Latest News

Single Access, Fully Integrated System:

Extrusion lines with fully integrated Quality Control Management Systems with accessible and exportable data are now available from Boston Matthews.

Using Boston Matthews’ own SMART Control System technology as the main platform and central control unit, several additional ‘Quality Management Systems’ are capable of being fully integrated into a single operating interface. This eliminates the need for separate mounting and interfacing of additional processing hardware normally associated with secondary or tertiary quality monitoring systems. Processing Data, including the ‘standard SMART Control Extrusion Data’ is collated and stored into a single seamless unit (SMART) for export to either an already established SPC data interface or tailored to meet the exact requirements of the organisation. Such Quality Control Systems include but are not limited to Wall Thickness Measurement; Tube Diameter Measurement Control; Lump Recognition; Defect Analysis; and Loss in Weight.

Boston Matthews Sales Director Simon Brookes states "We developed the SMART System several years ago when the ability to access production data for analytical purposes was a wishful luxury and considered to be only necessary for certain industries and multi-national organisations. This is no longer the case as more and more manufacturers are turning to factual historical data as a means of monitoring and improving their production. Boston Matthews design and manufacture the complete extrusion line and therefore understand the entire extrusion process from ‘resin-in’ to ‘product-out’.  Combining this knowledge and understanding together with our latest technology we are able to integrate all technologies and present the user with a complete ‘extrusion manufacturing cell’ with statistical analysis which they can monitor, store and base practical production decisions upon.

Improved Quality and Reduced Operating Costs:

 With ever greater pressures from increasing resin prices, rising energy bills and limited skilled operator’s production and plant managers must scrutinize every element of their operation. The only effective way of doing this is through statistical data analysis. Access to this data in conjunction with the precision extrusion technology (AC Flux Vector Control and Servo Control) found throughout Boston Matthews Extrusion Lines enable the processor to achieve higher, more consistent ‘guaranteed’ production whilst greatly reducing scrap levels, and overall operating costs.

When it comes to investment in new machinery many organisations make the mistake of ignoring the Caterpillar Take-Off or Puller and the pivotal role in plays within every extrusion line.

The Take-Off provides tension to the extrusion line and forms a vital link from the good consistent quality of melt produced by the extruder through to the successful cutting/sawing/coiling operation at the end of the line.

If the Take-Off is underperforming, then issues throughout the line are likely to occur :

·        Product inaccuracy at the die face leading to poor product and possible line downtime

·        Calibration inaccuracy / line down time

·        Inaccurate cutting/sawing/coiling

All too many times a company will make a good investment in a new Cutter/Saw/Coiler for them not to see the true benefits due to an inaccurate, ageing Haul-Off.

It is therefore essential to have a Caterpillar Take-Off that has precision speed holding at all times.

Boston Matthews is pleased to announce the appointment of Grip Equipment as their representatives in Canada.

Grip Equipment has many years experience spanning many sectors including plastics and packaging and will be responsible for the sales, promotion and support of the Boston Matthews range of Extruders, Downstream Equipment and Complete Extrusion Lines for Alberta and British Columbia.

GRIP
Delta, BC Canada

Phone: +1.604.889.1855

E-mail: griprojects@gmail.com

Boston Matthews is pleased to announce the appointment of Graham Henstock as the new Sales Manager for the UK & Ireland.

An engineer by profession, Graham has over 20 years technical engineering sales experience and will be responsible for both the Boston Matthews range of Extruders, Downstream Equipment Ranges and Complete Turn-Key Extrusion Lines as well as the Munchy Range of Recycling Systems.

Boston Matthews Managing Director Simon Brookes stated "We are delighted to have Graham on board where he will provide the necessary technical sales support for our wide range of customers in the UK & Ireland.”

Boston Matthews is pleased to announce the launch and completion of it's new Multi-Belt Caterpillar Take-Off.

Designed to accurately and consistently pull large pipes.

Boston Matthews Extrusion Machinery has been specifically designed to meet the exacting demands of today’s global market. All machines are designed using the latest 3D Parametric Computer Design Technology together with Polymer Flow Simulation Software incorporate the very latest technologies to ensure maximum performance and efficiency is achieved.

With over 35,000 machines in daily operation in more than 70 countries worldwide, Boston Matthews remains at the forefront of the extrusion industry.

Boston Matthews continue to develop and incorporate the latest technologies into their entire range of equipment to allow the user to improve output quality and capacity whilst making substantial cost savings through maximizing efficiency in all areas: 

• AC Extruders :  Boston Matthews Extruders are fitted with the latest AC Vector Technology as standard for precision speed holding and maximum efficiency. AC motors are considerably more energy efficient than the DC alternatives.

• Direct-Drive Technology : All Boston Matthews Extruders and Co-Extruders are fitted with Direct-Drive Motor to Gearbox Technology. Maximum power transmission is achieved whilst ensuring greater accuracy and eliminating the need for a belt and pulley arrangement. A Belt and Pulley arrangement used by some alternative extruder manufacturers will stretch and therefore result in slippage causing wasted energy and inaccuracy.

• ACCUTROL Temperature Control System : Innovative design of the barrel heating and cooling used by Boston Matthews ensures only the minimum amount of energy is used to achieve fast and accurate temperature holding. Temperature heating and cooling zones do not work in isolation to one another eliminating any conflict and potential energy waste.

• Screw Design : Boston Matthews has over 50 years processing and screw design experience which maximizes the efficiency of throughput and greatly reducing the amount of heat required from the barrel heating system. This is also reduces the risk of polymer degradation and potential scrap level

• AC Vector Caterpillar Take-Off's : Boston Matthews are the originators of the Caterpillar Take-Off and the world’s leading manufacturer. Today, Boston Matthews Caterpillar Take-Off incorporate the latest AC Flux Vector Technology for precise speed holding. AC Technology is not only more energy efficient but with more precise speed holding less scrap and off-spec material waste is generated. The performance of the Caterpillar Haul-Off is critical to the overall accuracy of the entire extrusion line and should not be understated.

• Close Tolerance Accurate Cutting : Servo Technology enables a higher level of cutting accuracy to be achieved. This reduces the amount of scrap material produced and therefore in turn reduces the amount of compound material required – a further use of machine energy. The elimination of any secondary cut operation to achieve the required cut lengths further reduces the need of any additional energy consuming machinery.

  The combination of the above features should yield and an estimated energy saving of between 5 – 10%.