Roll Stand System offers multiple extrusion capabilities.
Press Release Summary:
At 40 in. wide, XP Express® is offered with technology for producing sheet with hundreds of layers. It can be equipped with coextrusion die, feedblock, and layer multiplier as well as special adaptor piece for injecting atmospheric gas for foam applications. XP Express PS (packaging sheet) and CS (custom sheet) models are available for in-line thermoforming of PP, APET, and PS and may also be equipped for extrusion processes involving EVA, TPA, and vinyl acetate copolymers.
Original Press Release:
XP Express® Addresses New Applications and Efficiency
(Pawcatuck, Conn.)--Davis-Standard's widely used XP Express® roll stand system will be on display at NPE with technology for producing sheet with hundreds of layers, including foam extrusion capabilities. This specific XP Express, a 40-inch (1,000mm) wide model, is part of a laboratory line that will be available for trials at Davis-Standard's facility in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, after the show. It will be shown with a coextrusion die, feedblock, and layer multiplier as well as a special adaptor piece for injecting atmospheric gas for foam applications.
The XP Express PS (packaging sheet) and CS (custom sheet) models have been highly effective for in-line thermoforming of PP, APET and PS for applications in the beverage and prepared food distribution markets. End products include ambient shelf-life packaging, blister and clamshell packaging, convenience packaging, liquid containment, personal care products, vapor and moisture barriers, point of purchase displays, and dozens of others. In addition, the XP Express is equipped for extrusion processes involving EVA, TPA and vinyl acetate copolymers for areas such as solar energy. Especially significant is the progress being made with barrier structures comprised of more than 100 layers using layer multipliers for micro layer composites, a focus of Davis-Standard at NPE.
"The effectiveness of the XP Express across such a broad range of applications is one of the reasons we are creating a custom sheet laboratory in-house for new product development," said Al Chrisbacher, Vice President of Davis-Standard's Sheet Systems Group. "We've had an increase in R&D requests for coextrusion structures used in single-service food and beverage containers as well as multi-barrier structures for thermoforming and shelf-stable properties. Customers will be able to take advantage of process evaluation for just about anything including monolayer, coextrusion, coating and lamination applications."
Another focus of Davis-Standard at NPE is foam technology for extrusion of materials used in packaging and other density reduction applications. The XP Express is also successful in this area, most recently for foam extrusion applications using carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
This technology offers a density reduction of up to 35 percent to increase yields with PS, PP and PE using patented physical foaming capabilities. Injection, mixing and dosing all in one package is available on new lines. PS, PP and PE existing lines can also be upgraded to produce physical foamed sheet.
Chrisbacher noted that XP Express sheet systems also afford several efficiency advantages. Better power utilization is achieved due to a smaller carbon footprint and direct drive extruder technology, reducing energy input and energy extraction. Cooling rolls are sized to deliver optimum sheet temperature to inline thermoformers and improve material feed for increased outputs up to 45 percent. Operator features such as hands-free roll gap control and force regulation for setting individual load values for each cooling roll nip are also beneficial. In addition, Davis-Standard supplies ancillary equipment that is integrated and designed to meet each application. This includes equipment for lamination, post embossing, expanding cooling capacity and heavy-gauge sheet conditioning as well as web accumulators, slitting stations, thickness control, machine directional orienters and web winding.
For more information about the XP Express and Davis-Standard's sheet extrusion capabilities, contact Chrisbacher at achrisbacher@davis-standard.com.
