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DS Brookes Ltd., Davis-Standard’s subsidiary in West Midlands, United Kingdom, will now be called Davis-Standard Limited. The modification is in name only, better reflecting Davis-Standard’s global market position and current activities. Davis-Standard Limited will continue supplying screws and barrels associated with the DS Brookes brand, and will remain Davis-Standard’s key supplier of extrusion systems for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region. This includes support of aftermarket and spare parts activities across all product platforms and heritage brands under the Davis-Standard umbrella.
“The name change better aligns with Davis-Standard’s corporate uniformity in serving customers worldwide,” said Mark Woodgate, Managing Director of Davis-Standard Limited. “In addition to this development, we are pleased to announce that our facility is Davis-Standard’s European service center for blown film, servicing the recently acquired Gloucester Engineering product range. As such, we have appointed Jon Bourne as our service center manager. He comes to us with more than 35 years’ experience with the Gloucester, Battenfeld/Gloucester and Gloenco brands.”
Davis-Standard Limited plays an integral role in Davis-Standard’s strong global presence, supporting the EMEA region with extrusion equipment, barrel and screw production, timely customer service and regional spare parts access. For more information about Davis-Standard, visit www.davis-standard.com.
Davis-Standard is pleased to announce that all sizes of blow molding accumulator heads are now manufactured and assembled at its primary facility in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Davis-Standard began moving blow molding head production to Pawcatuck in 2014 as part of an expansion of in-house manufacturing. Today, every accumulator head is manufactured in Pawcatuck, including a 75-pound head currently being engineered for a U.S.-based customer.
“With the design, assembly and testing of accumulator heads in-house, customers appreciate that we control the production and quality of the two most important blow molding components; the accumulator head and the extruder,” said Mark Panaro, Product Manager of Davis-Standard Blow Molding Systems. “We have always been discerning when it comes to quality, but this further strengthens our control. Our customers are seeing the results and they are pleased.”
Prior to moving production in-house, Davis-Standard contracted with local machine shop vendors. According to Panaro, about one-third of blow molding equipment manufacturers produce accumulator heads in-house. The move is part of Davis-Standard’s focus to continually improve value to the customer in terms of price, performance and delivery.
Davis-Standard’s accumulator head systems are known for shot-to-shot consistency, cycle-to-cycle precision and excellent parison control for both polyolefins and engineered thermoplastics. As an added benefit, Davis-Standard can upgrade and refurbish all makes and models of single screw continuous blow molding extruders. This includes replacement screws, process improvements, and mechanical, electrical and hydraulic upgrades.
For more information, contact Mark Panaro at mpanaro@davis-standard.com or visit www.davis-standard.com.
Davis-Standard’s new technology and regional capabilities will be promoted at booth C01, Hall W1 during Chinaplas in Shanghai, April 25-28, 2016. Davis-Standard has seen strong demand throughout Asia for feedscrews, control systems, medical tubing technology, and its dsX™ product line for cast film, blown film and packaging applications. Davis-Standard’s regional presence has continued to grow since opening a subsidiary in Suzhou two years ago. This facility is Davis-Standard’s manufacturing base in China and houses an R&D laboratory for process development and trials. Davis-Standard will also promote the expansion of its film technology and aftermarket services with the recent acquisition of Gloucester Engineering.
“With strong demand in Asia and continued expansion at our Suzhou facility, we anticipate a very busy Chinaplas show,” said Sekaran Murugaiah, Davis-Standard Vice President of Business Development, Asia. “Customers appreciate our regional presence and the availability of the medical tubing laboratory in Suzhou to test new resins and processes. The addition of Gloucester is especially exciting for our film customers because we are able to offer the largest installed base of film technology and aftermarket services under one roof.”
The medical tubing sector is one of Davis-Standard’s strongest markets in China. The lab in Suzhou has been instrumental in supporting customers in this segment. The lab features direct-drive 19mm and 24mm single screw extruders, each with a polymer melt pump, a sophisticated three-layer spiral flow tubing die, PLC line control with data acquisition, precision vacuum sizing tank for both rigid and flexible products, closed loop ID/OD control via an ultrasonic gauging system, a servo controlled combination puller/cutting system, and a transport conveyer with single-zone air eject. It also includes a single layer tubing line designed specifically for the production of FPVC tubing for IV & fluid delivery applications. Products ranging in size from 2mm OD to 10mm OD can be produced with an accuracy of +/- 50u at line speeds up to 100mpm. Davis-Standard’s facility in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, also has a fully equipped medical tubing laboratory.
