Plastics film processors offered better thickness gauge for online use

A new thickness gauge for plastics film processors is said to offer not only significant improvements in online measuring functionality, but also to be eminently suitable regardless of the type of film a processor's line is running, be it clear, pigmented, or even voided/"pearlized" BOPP films.

Called the FG710S, this infrared sensor debuts early next month at the Plastec West tradeshow in Anaheim, CA. NDC Infrared Engineering, the supplier, says this new thickness gauge delivers its users high-precision measurement of the basis weight or thickness of single- or multilayer films, with capabilities not previously available in an online sensor. Its accuracy and precision are unaffected by nominal changes in lighting, humidity, temperature, and web pass-line height and flutter.

One novelty, explains NDC (Irwindale, CA), is the gauge's full-spectrum optics capability covering both the near-infrared and a significant portion of the mid-infrared spectrum. This expanded spectrum allows for many more measurements to be made, while also improving precision on established measurements. To wit, the FG710S can make up to six independent measurements simultaneously, making it helpful to any films processor and maybe especially so to those extruding barrier film, whose money can be made or lost based in large part on how accurately they distribute the costly barrier material.
 
An array of customizable IR filters is offered with the new gauge to meet a customer's specific film measurement requirements; NDC makes these filters itself.

As reported in our NPE 2009 preview, NDC also has expanded the range of uses for its TDi (Total Distributed Intelligence) system, which it brought to market in 2006 for use on cast-film extrusion lines. Now the system also is available to blown-film processors. The non-nuclear FG710S Infrared Film sensor, mounted after the collapsers, can measure the various critical components in barrier film structures such as polyamide, EVOH, and sealant materials. Up to four coextrusion components can be measured simultaneously. Processors attending Plastec West will also have the opportunity there to learn more about this system.

Plastec West is organized by Canon Communications LLC, owner of Modern Plastics Worldwide and Injection Molding Magazine. —[email protected]