Trends & Markets
Technological highlights for Russia
| Annemarie Pabst
Many projects in pipe and profile extrusion
The Russian economy is recovering and more is again being invested in the plastics market. In this environment, KraussMaffei Berstorff can assert its strong market position with its sophisticated technologies and customer-specific plants, and further strengthen it with many projects in pipe and profile extrusion.
Birusa: Automated solution for coextruded polystyrene sheets
Birusa, one of the leading Russian manufacturers of refrigerators, is modernizing its production in Krasnoyarsk. To achieve this, the company has ordered a complete system for the production of coextruded polystyrene sheets from KraussMaffei Berstorff. The highlight of this 1000 mm sheet system is the automatic thickness adjustment of the sheets by press of a button during production.
"This system gives us enormous advantages, such as high production flexibility, reduction of changeover times and labor costs and reduction of the amount of waste," Maxim Komendantov, Head of Process Engineering at Birusa, explains proudly. "In light of harsh market conditions and in order to improve our competitiveness, we decided in favor of KraussMaffei Berstorff because we are sure to obtain the most efficient solution for modernization in this way," adds Alexander Schurinov, Technical Manager at Birusa.
Sibur: PO and PP pipe production with lab system
Sibur, one of the largest raw material manufacturers in Russia, has ordered from KraussMaffei Berstorff a lab system for the production of premium quality PO pipes in its Polyolefin Application Development Center. The line is primarily intended for studying and further developing the process behavior of PO and PP formulations as well as the properties of the end products—within the plants owned by Sibur. Sibur produces single-layer HDPE, PP-R and PP-B pipes in the diameter range from 32 to 110 mm using the KME 38-30 B/R single-screw extruder and the KM RKW 32-110 tube die. The commissioning in the Polyolefin Application Development Center in Skolkovo is planned for early 2019.
Technonikol: Coextrusion line for drainage systems in the new plant
Technonikol, one of the leading manufacturers of premium quality construction materials, is expanding its product line using KraussMaffei Berstorff systems due to the good reputation earned by KraussMaffei for systems of proven value and high quality. "On a complete high-performance coextrusion line, two different profile types are manufactured, a rainwater pipe and a gutter strip," explains Vadim Schwarz, Regional Sales Manager for Russia at KraussMaffei Berstorff.
"The twin-screw extruders from KraussMaffei Berstorff guarantee optimum melt quality for our application and thus a premium finished product," seconds Andrey Sinyakov, Project Manager of Technonikol. "In addition, the attractive price/performance ratio was a crucial point in the decision," concludes Sinyakov. The production start of the system is planned for spring 2019.
Nordpipe: Follow-up order for modernizing the PO pipe production
"AO Nordpipe, one of the leading pipe manufacturers and active in St. Petersburg for more than ten years with great success, believes in our innovative ability and is thus investing in one more line for the production of three-layer PE pipes," says Schwarz. "Our company has established itself as a reliable partner meeting its obligations versus its customers in a professional manner," says A.A. Prozorovsky, Managing Director of AO Nordpipe.
"Our goal is a maximum improvement in product quality by consistent development. We can achieve this only using a state-of-the-art, high-technology machine pool. We are sure to be able to serve the requirements of our customers with the expertise of KraussMaffei Berstorff properly and are looking forward to more successful collaboration with KraussMaffei Berstorff," summarizes Prozorovsky. The multi-layered PE 100 RC pipes are highly resistant to the development of cracks, which increases their service life—even under difficult circumstances.