Both labs support applications for alternate polymer, microbore tubing, multi-lumen and catheter tubing, edotracheal and tracheotomy tubing, radio opaque tubing, bubble tube, taper tube, pipette tubing and multi-layer tubing, among others. Turn-key medical tubing systems support extruder outputs up to 700 pounds per hour (315kg/hr) and line speeds up to 800 feet per minute (240 mpm) for a range of materials including PLA, PLLA, PEEK, FPVC, polyurethane, nylon, PEBAX and FEP. Extruder options are available depending on process and application and engineered for a fast delivery and competitive pricing.
Another area of strength has been the sale of Davis-Standard’s dsX™ machines. These have been well received throughout Asia due to a competitive advantage in price, performance and delivery. Davis-Standard offers these machines for cast film, blown film and extrusion coating applications. Demand has been especially strong for the dsX flex-pack™ (extrusion coating) due to continued demand for flexible packaging applications. This machine is built for cost-sensitive flexible packaging applications where fast and reliable production is essential.
For more information about Davis-Standard’s Global Advantage™ prior to Chinaplas, visit www.davis-standard.com.
Continued growth in the healthcare segment has meant steady collaboration between two industry leaders, Davis-Standard and Conair. The two companies are busy supporting customers across the globe with medical tubing systems equipped with Davis-Standard extruders and controls and Conair downstream equipment. Recent sales include lines sold in China for processing FEP and PLLA with embedded stripes and ongoing sales of high-speed FPVC tubing systems worldwide. The two companies are showcasing equipment during the upcoming MD&M West show in February with a running line for making two-lumen polyurethane “Double D” bump tube.
“We appreciate the quality and reliability Conair adds to our system technology,” said Kevin Dipollino, Davis-Standard Product Manager for Pipe, Profile and Tubing Systems. “We’ve been working together for more than 20 years and they always do an excellent job supporting Davis-Standard and our customers. In addition to partnering on system components, we do a lot of collaborative R&D work in our laboratories.”
Dipollino explained, “Our new ‘clean room’ medical lab system in Pawcatuck has Conair equipment and they have three of our extruders in their lab in Michigan. This has been invaluable in allowing customers to do trials and proof of concept prior to purchasing equipment. A customer from Argentina recently took advantage of this by doing lab trials with our process engineers in Pawcatuck. This ended in the sale of a new medical tubing line.”
Chris Weinrich, Conair’s General Manager of Extrusion added, “The goal for both companies has always been to take care of the customer. We are in an application intensive business. Being commited to the development and pursuit of the highest level of technology for customers has allowed us to be successful project after project.”
The medical tubing lab line at Davis-Standard features two MEDD (Medical Extruder Direct Drive) extruders and Conair vacuum sizing tanks, dual servo belt puller and conveyor. The line’s versatility makes it ideal for running a variety of resins and incorporates Davis-Standard’s alternate polymer technologyÔ. Last fall, Davis-Standard, Conair and other vendors partnered to host a medical tubing symposium at Davis-Standard’s lab. Highlights of the two-day event included demonstrations of FEP tubing with barium sulfite stripes and alternate polymer tubing.
“Conair and Davis-Standard have common objectives in terms of business philosophy and customer satisfaction,” said Ernie Preiato, Conair’s Vice President of Extrusion. “Davis-Standard’s people are knowledgeable and truly understand the extrusion process. We are both dedicated to serving the industry to the best of our ability and this has made for a lasting relationship.”
For more information about Davis-Standard’s medical tubing capabilities, contact Kevin Dipollino at kdipollino@davis-standard.com. For more information about Conair, visit www.conairgroup.com.
As a global supplier of medical tubing equipment used in clean room environments, Davis-Standard is vigilant about essential standards required for meticulous processing conditions. The following clean room considerations are recommended by Davis-Standard’s engineering team for medical tubing manufacturer’s extrusion machinery.
Machine Construction
- Use of stainless steel or rust corrosion-proof materials where coatings are not practical
- Ensure wipe-down zones are accessible
- Minimize potential collection areas for dust and debris stagnation
- Design containment options for possible fluid or residual lubricant leaks
- Use compact designs to minimize floor space
Machine Surfaces/Treatments
- Use water-based or epoxy-based paint in areas not constructed with rust or corrosion-resistant materials
- Polish surfaces and design with smooth, tapered or round edges for effective wipe-down
- Use stainless steel surfaces to avoid contamination in product “contact” areas
Extrusion Drive Systems/Control Systems
- Use direct drive systems where applicable
- Brushless AC motors
- Water-cooled motors (eliminate turbulent air movement from cooling blowers)
- Permanent magent synchronous motors (eliminate the need for gearbox/oils/mechanical drive train; less noise and more energy efficient)
- Use cooling blower designs that minimize dust generation
- Route control cabling and wiring for ease of cleaning
- Consider viewability of control interface monitors from outside cleanroom windows
“We do everything possible to ensure our equipment meets or exceeds clean room production standards,” said Kevin Dipollino, Product Manager of Davis-Standard’s Pipe, Profile and Tubing Systems. “To further support our customers and their development efforts, we recently installed a medical tubing line in a clean room environment at our Technical Center in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. With continued growth in medical tubing applications worldwide, it has already been very well received by customers.”
