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Extrusion machinery manufacturer Boston Matthews is pleased to announce the introduction of a new extrusion line designed specifically for the production of Styrene (PS) Pipette Tubes.

Designed in co-operation with medical device manufacturers, the Pipette Tube Line provides a completely versatile line capable of extruding, sizing, drying and accurately cutting the PS tubes without marking or swarf.

Designed for energy-efficient operation and cleanroom conditions

Incorporated throughout the entire line are those elements required to meet the production demands of today’s manufacturers, including the strict regulations needed to manufacture for the medical sector.

Direct-drive on the extruder ensures a clean, brushless operation and provides maximum transmission of power, which greatly assists energy efficiency. This is further enhanced with the use of AC Vector motor technology. Maintenance is also greatly reduced using this technology and so reduces the risk of downtime and disruption to production. All surfaces are easy to wipe down and the open-plan construction allows for easy access for cleaning to all areas.

All surfaces that are in contact with water are made from high-grade stainless steel to prevent any corrosion and risk of contamination.

Capable of producing a range of tube sizes

The PS Pipette Line from Boston Matthews allows for a range of pipette tube sizes to be manufactured. Easy to change tooling and settings reduce the time taken to change from one tube size/specification to another in a relatively short space of time. The ability to change tube sizes allows the manufacturer to meet the changing demands of their customers without incurring massive disruption to production or requiring investment in several separate items of production equipment. Typical tube sizes range from 1ml capacity tubes to 25ml capacity. All tubes are manufactured and cut to length in-line with an output of up to 30 tubes per minute.

Swarfless, Accurate Tube Cutting

Designed using 3D parametric computer design software, the PS tube cutter represents a significant advancement in tube cutting. The ability to automatically synchronise to the line speed enables tubes to be cut accurately and consistently to close tolerances without marking, shattering, or producing any swarf.

Boston Matthews Sales Director Simon Brookes stated:

"Styrene is an extremely tricky material to cut without causing shattering or damage.

"It is essential that the tubes are accurately cut to tolerance without any imperfections or swarf as the tubes are subjected to several completely automated post-extrusion processes.

"Our development in cutting technology has allowed us to achieve this and ultimately increase the production capacity of pipette manufacturers.”

Complete Line Control and Product Traceability

Complete PLC control through the SMART system is also available with the PS Pipette Tube Line. The SMART colour touch-screen control system allows for simple line operation, quick start-up and provides essential tools for the tube manufacturer’s management. Password protection ensures line settings and production security is always controlled and maintained. Production data is fully accessible and transferable through a variety of means, including Ethernet and modem. This allows for production data to be used for product quality analysis, traceability and efficiency reports.

Simon said:

"The SMART control system provides the manufacturer with the means to control the extrusion operation as well as the ability to access a large amount of data if required.”

PlastikCity Media

APRIL 29, 2021 / SARAH DAVIES

Boston Matthews’ new compact Universal Jockey Extruder has been designed to give the user complete operational flexibility and is capable of operating as a Jockey Extruder in horizontal, vertical or user-defined set position such as 45° angle.

A lightweight, compact but robust construction reportedly allows for easy and effortless positioning even within the most demanding production space deprived conditions. The ease of positioning allows the operator/setter to precisely align with the current tooling and existing extruders and other equipment minimizing the risk of damage. Footprint has been kept to a minimum in order to save as much valuable production space as possible.The operator controls are also cantilevered for easy positioning to match the exact operating / production conditions.

AC, direct-drive technology provides precision screw speed holding for the highest quality melt and output performance whilst at the same time ensuring maximum energy efficiency is obtained. Direct drive is also said to greatly reduce operational noise, dust and routine maintenance.

Any routine maintenance has been designed so that the operator can carry it out without the need for calling on specialized maintenance personnel.

Plastics Technology Magazine, March 2021

Less than nine months after delivering 12 extruders to a global manufacturer of medical devices, Boston Matthews is delighted to announce a further 8 machines have been delivered to the same company and an additional 4 more scheduled for despatch next week.  The company is a global manufacturer of medical devices and these specific machines are used to manufacture devices that are used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients in over 120 countries around the World.

Once again due to the sensitive nature of the machinery the timetable for completion was paramount and we are very pleased to once again to have fulfilled the objective fully and ahead of schedule.

Boston Matthews Managing Director Simon Brookes stated "Once again to complete an order for multiple machines during these strange times, ahead of schedule and without disrupting our commitments to all of our customers is a credit to our dedicated team and their hard work. Well done everyone.”

MARCH 24, 2021 / SARAH DAVIES

PlastikCity Media

Extrusion machinery manufacturer Boston Matthews is pleased to announce a new design of compact Universal Jockey Extruder.

The BMU has been designed to give the user complete operational flexibility and is capable of operating as a Jockey Extruder in horizontal, vertical, or user-defined set positions such as a 45-degree angle.

A lightweight, compact but robust construction allows for easy and effortless positioning even within the most demanding production space deprived conditions. The ease of positioning allows the operator/setter to precisely align with the current tooling and existing extruders and other equipment, minimising the risk of damage.

Footprint has been kept to a minimum in order to save as much valuable production space as possible.

The operator controls are also cantilevered for easy positioning to match the exact operating/production conditions.

AC direct-drive technology provides precision screw speed holding for the highest quality melt and output performance while ensuring maximum energy efficiency is obtained. Direct-drive also greatly reduces operational noise, dust and routine maintenance. Any routine maintenance has been designed so that the operator can carry it out without the need for calling on specialised maintenance personnel.

MARCH 3, 2021 / SARAH DAVIES - PLASTIKMEDIA

The Caterpillar Take-Off (Puller) plays a major role in every extrusion line.The Puller        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 Puller is underperforming then quality issues throughout the line are likely to occur :

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

·        Sizing inaccuracy / line down time

·         Inaccurate cutting/sawing/coiling

It is therefore essential to have a Puller that has precision speed holding at all times and is the right size and specification for your operation. Don't jeopardize your production performance with an underachieving piece of equipment.

Boston Matthews, an extrusion machinery manufacturer,  has announced a new design of compact Universal Co-Extruder.

The BMU has been designed to give the user complete operational flexibility and is capable of operating as a Co-Extruder in horizontal, vertical or user defined set position such as 45-degree angle.

A lightweight, compact but robust construction allows for easy and effortless positioning even within the most demanding production space deprived conditions.

Due to the ease of positioning, the operator/setter can precisely align with the current tooling and existing extruders and other equipment minimising the risk of damage.

In order to save as much valuable production space as possible, footprint has been kept to a minimum and the operator controls are also cantilevered for easy positioning to match the exact operating / production conditions.

AC, direct-drive technology provides precision screw speed holding for the highest quality melt and output performance whilst at the same time ensuring maximum energy efficiency is obtained. Direct-Drive also greatly reduces operational noise, dust and routine maintenance. Any routine maintenance has been designed so that the operator can carry it out without the need for calling on specialised maintenance personnel.

British Plastics & Rubber, February 2021