Investment in Process Stability: Plastics Processing Division Receives New Material Drying and Conveying System

In recent years, Werner Schmid GmbH has made significant investments in the construction of its new plastics processing facility on its existing site. A key aspect of this project is the acquisition of a new material drying and conveying system from Werner Koch Maschinentechnik, which centrally supplies all injection molding machines with granule that has been dried and temperature-controlled to meet specific requirements.

At the heart of the system is a networked control system that connects 13 dryers and six additional storage bins—with a total throughput of 600 kg of granules per hour—to a central conveyor system that currently serves 25 points of use. Modern sensor technology ensures greater process stability, for example through a material detection system that prevents incorrect feeding into the machine or through sensor-based control that prevents thermal damage to the material. Dew point control for optimal efficiency in the drying process rounds out the system’s smart control capabilities. This ensures that the materials are always dried and conditioned precisely according to the manufacturer’s specifications or our own testing.

A network of over 2,000 meters of piping was installed to ensure a supply to the injection molding machines that meets their needs. In addition, approximately 200 hardened glass pipe elbows were installed at every bend in the piping system. The reason for this is the frequent use of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic granules at Werner Schmid. Due to its nature, this material poses a high risk of damaging the piping. On straight sections, this is not a problem. However, on curves, repeated impacts at high speeds can cause holes to form in stainless steel or aluminum pipes. This is counteracted by the use of tempered glass.

The system is rounded out by approximately 7,000 meters of various control cables, including PROFINET Industrial Ethernet cables and five-conductor Ölflex control cables. This creates a smart supply network that is centrally controlled to ensure perfectly prepared material delivery to all connected injection molding machines. Thanks to the consistent properties of the delivered granulate, process reliability is enhanced even without manual readjustments—resulting in even more consistent quality for our high-quality components. Provisions have also been made for the future: The existing facility is designed to accommodate 30% growth and can be expanded modularly at any time as needed.