28 September 2016

LCV CORROSLIDE - SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FOR BULK EXTRUSION OF PETFOOD

Laser cladding extends the life of bulk extrusion screws for petfood granulate 300%

The processing of bulk granulate through extrusion involves serious wear and tear! Laser Cladding Venture (LCV) and Vatis colaborate to coat the extrusion screws of an international manufacturer of petfood with a wear and corrosion resistant metal alloy. With robotised laser cladding LCV succeeds in extending the life of extrusion screws 300% compared with conventional hardfacing methods. This enables the petfood manufacturer to save considerably on maintenance and investment costs. 

Laser cladding: better attachment & wear resistance

Extruding petfood bulk granulate in smaller pieces is a mechanical process. Two extrusion spindles – rotating next to each other in reverse direction – crumble the granulate along the advancing threading of the spindles. De coating of the spindles need to withstand the high dynamic frictional forces that occur during the extrusionprocess.

The challenge is to find superior coatings to keep extrusion spindles in operation for a longer period. In this regard, LCV together with Vatis achieve a breakthrough. A metal LCV CorroSlide coating – applied through robotised laser cladding – exhibits significantly higher wear resistance than with conventional coating technologies.

Extending spindle operation time 300%

The laser cladding method ensures the optimum formula of carbide coating, which connects with the extrusion spindles through an ideal metallic bonding. The undissolved state of the carbides are responsible for an extremely strong attachment, compared to mechanical or chemical coatings. In addition, the laser cladding coating itself consists of an optimised carbide structure that makes the coating extremely durable and hard. This way, laser cladding positions itself as a qualitative and cost-efficient alternative to HVOF thermal spraying, nitration and hardfacing.

The petfood manufacturer typically protects its spindles conventionally through hardfacing. Using this coating method the spindles last 2 cycles. With the metallic coating applied through laser cladding the spindles operate as much as 4000 hours without revision. This results in een 300% extension of the spindel operation period compared to hardfacing coating method! Compared to HVOF thermal spraying, the extrusion spindles last at least 3 times longer, and compared to nitration as much as 8 times longer!

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