Press Releases
SIKORA at the international K-Show 2007: Focus on superior measuring and control devices for the hose and tube sector
At the 17th K-Show 2007 in Düsseldorf SIKORA was highlighting its position as the leading premium brand with a veritable parade of exciting measuring devices and innovative control solutions. Among its show features, the manufacturer of reliable non-contact measuring and control systems for the plastics and cable sector was showcasing highly efficient new products for composite tubes as well as hoses in the automotive and industrial market segments. The LASER 2300 XY, which was developed for the measurement of extremely big product diameters, celebrated its premiere at the show. SIKORA was also presenting other show highlights in the state capital of Nordrhein-Westfalen like its groundbreaking Virtual Gauge Technology Virtual 2000 and the successful X-RAY 2000.
The SIKORA booth at the K
The LASER 2000 series grows
The highly versatile LASER 2300 XY expands the LASER 2000 XY series and fulfils customer demands for measuring gauges for very big product diameters. As all SIKORA products the new gauge fascinates through its state-of-the-art CCD-line technology and impulse-driven laser-light sources, which allow extremely short exposure times of 0.3 µsec and ensure a measurement of highest precision at all line speeds. The gauge head is strikingly powerful and can easily be integrated into every location on the production line despite its size. The design of the LASER 2300 XY is exceedingly well thought out: The gauge head is open at the bottom and provides reliable measuring values in places with high levels of contamination. After years of operation the system will remain as precise as on the first day, without any calibration. The almost unlimited operation time of its laser light sources and the elimination of moving parts ensure freedom from maintenance.
Virtual Gauge Technology for a reliable and fast measuring value control
With the new Virtual Gauge Technology SIKORA presents a unique method to optimize the extrusion process, to minimize the material over consumption and to simplify the operation of an extrusion line. The excellent potential of the Virtual Gauge Technology is especially noticeable for specific line configurations or individual product compositions. Immediately after the extruder a diameter and wall thickness measurement can be done with the new concept. The superior technology controls the wall thickness of the product quickly and precisely at the nominal value even though a measurement of the wall thickness directly after the extruder does not take place. The basis of the design is the identification of the extruder through the measurement of its volume output. The volume output is recorded in a user-friendly way by the processor system ECOCONTROL 2000 in combination with a measuring device. ECOCONTROL 2000 displays the virtual as well as the real measuring value clearly on a 15” TFT touch screen monitor. The measuring device after the cooling section balances the actual wall thickness against the predicted one and controls the extruder to the specific wall thickness if necessary. Harry Prunk, chairman of the SIKORA AG: “This concept is perfect testimony to the aspirations and expertise of SIKORA in building the most exciting measuring systems for our customers in future.”
X-RAY 2000: successful measuring technology for extrusion lines
X-RAY 2000 for the measurement of the diameter, wall thickness, eccentricity and the ovality of tubes and hoses at the production line was a major visitor attraction at the SIKORA booth. It presents itself as a remarkable generation of measuring systems for the reduction of production costs through minimization of start-up-scrap and thus reduction of material consumption. Outstanding innovations of the reliable X-ray measuring device are highest accuracy, easiest handling as well as a continuous online quality control of products with up to 3 layers. X-RAY 2000 is suitable for all hoses and tubes from 3 to 300 mm and always guarantees flexible solutions for specific products. The display and control device of the X-RAY 2000 series is ECOCONTROL 2000, a powerful processor system, which permanently provides precise measuring values and ensures highest quality standards. A length- or time-related diagram for the measured dimensions and a display of the statistical distribution curve of the measurements is offered. With SPC-data of the minimum, maximum value, the mean, standard deviation, Cp, and Cpk values the operator has all the information necessary to correctly control the extruder output or the line speed.
Positive Show conclusion
The long-standing brand SIKORA, whose excellent reputation worldwide goes back to the legendary development of non-contact measuring systems for energy cables in the 1970s, is now benefiting from this lead in the hose and tube industry as well. For four years SIKORA has also been serving the hose and tube market and today records similar turnover increases like in the cable sector of about 20 to 40 %. With innovative measuring and control devices SIKORA occupies a niche for products, for which no satisfying solution exists until now. The requirement is continuous development and research for improved product solutions at the headquarters in Bremen, in order to react to changing market conditions. Latest numbers of customer contacts at the SIKORA booth confirm this uptrend. The number of visitors has increased by 50 % compared to K-2004. Moreover, the quality of the conversations has also improved. Similar developments were already noticeable at the „Tube Southeast Asia“ in mid-October this year. “The demand for measuring devices in the hose and tube sector is enormous. Not only the European, but also the Asian market offer high potentials for qualitative products in this field. SIKORA’s technology concept is the new benchmark for all production lines and, in turn, the powerhouse behind the sector of premium-class measuring devices of the future”, concludes Harry Prunk.
