Innovative Plastics Machinery Manufacturer Integrates Dewatering, Drying, Cooling and Screening in Single Unit
Witte 400 Meets Desert-Dry Moisture Needs, Cuts Pelletizing Costs
Washington, NJ: Plastics processing machinery and drying equipment manufacturer The Witte Company, Washington, New Jersey, has unveiled the Witte 400, an integrated, multi-step system for pelletizing lines that combines dewatering, drying, cooling, dedusting and screening into a single unit. Designed and developed for a major, global compounder, the new Witte 400 delivers product moisture levels at a bone-dry .04% in nylon applications and to an arid .10% in polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, polyurethanes and other commodity and engineering resins. Ideal for friable, glass-filled and micropellets, the Witte 400 accommodates production rates of up to 10,000 lb/hr (4.5mT/hr).
Installed in the recirculation loop of underwater pelletizers, the Witte 400 features a vibrating dewatering screen that removes surface water from the pellets and returns the water upstream for reuse. The mechanical dewaterer minimizes the need for costly thermal drying, increasing overall drying capacity and delivering important cost savings in machinery and energy consumption. In the fluid bed drying section, the Witte 400 leverages the company’s signature vertical air flow engineering to dry the pellets at 600 feet per minute air velocity, effectively removing light-density, off-spec material and capturing the fines in a dust collector. After cooling, the pellets are screened for “fines” and “oversize.” In many cases, the “fines” separation area is not required. The resulting pellets consistently meet quality specifications for moisture content, shape, bulk density, color and purity.
To promote easy operator access for cleaning and aid personnel safety, the entire, low-profile Witte 400 sits on a single deck at floor level. Aligned during manufacture, the Witte 400 integrates the multiple stages without requiring elevators or pneumatic conveyors to move the pellets downstream while providing system access for personnel without ladders, stairs or lifting equipment.