Company Information - News & Events
June 16, 2008
Hyplast Installation a Great Success
Davis-Standard, LLC recently completed the successful installation of a 20-meter (65-foot) agricultural film line for Hyplast NV of Hoogstraten, Belgium. The line was commissioned and in production ahead of schedule to support the latest agricultural season. Davis-Standard’s project management team worked with Hyplast staff to reduce the order start-up time by scheduling deliveries to coincide with the construction of a new manufacturing facility. For example, the tower equipment was installed prior to the long-lead items, which included the die assembly. This saved several weeks in transatlantic delivery had all equipment been delivered and installed at once.
“The scheduling was critical because the capacity for this line was already booked for the new season,” said Paul Leenders of Hyplast. “The project was executed without any issues. The line was installed, commissioned, and in production ahead of schedule and in time to meet our production commitments. The line is already producing film of the highest quality in thickness and optics at outputs far exceeding those typically associated with lines of this size. The line has helped us further expand our production capacity and product offering in large-scale agricultural films.”
The newly installed line includes MAC super air-cooled extruders and a 2000mm
(80-inch) three-layer die system. The custom die system features an insulated IBC system with a unique internal and external heating mechanism to reduce melt fracture and help increase rates. The design of the upper nip and gusseting is also customized, allowing for dual collapsing techniques. The line utilizes a 200mm (8-inch) core extruder and two 165mm (6 ˝-inch) extruders to achieve targeted outputs of over two metric tons per hour.
Hyplast, a Davis-Standard customer for over 30 years, produces a range of monolayer and multilayer polyethylene films for various applications in the agricultural, horticultural, construction and converting industries. These films include silo and silage bags, ground covers
with unique gas retention properties, UV resistant greenhouse covers, automotive and industrial films, and construction films that provide humidity and weather protection. Many of these films are produced in widths up to 20 meters (65 feet) and in thicknesses of up to 200 microns.
Rick Keller, Vice President of Blown Film for Davis-Standard, noted that Hyplast and Davis Standard have developed a mutual understanding of each other’s capabilities. The companies have jointly enjoyed this great success by working together as a team for the benefit of both companies. “With this newest machine, we will certainly be changing the expectations of ag film producers in regards to output and film quality. What was once a very low end market (filled with trashy looking film) is now becoming a market that demands better optical properties, a consistent looking film and tighter gauge control below five percent. The old machines and old ways will not survive in this new global market.”
For more information about Hyplast, visit www.hyplast.be, or send an e-mail to info@hyplast.be (attn. Sonja Speltincx, Executive Secretary). For more information about the blown film offering for Davis-Standard’s Converting Systems Group, contact Rick Keller at rkeller@bc-egan.com.
