Extrusion International USA 5-2022

62 Extrusion International 5/2022 K 2022 Less Energy, Less Material and Circularity for the Packaging and Carpet Industries A t K2022MEAFMachines will dem- onstrate its extrusion solutions. Thanks to its highly efficient design, MEAF’s extrusion have a 30 to 65% smaller carbon footprint than many of its competitors while allowing for a further reduction in raw material use. In addition its in-build flexibility allow MEAF’s extruders to work with almost any thermoplastic material, including biopolymers and recycled materials like bottle flakes and post-consumer regrind, thus helping plastics proces- sors to go ‘green’. Manufacturers in the food packag- ing sector are under huge pressure to reduce the amount of plastics used, while still maintaining food safety, at- tractiveness and recyclability. By part- nering with Swiss manufacturer Prom- ix Solutions, MEAF has added physical foaming capabilities to its extrusion lines. This allows for a further reduc- tion in material use and lower weight, without compromising on features such as stackability and strength. Thanks to the use of nitrogen rather than the often used butane and pro- pane, the process has almost no envi- ronmental impact. An industry sector which only re- cently has started to move towards a ‘greener’ future is the carpet and ar- tificial turf sector. Where previously they would use non recyclable mate- rials like bitumen and latex, they are now looking at switching to thermo- plastic elastomers (TPE) and TPU for their carpet backing to allow for their products to become fully recyclable rather than being incinerated or end- ing up in a landfill . This however re - quires a considerable switch in the production process and a new way of thinking for many carpet manufactur- ers, reason for MEAF to adjust its in- house extrusion test line for various carpet backing solutions. Energy and material efficiency have always been at the heart of MEAF’s design philosophy. This has helped to company to gain a foot- hold in far-away places where reli- able energy and raw materials come at a premium. "That is the advantage of being a relatively small company," says Elwin Houtekamer, Director at MEAF Machines BV. "We are more agile than the big manufacturers and work as equal partners with special- ised innovative suppliers. This way we are always at the forefront of ex - trusion technology." MEAF Machines www.meaf.com Hall 17, Stand A22 PET and PP physical foamed trays from sheet made on MEAF extrusion line Artifical grass is another product for which MEAF can provide an extrusion line to produce recyclable backing MEAF 90mm co-extrusion line for (foamed) rigid sheet production (All pictures, source: MEAF)