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Sharp Interpack was established in 2002 with the focus to be the
number one choice for rigid plastic packaging throughout the UK and
Europe and in order to achieve this Douglas and Geoffrey de Jager
have invested in excess of £60 million over the past four years in
new thermoforming / extrusion equipment as well as a new factory;
extrusion hall and two warehouses.
In conjunction with this expansion program it was decided to
implement the latest technology based on infrared (IRD) for
crystallising and drying blends of virgin CPET with in-house
generated edge trim / skeletal waste APET regrind which
traditionally took 6 hours in a conventional crystalliser / dryer
but with IRD excellent results were achieved in 30 minutes with a
final moisture contents down to 50ppm (0.0055).
Frank Coleman, Site Director reports IRD offers significant
technical and economic advantages particularly on energy usage where
savings of some 40 to 50% are being achieved compared to
conventional drying equipment plus the initial investment cost is
reduced as PET can be crystallised and dried in one pass through the
IRD either as 100% regrind or as a blend with virgin eliminating the
need for a separate crystalliser and a separate desiccant dryer.
UPM have also been awarded the total turn key project for a material
handling system based on 8 external silos each having a capacity of
100 tons conveying any material to any extrusion line at a total
throughout rate of 8000 kilos per hour involving approximately two
kilometres of stainless steel pipework and all functions are
controlled via a user friendly Siemens PLC incorporating real time
graphics with full reporting functions.
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UPM Material Handling System at Sharp Interpack
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Central material drying system located on a mezzanine floor
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Central vacuum pumps and fully automatic self cleaning filters
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Siemens full colour user friendly touch screen control with graphics
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Fully automatic regrind and virgin
conveying / proportioning with master batch addition mounted
directly on the machine feed throat |
