade fair is the new 350 SX internal mixer, which Brabender will present for the first time at a trade fair. In combination with a Brabender torque rheometer, the 350 SX analyzes the melting behavior of materials and compounds and is used in the tire industry, for recipe development and research and development. Among other things, it helps to optimize the formulation of tires by mixing the rubber and analyzing the pure rubber. In addition, the effect and behavior of ingredients such as carbon black or silica in car tires can be measured.
Residual moisture measurement – also for recyclates
When processing high-quality plastics, an important parameter is the water content of the product. With the moisture analyzer for plastics, the Aquatrac V, the water content in plastics, including PET recyclates, can be determined according to DIN EN ISO 15512:2019. Brabender will also exhibit the device for residual moisture analysis at the show and perform live measurements.
Brabender will be exhibiting its entire range of products and services at the K show and is looking forward to welcome visitors in hall 10 at booth A14. In addition to product and application advice, interested visitors can also make appointments in the Brabender application laboratory, where they can test their own raw materials and formulations on Brabender devices and lines.
