Windmer & Holzer FILMEX Cast Film Devices

FILMEX cast film equipment is one of the main products of Windmöller & Hölscher. The company stated that today, its customers have been able to produce up to 9 layers of high quality cast film using this equipment around the world. Cast films are used for a wide range of applications, from packaging breads, meats, sweets, to protective films for the transport of luxury cars. With the development of special solutions and new accumulator technology, the film layers produced by FILMEX equipment at Windermer and Holzer will be significantly increased.

New generation of screw

A new generation of screw-SMB smooth barrier screws are now available for the latest FILMEX extruders, with significantly increased throughput and better melt quality. It combines the advantages of a barrier screw and a conventional screw. The SMB screw also has a cross-hole mixing head that has been tested for hundreds of times, and it achieves the best results in melt homogeneity.

The newly constructed FILMEX chill roll system is designed to produce 10-300 micron films with three independently temperature controlled chill rolls. The high-torque motor used in the cooling roller drive has been tested in practice and requires no maintenance. It ensures high production speed while ensuring the accuracy of speed control. To improve film quality, the casting roll also features a swingable three-roller cleaning system that completely eliminates the need for the cleaning roll to leave marks on the film.

New type flip coiler

In addition to the tried-and-tested contact coiler SILMATIC M, Windmer & Holzer will equip their FILMEX cast film equipment with the new reversing coiler FILMATIC TX. The minimum pressure, no need for tape when starting to rewind, center/gap rewinding from the beginning, and changing the winding direction are just some of the highlights of FILMATIC TX. Depending on the configuration, the width of the film to be taken up can reach 1600-3600 mm and the take-up speed can reach 450 m/min. The largest roll diameter is 1000 mm. The widely used operating system PROConTROL TS uses a Windows operating interface with a touch screen to make the operator feel more comfortable.

When film slitting is required, FILMTIC TX can be equipped with a heating blade, an extension roller and a splitter roller. The benefits of a heated knife are that it reduces the shear force, the film edge is formed, and the knife has a long service life. The split roll traction ensures a stable diaphragm tension and thus the web cut achieves the best results. The take-up shaft handling device facilitates the transport of the film roll.

Cast film products are widely used in the packaging field. The picture shows the vegetable packaging produced by Excelsior Packaging Group using FILMEX cast film equipment.

Layer thickness measurement

In view of the rising prices of raw materials, system solutions for reducing equipment investment in raw materials are particularly important. In the production of barrier films, expensive raw materials such as EVOH and PA are often added. The distribution of these materials along the thickness as evenly as possible is an important quality indicator while also minimizing material costs.

FILMEX cast film devices can be configured with an infrared thickness measurement system that can measure up to 4 different materials online. The system can be used with radiation or X-ray measuring heads for measuring total film thickness and can be fully controlled by the PROConTROL TS operating system.

case analysis

Not long ago, the first new generation of FILMEX cast film equipment in the North American market was installed and put into operation at the Excelsior Packaging Group in Yonkers, New York. The new 9-layer cast film device has a working width of 2700 mm and is equipped with a FILMATIC M winder. Excelsior-installed FILMEX equipment can also be expanded to 17- or 28-layer cast film equipment with specially designed collector technology.

Excelsior is a diversified global packaging supplier that produces flexible packaging for the food industry, medical supplies and consumer products industries. The company's patented SteamFast steaming technology makes it a global leader in microwave steamed food packaging.

The flexibility of the 9-layer FILMEX unit enables Excelsior Packaging to produce different products and respond quickly to market demands. In addition, the quality of the film was successfully ensured by installing an infrared single-layer thickness measurement device.

FILMEX cast film equipment has a modular structure and is suitable for the production of CPP films, barrier films, stretch film and other specialty films. Its working width can reach 1700-3000 mm. According to different requirements, the device can produce 10-300 micron thick film with a production capacity of up to 2000 kg/h.

Reprinted from: Adsale Industrial Network