The line in the Technical Center features two MEDD (medical extruder direct drive) extruders and associated downstream equipment in a climate-controlled environment. Customers are able to test new resins, make parts for proof-of-concept, and conduct downstream R&D prior to making large capital equipment investments. The line is extremely versatile and set up to run multiple resins including high temperature resins such as PEEK and corrosive material like FEP. It also incorporates Davis-Standard’s patented alternate polymer® technology with all components monitored and controlled by the EPIC III® control system.
Dr. Jason Baird, Ph.D., Davis-Standard Process Development Engineer added: “The healthcare segment is an important industry for us and extensive capablities for clean room processing is a big part of that. Having multiple equipment options and a lab to test new processes is essential to serving our customers around the globe.”
For more information about Davis-Standard’s medical tubing capabilities or clean room engineering practices, contact Kevin Dipollino at kdipollino@davis-standard.com or Jason Baird at jbaird@davis-standard.com.
As a global supplier of medical tubing equipment used in clean room environments, Davis-Standard is vigilant about essential standards required for meticulous processing conditions. The following clean room considerations are recommended by Davis-Standard’s engineering team for medical tubing manufacturer’s extrusion machinery.
Machine Construction
- Use of stainless steel or rust corrosion-proof materials where coatings are not practical
- Ensure wipe-down zones are accessible
- Minimize potential collection areas for dust and debris stagnation
- Design containment options for possible fluid or residual lubricant leaks
- Use compact designs to minimize floor space
Machine Surfaces/Treatments
- Use water-based or epoxy-based paint in areas not constructed with rust or corrosion-resistant materials
- Polish surfaces and design with smooth, tapered or round edges for effective wipe-down
- Use stainless steel surfaces to avoid contamination in product “contact” areas
Extrusion Drive Systems/Control Systems
- Use direct drive systems where applicable
- Brushless AC motors
- Water-cooled motors (eliminate turbulent air movement from cooling blowers)
- Permanent magent synchronous motors (eliminate the need for gearbox/oils/mechanical drive train; less noise and more energy efficient)
- Use cooling blower designs that minimize dust generation
- Route control cabling and wiring for ease of cleaning
- Consider viewability of control interface monitors from outside cleanroom windows
“We do everything possible to ensure our equipment meets or exceeds clean room production standards,” said Kevin Dipollino, Product Manager of Davis-Standard’s Pipe, Profile and Tubing Systems. “To further support our customers and their development efforts, we recently installed a medical tubing line in a clean room environment at our Technical Center in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. With continued growth in medical tubing applications worldwide, it has already been very well received by customers.”
The line in the Technical Center features two MEDD (medical extruder direct drive) extruders and associated downstream equipment in a climate-controlled environment. Customers are able to test new resins, make parts for proof-of-concept, and conduct downstream R&D prior to making large capital equipment investments. The line is extremely versatile and set up to run multiple resins including high-temperature resins such as PEEK and corrosive material like FEP. It also incorporates Davis-Standard’s patented alternate polymer® technology with all components monitored and controlled by the EPIC III® control system.
Dr. Jason Baird, Ph.D., Davis-Standard Process Development Engineer added: “The healthcare segment is an important industry for us and extensive capabilities for clean room processing is a big part of that. Having multiple equipment options and a lab to test new processes is essential to serving our customers around the globe.”
For more information about Davis-Standard’s medical tubing capabilities or clean room engineering practices, contact Kevin Dipollino at kdipollino@davis-standard.com or Jason Baird at jbaird@davis-standard.com.
Davis-Standard is pleased to announce the opening of a new facility in Fulton, N.Y., to house the company’s blow molding business. The new facility, made possible by a lease agreement with Universal Metal Works (UMW), is located next door to Davis-Standard’s existing Fulton plant. A grand opening celebration hosted by Davis-Standard and UMW will be held on Friday, October 2.
“The UMW facility is exactly what we needed in terms of space and location. We are grateful for their helping us make the Fulton expansion a reality,” said Floyd Backes, Davis-Standard’s Director of Operations for New York and New Jersey locations. “This enables us to relocate our blow molding business from Bridgewater, N.J., to Fulton, supporting ongoing efforts to achieve cost effective manufacturing and superior customer service.”
