A leading international manufacturer of Blown Film Extrusion Equipment, Hosokawa Alpine specializes in supplying complete blown film solutions ranging from single extruder mono-lines to 11-layer barrier film lines. At K 2016, the company will present a selection of exhibits that will include the company’s new ExVis release, as well as its latest winder and take-off technology for optimized web-handling, supplied by its wholly owned subsidiary Hosokawa Kolb in Niederkassel.

According to the company, the new ExVis release will enable intelligent networking between systems and even more efficient automated line control. Highly complex systems can easily be controlled with precision and intuition. System monitoring provides operators with information at a glance, guaranteeing consistent quality at all times. Moreover, once produced, film structures can be repeated with a simple recipe entry.

All Alpine lines are custom produced. As the global market for flexible packaging shifts from 3-layer to 5-layer film production, the specific requirements also vary from customer to customer. In response to market demand for barrier film lines with 7, 9 or higher layer systems, Alpine is currently offering an 11-layer solution for the highest level of versatility.

Hosokawa Alpine was one of the first companies to specialize in film orientation technology. Alpine MDO film orientation lines have been part of the company’s portfolio since 1997 and have been evolving ever since. During orientation in the transverse direction the film “necks-in”, reducing total width and increasing film thickness at the edges. The thicker edges must be trimmed to achieve sufficient film flatness and thickness distribution to processing on downstream equipment. To minimize the problems associated with necking-in, Hosokawa Alpine has developed the patented TRIO system (Trim Reduction for Inline Orientation), which reduces edge trim by 100%, produces a flatter film profile, saves material and increases net output. The result is a much more efficient and profitable process.

Alpine Hosokawa works closely with customers and raw material producers to develop and find appropriate solutions for new MDO applications. Current examples are breathable diaper linings and full-PE stand-up pouches without a PET layer.

A demonstration of the quality, efficiency, performance and ease of operation of these lines will be provided at K 2016.