Thermal process air plant Thermal process air plants (TPLA) for the production of meltblown material
Our client:
Reifenhäuser Reicofil
The Reifenhäuser Group, headquartered in Troisdorf, Germany, is a specialist in the manufacture of extrusion lines for processing thermoplastics. Reifenhäuser Reicofil was founded in 2005 as an independent company within the Reifenhäuser Group and is the world‘s leading supplier of complete spunbond, meltblown and composite lines. In 2008, Reifenhäuser Reicofil opened the world‘s largest technical centre in the nonwovens industry in Troisdorf and today ranks among the hidden champions in Germany.
The commission
2020 is the year of the corona crisis. The virus is keeping the world on tenterhooks and the demand for breathing masks is growing immensely. Thermal process air plants (TPLA) are used for the production of meltblown material, which is required for the manufacture of breathing masks, among other things.
In spring 2020, Reifenhäuser Reicofil commissioned Blumenbecker Automatisierungstechnik GmbH with the planning and construction of twenty TPLAs with a volume flow rate capacity of 2000 Nm³/h and ten TPLAs with a volume flow rate capacity of 4000 Nm³/h. Due to the high demand for breathing masks during the corona crisis, the delivery time had to be reduced during the planning phase from the previous five to six months to a maximum of three and a half months.
Project scope
Reifenhäuser Reicofil has been a major customer for many years and has repeatedly awarded us the „ Supplier Award“ and the top grade „very good“. The evaluation criteria are quality, delivery reliability, service and cooperation of the suppliers.
During the implementation of this order, several tasks had to be mastered in advance. For example, production capacities had to be created in order to be able to process the project proposal within the shortest possible time. The most important task, however, was to ensure the supply chain. Worst-case scenarios in case of quarantine measures in connection with the corona crisis were worked out.
Advantages
Reifenhäuser Reicofil was convinced by the possibility to produce at different production sites and to be able to supply in Poland and other countries via cooperation. Another major advantage for the customer is the possibility of support during commissioning of the plants through the local presence of Blumenbecker companies in various countries.
Details
The scope of delivery of a complete THERMAL PROCESS AIR PLANT includes:
- Electric air heater in pressure vessel design with a capacity of 175 or 350 kW
- Rotary piston blowers with a capacity of 2,000 or 4,000 Nm³/h
- Plant sensors (pressure and temperature transmitters)
- Control cabinet incl. drive technology for frequency converter and heating zone control as well as SPS control
- Software development
- Commissioning