Coperion Goes Remote to Upgrade Compounding Line
Project encompassed both a control software update as well as mechanical overhauls on the system.
Coperion recently managed to upgrade a ZSK 250 high-capacity extruder at an undisclosed customer utilizing remote processes and support. In this particular project, the company worked directly with the compounder in a project that included modernizing the gearbox, mounting a new coupling, installing a ZS-EG side devolatilization unit, and updating the EpcNT control, including a rebuild of the control cabinet and monitor.
The machine builder’s three-member team based in Stuttgart, Germany did the upgrade via the Coperion ServiceBox—an integrated system for online monitoring and failure recording in extruders and compounders, as well as communication methods like video and telecommunication to complete customer requests.

Coperion has been utilizing the Coperion ServiceBox for years to perform remote software updates on its extrusion systems, but until now more complex mechanical remote tasks have been limited. This project, however, demonstrates that the technology can be used for complex maintenance and modernization projects, the company says.
Related Content
-
How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder: Part 3
The melting mechanism in a twin-screw extruder is quite different from that of a single screw. Design of the melting section affects how the material is melted, as well as melt temperature and quality.
-
Understanding 'Boundary Conditions' in Twin-Screw Compounding
In twin-screw compounding, the objective is generally to produce the highest quality product at the maximum strand. But sometimes there are operating parameters that prevent this objective from being realized.
-
Configuring the Twin Screw Extruder: Part 4
For many compounding operations, material is fed to the extruder at the feed throat. This is the case when feeding a single polymer or a blend of polymers mixed with solid additives. Some ingredients, however, present a challenge in feeding. Here’s how to solve to them.