AEC to Market Eriez Magnetics
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This strategic partnership for AEC, Inc. and Eriez Magnetics comes when resin prices are rising, and multi-material processors are trying to reduce costs without compromising quality and service. The solution: Mixed resin separation and recycling.
"The concept of recycling is not new. The idea behind this product states Kevin Chudyk, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Our partnership with Eriez Magnetics complements our line of material handling and size reduction equipment, and our commitment to our customers. We can now offer an affordable solution to the high-cost of resins that are putting strains on our customers." The growing trend in the U.S. is multi-material molding, which leaves molders with scrap that they normally can not re-use.
Eriez Magnetics, which is based in Erie, Penn, developed an innovative additive & process to help molders keep their material costs down by recovering valuable mixed resins. The PolyMag process provides an effective and automated means to recover manufacturing scrap and waste for multi-material processors. The patented PolyMag process incorporates an additive into one of the polymers prior to molding, similar to colorant. This makes the resin susceptible to the very strong magnetic field produced in the PolyMag Rare Earth roll magnetic separator. Scrap parts are then run through a traditional granulator and the PolyMagTM separator can then separate the mixed polymer regrind.
"The principle of magnetic roll separation is a well proven process," states John Collins, Manager of the PolyMag division. For about 25 years, Eriez has been supplying this equipment to their minerals customers. "The novel idea here is adding a tiny amount of the additive to plastics, creating a magnetically susceptible polymer without materially changing the resin's properties. This is a product that nobody else is offering."
Eriez is a global company, having plants in China, Australia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, the United Kingdom and India, making them readily accessible for customers worldwide.
Eriez Magnetics, manufacturers of the most powerful magnetic circuits on the market, offers equipment which can attract particles with the smallest amount of magnetic material. The PolyMag additive imparts a low level of magnetic susceptibility in the resin, and will not materially affect the molded part properties. The PolyMag additive is metered into one of the resins using an additive feeder, with a typical concentration of 1% by weight. The PolyMag additive uses a non-polymer carrier, which is compatible with a wide range of plastics. Once scrap parts move through the grinder, a vibratory feeder conveys the regrind material to a thin belt which passes over the Rare Earth magnetic roll. The un-treated material passes over the roll and drops off into a front discharge bin. The treated material is attracted to the magnetic roll and is carried by the belt until it rolls underneath the separator, where it drops off into a rear discharge bin.
The PolyMag separator is an automated process that needs very little maintenance and reduces the expense of material scrap and waste. Waste disposal costs are minimal in comparison and it pays for itself in as little as six months, and provides molders with an opportunity to either use or re-sell the separated resins for added profitability.
In addition to industry leading material handling products, AEC always offers full support from start-up to training 24-hour on-call service. Further AEC product offerings include heating and cooling, blending and reclaim, size reduction, automation, downstream extrusion and systems contracting. For more information on the PolyMag process or other AEC products, contact Kevin Chudyk at 847-273-7704 or visit our web site at www.aecinternet.com.
