Gneuss Kunststofftechnik at the Index 2020
Gneuss 
Patented rotary filtration system SFneos
The Gneuss Processing Unit (GPU) by Gneuss Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Bad Oeynhausen/Germany, is used for the reprocessing of highly contaminated materials without pre-drying, especially bulky PET waste such as post-consumer bottle flakes and industrial waste from fiber and film manufacture as well as polystyrene, polyamide and other hydrophil polymers. Even fiber waste with a high moisture content that is heavily contaminated with preparation oils and other impurities can be fed. A GPU consists of an MRS extruder with very good de-volatilization and decontamination performance in combination with a highly-efficient Gneuss Rotary Filtration System and an online viscometer VIS for intelligent dynamic viscosity control.
At the Index, the 2nd generation design of the MRS extruder will be on display. The enhanced drive design is more robust to handle even more demanding recycling environments. Thanks to several changes in the MRS drum and screw design, the already unmatched IV retention has been further improved, while continuing to forgo pre-drying. The extruder permits the processing of PET without pre-drying by means of a simple water-ring vacuum system, so that the material can be used directly for the production of high-quality staple fiber and nonwovens, also as bi-components. This is achieved by means of its patented processing section. Based on a conventional single screw extruder, the MRS is a drum containing 8 satellite single screws, driven by a ring gear and pinion transmission. The “barrels” cut into the drum are approx. 30 % open and provide very good exposure of the melt.
Polyreactor
The Jump polyreactor is a compact, quick and efficient alternative to conventional SSP systems and enables direct reintroduction of the polymer into the production process without the need to remelt the PET.
The reactor is installed directly downstream of a GPU and the polymer passes over several slow turning elements which create a polymer film, the surface of which is constantly renewed. The reactor vessel is kept under vacuum, through which volatile substances are reliably removed. By regulating the residence time in the reactor, the vacuum, the fill level and the speed of rotation of the agitating devices, the polycondensation reaction can be altered to achieve the required product properties. Jump is a compact, quick and efficient system and enables direct reintroduction of the polymer into the production process without the need to re-melt the PET.
New rotary filters
The continuous Gneuss rotary filtration systems are characterized by a filter disk on which the screen cavities are located in a ring pattern. Screens can be changed on the part of the filter disk that is not active in the melt channel, while the production process continues to run without any interruptions or disturbances. Even with heavy contaminations, as they often occur in recycling and with high filter fineness, the processing remains pressure and process-constant.
The new SFneos was developed to combine the characteristics of several models into one simple and cost-efficient solution, offering the following advantages:
• constant pressure guaranteed – even during screen changes
• suitable for most types of polymers and viscosities
• compact design thanks to an enlarged active screen area (up to 2,370 cm2)
• simple and safe handling and operation with several screens accessible for screen changes
• cost effective thanks to its improved design.
The SFneos filtration system was developed for applications that benefit from a continuous, pressure and process constant screen changer, but that do not require back-flushing.
The RSFgenius operates with an integrated self-cleaning system for very demanding applications and highest quality requirements. Screens can be automatically re-used up to 400 times and filtration fineness below 10 µm/1,200 mesh are available.
The company also offers a new semi-continuous model, the CSFprimus. This model is used as a pre-filter, safety filter or in applications with little contamination and is characterized by a very large active screen area for its small footprint.
Melt pressure sensors for digital communication
IO-Link is a worldwide standardized, manufacturer-independent technology for digital linking of sensors and actuators. Communication takes place over a point-to-point connection and is thus not a field bus. The IO-Link masters are either directly fitted as an assembly in the controller or installed in the field and connected via a bus system.
The proven sensor technology IO-Link, in combination with intelligent, digital communication not only offers monitoring of the electronics temperature, but also records the operating hours in different load ranges. Thus, the user can make out, during ongoing operation, when the electronics head is subject to high heat radiation due to its installation location, or the sensor is continuously working at the upper limit of its measurement range.
The Index 20 has been postponed, and will now take place from October 20-23, 2020 in Geneva/Switzerland.
Gneuss Kunststofftechnik at the Index 2020: Stand 4110