The 20,000 square-foot facility housing Davis-Standard’s blow molding manufacturing is nearing completion and will be fully functional by October. In addition to housing Davis-Standard, UMW will be using another part of this facility to accommodate its growing business.
“This has been a win-win for both of our companies and for Fulton’s economy,” said John Sharkey, Vice President of UMW. “It’s an example of a collaborative effort between two industry leaders that makes sense for our manufacturing operations and our customers. We look forward to giving tours during the grand opening on October 2.”
Davis-Standard supplies versatile accumulator head systems for a variety applications including automotive parts, packaging and consumer products. Davis-Standard blow mold machinery advantages include shot-to-shot consistency, cycle-to-cycle precision, and excellent parison control for both polyolefins and engineered thermoplastics. Davis-Standard’s Extrusion Technical Service Group can upgrade and refurbish all makes and models of single screw continuous blow molding extruders. This includes replacement screws, process improvements, mechanical and electrical upgrades.
For more information about the Fulton facility, contact Floyd Backes via e-mail at fbackes@davis-standard.com.
Davis-Standard, LLC announced today the acquisition of blown film leader Gloucester Engineering of Gloucester, Mass. The purchase of Gloucester strengthens Davis-Standard’s blown film offering by adding experienced design and process engineering capabilities, a large installed base and greater aftermarket capabilities worldwide. Like Davis-Standard, Gloucester has been a respected brand name and innovator in film applications for more than 50 years. Customers of Davis-Standard and Gloucester will now have access to the industry’s premier blown film technology and aftermarket service under one roof.
“We’re excited about combining the strengths and market reach of Davis-Standard and Gloucester,” said Jim Murphy, Davis-Standard president and CEO. “Gloucester has always been a strong company, so bringing their technology and engineering expertise to our operation is significant for our combined customer base. It also supports our ongoing goal of continuing to provide equipment and service that improves process efficiency and profitability. We welcome their team to Davis-Standard.”
Carl Johnson, Vice President of Sales, Gloucester Engineering commented: “The alignment of our companies leverages our sizeable base of installed equipment with the the industry’s best resources for sales, engineering and service,” he said. “Both companies have a reputation for strong people and strong brands. This is going to be a game changer in the global blown film market. We look forward to delivering the very best the industry has to offer.”
Ernie Plasse, Davis-Standard’s Executive Vice President, will lead Gloucester’s integration into Davis-Standard to ensure a seamless transition of first class service and support for customers.
For more information about the acquistion, contact Ernie Plasse at 860-599-1010 or via e-mail at eplasse@davis-standard.com
Davis-Standard is pleased to announce the introduction of its new dsX flex-film™ line for blown film applications. Offered with multiple extruder packages to support the blown film industry’s core market, this line exemplifies Davis-Standard’s trademark quality and performance at an affordable price. Using Davis-Standard engineering and components, the dsX flex-film™ supports equipment flexibility, options for greater processing efficiency, a fast delivery and responsive localized service. Target applications include films for laminating and converting, bag making shrink film, hood shrink film, collation film, multi-unit packaging films, roll stock and surface print films.
“With the dsX flex-film™, Davis-Standard addresses the price, output, gauge uniformity and delivery requirements of a demanding blown film marketplace,” said Tom Kennedy, Vice President of Davis-Standard Blown Film. “We believe this value-added system strengthens the marketplace by offering a high-level option to processors who seek a cost-competitive U.S. manufactured system.”
Available in 1900mm, 2200mm, and 2500mm sizes, the dsX flex-film™ is equipped with Davis-Standard extruders, feedscrews, gearboxes, air rings and dies. Dies are manufactured at the company’s Pawcatuck facility for applications from one to nine layers. Most dsX flex-film™ lines feature Davis-Standard’s compact Vertex die. This die supports high IBC cooling air exchange rates and output rates, while supporting streamlined polymer flow, low residence time, fast flushing and excellent thickness control.
Options for modifying equipment are based on application, film thickness and other processing factors. The UpJet air ring is an option for increased output capacity. Surface winders can be upgraded to include center assist, gap winding, and reversible winding direction on a single winder with integrated nip, or back-to-back, or face-to-face winders with a secondary nip. Screw designs can be upgraded from X100 liner and Colmonoy 56 screw facings to more wear resistant X800 barrel liners and Colmonoy 83 screw flight facings.
