Macro BXL-5180 Coextrusion Line Producing Barrier Films in Guatemala
A Macro model BXL-5180 5-layer blown film line was recently installed in Guatemala at Grupo Olefinas' plant in Villa Nueva. Mr. Ricardo Santos, Olefinas' Sales & Marketing Manager, stated, “Our new Macro 5-layer line is operating at excellent output levels, producing the high quality films it was intended for. Its modern design makes it capable of processing a large array of resins and blends, giving Olefinas the capability of producing different types of barrier films for diverse applications.”
The configuration of the line was a combined task of teams from Macro and Olefinas working together to find the best solution to Olefinas' marketing expectations. Mr. Santos elaborated further, “The production team and management at Olefinas are very pleased with the performance of the Macro BXL-5180. We are already producing, as scheduled, barrier films that comply with U.S. and European standards of performance.”
Macro BXL-5160 Coextrusion Line On Its Way to Chile
A Macro BXL-5160 5-layer blown film line is on its way to Chile. BO Packaging, a progressive packaging company in Santiago, Chile, will be taking delivery of the state-of-the-art line in early 2007 for its flexible packaging division. The BXL-5160 incorporates Macro's most advanced extrusion technology for producing high-end printing, laminating and barrier films.
Included are MacroPlast extruders to deliver consistent and homogeneous melt, the MacroPack™ coextrusion die with advanced multilayer technology for increased processing flexibility, the ACCUPRO automatic gauge control system for superior thickness uniformity, the D10 dual lip air ring for bubble stability and cooling, and AUTOMAX TF160G automatic gap turret winders for geometrically perfect finished rolls.
Configuring a Coextrusion Line for Your Peace of Mind
If you read the previous two headlines you might have noticed that the model numbers of the lines for Olefinas in Guatemala and BO Packaging in Chile are similar: BXL-5180 vs. BXL-5160. If you were to view the two lines at a short distance you would think that they are exactly the same, since at their core they share the same components with the same technology, design and workmanship. Externally the BXL-5180 is only 5 inches (127mm) wider than the BXL-5160, hence the difference in the model numbers.
The main difference between the two lines lies in the way their extrusion section was configured. Both lines share the same size MacroPack™ die but with dissimilar layer ratios, which in turn calls for a different MacroPlast extruder configuration. Why the disparity? Because Olefinas and BO Packaging serve different markets: agricultural vs. flexible packaging. There are other differences in the lines as well but these have to do with specific options that each customer selected based on their requirements and not with intrinsic design variations.
Selecting a coextrusion line for 5 or 7-layers is not a matter of picking a model out of a catalogue. With this “off the rack” approach you may end up with a white elephant that, while nice to look at, does not perform as expected. At Macro our approach is different since we believe that today's successful processors are not looking for standardized solutions. As with Olefinas and BO Packaging, we believe in working with our customers to configure the best line for the markets they are serving. After all, who doesn't appreciate some peace of mind at the end of the day?
