PCT Engineered Blown Film Extrusion Line Controls User Manual

Blown film extrusion line controls

8700 Hillandale Road
Davenport, IA 52804
563.285.7411
FAX 563.285.7433

www.teampct.com

The Solutions Team

Blown Film Extrusion Line Controls

The Application

A plastic film manufacturer needed a new control
system on their existing Blown Film Extrusion Line.
The line, which produces Polypropylene and
Polyethylene plastics used for packaging had a
control system that had become outdated and
unreliable.

The PCT Solution

PCT Engineered Systems began by redesigning
the existing control system to include Allen-Bradley
PLC’s, drives, and operator interface terminals.
The new system is now able to track and control
essential variables of the extrusion and film
blowing process including temperature, pressure,
tension, speed and film gauge. As a result of
modifications to the intricate control scheme, the
line has become more user friendly for operators and troubleshooting has become easier for
maintenance and engineering.
The new system was completed with minimal downtime and has reduced the amount of

inconsistencies previously found in the film
produced on the customer’s Blown Film Line.
Operators are now able to anticipate and quickly
compensate for film blowouts and machine
breakdowns. As a result, throughput on the line
has increased and product quality has improved.
PCT’s success rebuilding the existing system
made us the integrator of choice to completely
engineer two similar systems for the customer.
These systems were needed to expand the total
production of the plant, and had to run concurrently
with the plant’s existing systems.

PCT incorporated expertise in control systems,

knowledge from past projects and repeated project success to create a custom control system for
the new lines that is innovative as well as easy to operate.