Deduster pushed outside U.S.Deduster pushed outside U.S.

Fines removal

The granule dedusting technology offered by Pelletron (Lancaster, PA) is relatively well known in the United States, but not outside that country. This is changing, and it means European, Asian, and some North American processors will see some new products in the materials handling arena.

Pelletron CEO and President Heinz Schneider is developing a new marketing structure and a big push to processors not yet familiar with the dedusting equipment. He hopes to triple sales by 2006.

Pelletron equipment removes dust and fines as small as 1 µm from plastic pellets, with units capable of throughput from 50 kg/hr to 100 tonnes/hr. These impurities can create black spots or other blemishes in finished parts. The equipment is aimed at producers of water bottles, computer screens, mobile phones, optical media, lenses, and other parts with demanding optical requirements.

According to Schneider, a processor's investment in dedusting equipment is often a simple choice once he realizes the savings achievable. “On an injection molding machine, processors often see a payback period measured in weeks or months." The P1, a typical plug-and-play deduster that bolts onto the feedthroat, costs $6500 to $7000, shipping included. No changes need be made to the processing equipment, he says. Schneider says even dust levels as high as 2000 ppm can be reduced to 30 ppm or less. Some processors have reportedly reduced scrap rates from more than 20% to near zero. Larger units for centralized dedusting need to be located close to processing machines to limit the length of the conveying hose in order to avoid the creation of dust. Pelletron also markets the FineAlyzer, a unit for measuring the level of dust in plastics before and after use of dedusting. Schneider reckons sales of these will mostly be to large suppliers or compounders; processors usually hook up a deduster, run it, and compare products.

Schneider joined the company early last year, taking the reins from Jerry Paulson, who founded the firm in 1986. Paulson is continuing development of new products and Schneider is now executing a management buyout of the privately held firm. Schneider hopes his background—a German engineer living for almost a decade in the U.S.—will enable him to mingle the best of German and American manufacturing methods to yield a product that will appeal to processors around the world. Pelletron Corp., Lancaster, PA, USA, +1 717-293-4008, www.deduster.com