EuroWire July 2020

Manufacturing Technology

Faster, safer changeover with power clamp for extrusion

▲ Extruder with AutoGrip clamp (the darker-coloured component mounted in the foreground at the end of the extruder)

clamps are di cult to operate and inherently dangerous, this new automatic system from Graham Engineering speeds up changeovers and is easy to maintain.” The AutoGrip power clamp is available for extruder sizes from 90 to 150mm (3.5" to 6"). In addition to applications involving new extruders, it can be retro tted on many existing installations. Graham Engineering is a global supplier of wheel and industrial extrusion blow moulding systems, o ering package design, product development and processing expertise, along with monolayer, multilayer and barrier extrusion blow moulding equipment. As a provider of extrusion technologies for plastics, rubber and silicones, American Kuhne o ers standard and custom single screw extruders, feed screws, extrusion systems and specialised turnkey systems for laboratory, medical tubing, narrow web, wire and cable, pipe, tubing and pro le applications. Graham Engineering Corp www.grahamengineering.com American Kuhne www.americankuhne.com

A new extrusion clamp with electro-mechanical actuation is designed to be safer and simpler to operate than manual devices and provides more repeatable clamping forces. The AutoGrip® power clamp from Graham Engineering’s American Kuhne product line reduces downtime in installations with frequent screw, breaker plate or tooling changes. It reduces the risk of injury or burns involved in manually releasing and tightening clamps during changeovers. The torque required in manual systems to su ciently seal the clamp assembly is particularly dangerous with large extruder sizes. In addition, the manual clamps are typically heated to temperatures of greater than 200°C (400°F), increasing the risk of injury with traditional manual systems. The AutoGrip clamp is remotely controlled by a two-hand push-button controller for user safety and convenience. The drive motor and gear box are mounted above the clamp, protecting them from melt residue and making them easy to access for maintenance. “We have engineered the AutoGrip system with simplicity and safety in mind,” said Michael Du , vice president of sales and service for Graham Engineering Corporation. “While manual

EF 12/46

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July 2020