P.V.C. Unit Installed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31069, 26 May 1966, Page 14

P.V.C. Unit Installed

An £BO,OOO polyvinyl chloride compounding unit for manufacturing materials used in the coverings for cables, was yesterday commissioned at the Christchurch works of Associated British Cables, Ltd., by the company’s chairman of directors (Mr A. T. Young). The commissioning of the new plant was attended by

180 manufacturers, businessmen and customers. Mr Young said that the output of the compounding plant in its first 12 months was estimated to be 2000 tons of p.v.c. The capacity of the plant was 3000 tons a year. In the first year alone, he said, the overseas exchange saved by the compounding of p.v.c. at the factory was estimated to be £105,000. Mr Young said that £15,000 worth of equipment for the plant had been supplied by Christchurch manufacturers. The cost of equipment was £60,000.

The new plant has been installed to produce the factory’s requirements of p.v.c. compounds from basic ingredients. The materials for the compounding are fed into a giant machine cake mixer. The production procedure is electronically pre-set. All temperatures are controlled by special ipstruments. The compound at the delivery end is formed through holes in a strainer plate and cut into pellets by a rotating knife.

The pellets are blown through cyclones and then into a cooling chamber through which flows a continuous blast of cool, clean air.

The complete plant requires some 350 h.p. in its operation. Mr Young said that his company regarded the p.v.c. compounding, as manufacturing in depth. Manufacturers overseas regarded this as normal practice. Guests at yesterday’s inspection were introduced and welcomed by the general manager (Mr J. D. Bull).