Corrugator with vertical moulds
For the production of 50 to 250 mm diameter pipes for applications ranging from cable ducts for telecommunications to water supply and sewer systems, Olmas proposes a corrugator with a vacuum forming system that positions the moulds vertically rather than horizontally. According to the manufacturer, the choice between the two options essentially depends on the diameter of the pipes being produced. In practice, the horizontal configuration appears to be suitable for diameters up to 65 mm, while the vertical arrangement is deemed more suitable for larger pipes, where the corrugation process is particularly challenging.
In the vertical corrugator, the moulds are installed on machines by a swallow-tail system, which removes them rapidly and effortlessly, reducing the number of operations and time needed for each operation. This device, therefore, is particularly suited for processors with very varied production and which frequently change tooling.
Vacuum forming, instead of forming by air pressure, achieves a better finish for the pipes, especially in HDPE or PP with high wall thickness, for which perfect adhesion with the moulds is needed.
The die upstream from the corrugator also merits special mention, incorporating a band heating system applied using silicone in place of more traditional spiral resistances. The spiral resistances, in fact, can be more easily damaged if they are knocked by the corrugator than the less cumbersome and better adhering die bands.