How to empower a film stretching line for maximum performance
To keep up with the challenging demands of today’s markets, one of Italy’s leading film manufacturers - Manucor - regularly upgrades their machinery. Sustainability goals also play a major role: Improved raw material efficiency and productivity, minimized waste and the latest energy saving technologies characterize Manucor’s efforts in this field.
Recently, Manucor and Brückner Servtec teamed up for two major upgrades of an 8.2m wide BOPP film line. Servtec’s Regional Service Manager Fritz Stempfer says: “Since the early days of Brückner Servtec we have been constantly cooperating with Manucor in numerous line upgrades. The teamwork with their specialists has meanwhile almost reached perfection. Thus, it was possible to realise our latest project in unbelievably short time. Thanks again to Brückner and the Manucor maintenance and production team to make this remarkable achievement possible!”
Part one of the upgrade was to replace all line drives and switch boards from chill roll to winder with the most modern technology. For Manucor this will pay off in the form of a better speed performance resulting in better film quality and uptime as the original parts are obsolete. All this with reduced energy consumption too!
Secondly, the former cascade extrusion was replaced with a modern twin screw extrusion system, including dosing tower. The benefits for Manucor’s film production are manifold:
- Portfolio extension to manufacture white and voided films in highest quality
- Significantly better melt quality for improved film optics
- Energy savings up to 20%
Manucor’s Plant Manager Armando Vaccaro is very happy: “Manucor and Brückner teams have worked perfectly together. The defined period for the upgrade was very ambitious but all parties involved were extremely cooperative and considerate during all stressful phases. Installation, check-up and start-up were executed to our full satisfaction. I can only thank and congratulate Brückner Servtec and our own specialists for this good job.”
For 30 years, Manucor has been operating in the packaging sector and, particularly, in food packaging. In 2019 Manucor integrated into the team of the Russian petrochemical giant Sibur that has acquired 50% of the share capital through the subsidiary Biaxplen. Actually the company is running five film production lines, for a nominal capacity of 100,000 tons per year. The application variety is impressive: Baked goods, chips & snacks, confectionary, ice cream & frozen food, self-adhesive and wrap-around labels.
