New dual-flow air ring from Addex uses next-gen Intensive Cooling Experience

Addex Inc. (Newark, NY), a global supplier of auto-profile and related cooling systems for blown-film lines, announced the launch of a new air ring that incorporates the company’s Intensive Cooling Experience (ICE) technology in a dual-flow configuration. The new dual-flow air ring delivers 10 to 15% greater output and better bubble stability versus the competition, according to the company. The new ICE cooling system will be shown in its full four-element stackable configuration at booth C37 in hall 17 at K 2016.

“We’ve taken air ring technology to a new level,” said Bob Cree, president of Addex Inc. “By integrating our ICE technology directly into the air-ring design, we’ve been able to significantly enhance performance and simplify operation.”

Addex has extended ICE technology by using only a single cooling element. This compares to the full-blown stackable ICE technology, which utilizes, as standard, four stacked ICE elements with a surrounding enclosure, all topped by a conventional air ring. The newly adapted patent-pending technology marries a single ICE element with Addex’s original dual-flow air-ring system, which has evolved to become the industry standard. The ICE-enhanced air ring is transformed from a low-velocity to a high-velocity air stream system in the lower lip area, according to Cree.

The dual-flow air ring features two primary locking points instead of one to significantly improve bubble stability. It also includes all of the secondary air collar locking points found in the original air-ring design. The unit is simple and operator friendly, allowing a broad range of processes, blow-up ratios, thicknesses and materials with minimal adjustments.

The new ICE-enhanced technology applies to all of Addex’s air-ring products, including automatic profile, external gauge control and laminar-flow air rings. Addex has also developed a triple-lip design, which provides three primary locking points.

Today, Addex supplies some of the most sophisticated technologies capable of producing films at the highest possible output and stability, claims the company, with the lowest possible gauge variation. Addex’s focus on research and development has resulted in more than 20 U.S. patents (or patents pending), including the ICE system.