The line supports speeds up to 180 meters per minute and film thicknesses ranging from 20 to 180 microns (0.8 to 7.0 mils). Advantages include die designs with among the the fastest formulation changes in the industry, options for multiple end-use applications, proven control systems and screw designs, flatter films with nip flattening enhancements, and U.S.-centered support and service for a faster response and shorter lead times. This line can be delivered and installed in as little as six months from order to acceptance.
For more information about the dsX flex-film™, contact Tom Kennedy at tkennedy@davis-standard.com
Davis-Standard is pleased to announce that Edgar Wang has joined the company as Sales Director, Davis-Standard Extrusion Systems for the China Region. In his new role, Wang will direct sales efforts for all extrusion platforms including pipe and profile, sheet, wire and cable, and elastomer systems. He will be based in Shanghai and report to Sekaran Murugaiah, Davis-Standard’s Vice President of Business Development, Asia.
Wang will play an integral role in building Davis-Standard’s extrusion systems sales organization and establishing processes that further advance technical support within the China market. This includes developing relationships within the extrusion industry and identifying key areas of growth and profitability. He will also play an essential role in supporting sales of products and solutions manufactured at Davis-Standard’s facility in Suzhou. Prior to joining Davis-Standard, Wang served as General Manager of China Sales for iNoex (Germany).
Looking for a place to do elastomer extrusion trials? Look no further than Davis-Standard’s new technical cell for elastomer applications. Located in Pawcatuck, the cell features Davis-Standard’s signature DSREV multipurpose elastomer extruder and an Uth gear pump to support processes ranging from hose, automotive seals, and architectural gaskets to in-line straining and pressure stabilization applications. Davis-Standard has already conducted several trials since completing the install earlier this year.
“Feedback from customers has been extremely positive,” said Joe Wnuk, Vice President of Davis-Standard Elastomer and Profile Systems. “We offer various options for customer trials to address existing processing challenges, as well as future projects. This includes improving output rates, reducing extrudate temperatures, isolation of pressure for effective vacuum venting, and fine mesh straining of various materials.”
The DSREV extruder in the lab is Davis-Standard’s flagship design. It is a preconfigured machine with feedscrew and head zone direct injection temperature control units, a compact base, and simplified cooling and wiring systems. Other advantages include touch-screen controls, process data acquisition, and easily accessible machine components. When coupled with the Uth gear pump, processors are able to isolate high pressure and achieve pressure stabilization. The gear pump is equipped with an Uth two-roll feeder (TRF) for cold feeding or to be used as a stand-alone device for fine mesh straining. Other gear pump advantages include improved filtration, reduced material retention time and a small footprint to easily integrate into existing lines.
To schedule a trial, customers can contact Davis-Standard’s technical center at 860-599-6722 or via e-mail at blee@davis-standard.com.
More than 270 students at Stonington and Westerly High Schools learned all about plastics last week during a visit by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Plastivan™ Outreach Education Program. Sponsored by Davis-Standard, the program introduced students to plastics chemistry, history, manufacturing, sustainability and applications. Students participated in hands-on scientific activities as they learned about the advantages of plastics versus other materials, environmental benefits, and careers in engineering. The program was presented to sophomores, juniors and seniors as well as students in AP freshman chemistry on June 2-4.
“Students in this program leave with a better understanding of how plastic products impact their lives on a daily basis and the many opportunities in engineering and plastics technology,” said Marjorie Weiner, Academic Outreach for the PlastiVan Program. “Students realize that every product has an engineer behind it and most of these products start in an extruder. Since both of these schools are so close to one of the largest extruder manufacturers in the world, Davis-Standard, it ties in nicely with future careers available to them close to home.”
The Plastivan, in its 19th year, educates students of all ages throughout North America by “Driving Opportunities in Plastics Engineering and Technology.” The goal of the program is to increase student knowledge of the contributions of plastics in modern life and promote careers in engineering. Specific material covered with the high school students included how plastics are processed and manufactured; information on designer polymers; applications using super absorbing polymers; cross linking of polymers; how history has impacted engineering and more. Students took part is several activities including learning how to manipulate polymers by putting a kabob skewer through a balloon.
According to Jim Murphy, Davis-Stadard President and CEO, “The Plastivan does an amazing job of showcasing the verstatilty and value of plastics, and potential careers in the industry. The majority of our workforce in Pawcatuck is from the local area, so we want to make sure students realize the many opportunities available to them.” Murphy added, “Whether it’s building the machines that process the materials or being involved on the engineering end, students have a much better understanding of how plastic products are made and future job opportunities.”
For more information about the Plastivan Outreach Education Program, contact Marjorie Weiner at mweiner@4spe.org or visit www.4spe.org.