A ribbon-cutting ceremony by Nordson Corporation marked the opening of an extensively equipped process laboratory for pelletising systems and melt delivery equipment.
Nordson
Nordson opens pelletising and melt delivery lab
L-R: Parke Strong, R&D Engineer; Merritt Christian, Market Development Manager; Kevin Tuttle, Business Director, Americas; Udo Gielen, Business Development Manager; Suzann Smith, OEM Sales Director.
Installed at an existing Nordson facility in Hickory, North Carolina, the new laboratory has a pelletising line with throughput capacity up to 1,000lb/hr (450kg/hr). The line includes a twin screw extruder, BKG pelletiser, Optigon self-cleaning process water and pellet drying system, and jet cleaner for removing polymer residue from die plates.
Both underwater and water ring pelletisers are available. Melt delivery components include three HiCon screen changers (backflush, continuous, and discontinuous types), a BlueFlow gear pump, and a HyFlex diverter valve. For evaluating materials to be processed, the facility also provides rheological analysis.
Business Director Kevin Tuttle said: “The new BKG technical centre is the latest example of Nordson’s global commitment to support the needs of customers and prospects with local, state-of-the-art laboratories. The move is part of our company’s overall strategy for business growth and our continued investment in the BKG Americas business.”
The laboratory enables customers to see BKG systems in operation for comparison with competing products, evaluate new formulations, carry on application development, and train equipment operators.
Tuttle added: “The new BKG laboratory in Hickory is Nordson’s first in the Americas, supporting the rapid growth in this region for our pelletising and melt delivery systems.”
Nordson operates process laboratories in Europe, the US, and Asia, including BKG laboratories in Münster, Germany, Shanghai, China, and Chonburi, Thailand.
