MAS to launch new extruder for plastics

Austrian plastics machinery manufacturer MAS Maschinen-und Anlagenbau Schulz GmbH says its new 110 compact extruder is on the verge of launching.

According to the company, the new extruder combines human expertise and artificial intelligence (AI), resulting in increased throughput, new applications and maximum power.

The development of the MAS 110 was driven by the demand for increased throughput and productivity in recycling plants, the company says, adding that with more recyclable raw materials available than ever thanks to new legislation, advancements in collection and sorting technologies and growing environmental awareness, traditional systems are struggling to effectively handle new requirements and volumes.

MAS caters to larger recycling and compounding facilities while supporting the upscaling of existing machinery. The company says its 110 extruder achieves significantly higher throughput, depending on the material. In the case of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the new extruder processes 6 tons per hour. The machine also will stay flexible, able to process all types of plastic while being suited for a wide range of applications that now includes chemical recycling.

To boost the new extruder’s performance, MAS incorporated the use of AI in collaboration with a leading simulation office in extrusion technology, which allowed the machine to be developed in “record time.”

“Others talk and marvel at the advancements in AI, but we deliver and present our first major AI-supported output,” MAS CEO Martin Schnabl says. “By actively investing in innovation and harnessing the synergy between human expertise and artificial intelligence, the MAS 110 meets even the highest demands in plastic recycling and upcycling. And this is just the beginning.”

The MAS 110 also lays the foundation for a new extrusion and plant technology dimension, the company says, adding that with the employed scale-up model, process innovations now can be realized broadly.