Compounds are defined as mixtures of pure basic elements in which fillers, reinforcements and/or additives (stabilisers, coloured masterbatch) are added and processed into an end product without having lessened the molecular concentration in the process. Additives include granules, powder or liquids. There is no one set solution for the individual basic elements. "Compounding" is the name of the production process. The purpose of compounding is to modify the elemental properties to a specific application. There are certain challenges involved such as attaining 100% homogeneity and avoiding decomposition or disintegration over time.

Polymers are mixed in one extruder (usually twin screw) with fillers and additives to form a homogeneous mixture. The twin screw extruder is outfitted with main and side inlets on which a side feeding is installed so that aggregate (fibres, additives) can flow downstream into the already-plasticised polymer and then homogeneously blended. The main component (polymer) along with secondary components (additive) may be fed using a loss-in-weight dosing unit at the main inlet. With an additional loss-in-weight dosing unit, the appropriate amount of fibre and flame retardant is sent through a side feeding. The fibre enters the extruder far downstream to minimise weft measuring thereby achieving greater firmness of the fibre compounds. The homogeneous compound, except in in-line processes, solidifies to granules by means of strand, water-ring or underwater granulating procedures.

These granules are then conveyed to a silo-mixer where the compounded material is again mixed into homogeneous batches prior to packaging. In an additional procedure, the compound is further processed in plastics processing machines such as injection or blow moulding, sheet, cable or fibre extruders.

• Flexibility in application through modular design
• Reduction of downtimes at material changes through intuitive handling (spring catches, etc.)
• High-grade (digital) load cell technology secures better recipe integrity due to a very short reaction time at recipe and/or throughput changes. In addition, the time-consuming process of sampling and calibrating the system is omitted
• Acquisition of the consumption data → precise account of charges and stockkeeping possible
• Very precise control of the overall process (start-up phase, recipe change, fast and continuous adjustment of production capacities), automatic start-up process through integration of upstream control
• Expertise in process engineering and process-oriented overall know-how makes motan-colortronic the ideal partner for you