Coextrusion testing now at Teknor Apex lab in Germany

Teknor Apex Co. has added a new Arvitec coextrusion line at its application development laboratory in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. Completely commissioned and trialed, it is now available for clients' development projects as well as internal company development projects.

Calling the new line a "great addition to our technical capabilities in Europe," Gert Joly, director technology Europe, said its installation now made it possible for the lab to offer lab scale testing for co-extruded applications, that are "critical for our clients' successful product development, allowing them to perfect conditions before a full-scale production rollout."

Arvitec machinery is a popular choice with the customers in Europe and has been a partner for decades, added Thomas Aschenbrenner, application development laboratory manager.

"So this allows us to do development and problem solving on the very same equipment they run their product with. Along with running trials and prototypes for customers we can use this line to speed up our own internal material developments," he said.

The line was custom built for Pawtucket, R.I.-based Teknor Apex and includes dual Genesis extruders, a calibration table, haul-off and rotary blade providing a clean and burr-free cut. It is flexible for a large variety of applications and offers the latest in touchscreen controls, with an intuitive, easy-to-operate design. These advanced controls offer a complete automated performance with control reports and recording of setups for ease of repeatability.

Arvitec can also provide remote support with the ability to fully monitor and control the system in real time, with just an internet connection, from their location in Spain.

Tests with multiple thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizate and polypropylene material combinations and different profile geometries have been a success, including two-layer tubes for AdBlue systems or cooling fluids of battery-operated electrical vehicles, two-component strips consisting of low-friction Sarlink slip-coat materials on top of a soft TPE/TPV for automotive sealing systems, and various other automotive profiles.

According to Teknor, the line will also support customers looking to meet sustainability goals. The line can be used to trial replacing extruded EPDM thermoset rubber profiles with a recyclable alternative like TPV. Along with the ability to be recycled TPVs offer greater design flexibility and lower fabrication costs for hard-to-achieve shapes than EPDM.