At a plastics processing plant, reducing cycle

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At a plastics processing plant, reducing cycle times when cooling plastics can be achieved through hiring chillers. The more plastic produced, the greater the profits.

Hiring chillers from a chiller hire specialist is seen in the plastics industry as a smart, cost-effective move. Chillers can be used to accelerate cooling processes by boosting a fixed cooling system's capacity, to prevent machinery from overheating, and to ensure a comfortable workplace temperature is maintained.

The plastics industry - in brief

According to the British Plastics Federation, the UK plastics industry is a Global leader, operating at the cutting edge of technology. Sales account for approximately 17.5 billion (about 2.1% of UK GDP). The industry employs 220,000 and is a dominant player worldwide in three core sectors: material and additive manufacture, material processors and machinery manufacture.

About plastics

A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids that can be moulded. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals, but many are partially natural.

Due to its relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility and being impervious to water; plastic is used in an enormous and expanding range of products - from paper clips to spaceships. It has already displaced many traditional materials, such as wood, stone, metal, and glass.

More about how plastics are made

Plastic is one form of polymers (molecules that consist of a long, repeating chain of smaller units called monomers). Monomers are extracted from natural or organic substances, which are generally classified as petrochemicals. Liquid monomers are heated and slowly moulded into permanently shaped plastic. Chiller units are used to cool the shapes down - into solid form.

The plastics cooling process

Most large plastic processing plants have fixed cooling systems. These are generally centralized process water cooling or chilling systems. Pipes circulate the cooling water through the plastics machinery. Alternatively, independent refrigerant-type water chillers can be positioned beside a plastics processing machine, to provide individual machine cooling.

In particularly hot weather, and when production needs to be accelerated to meet a pressing deadline, extra chillers can be rented from a chiller rental company for a number of reasons.

- To aid the plastic cooling and 'setting' processes. Considerable amounts of heat energy have to be extracted from the material, the tooling and the machinery that is doing the plastic forming.

- To prevent machinery from overheating.

- To cool the workplace.

Plastics - completely recyclable

Modern plastics are so versatile; they can meet almost any requirement from designers and customers. Modern plastics are lightweight and durable and their versatility in colour, touch and shape gives tremendous marketing advantages. And, unlike some other materials used in manufacturing, plastic is incredibly eco-friendly: plastics can commonly be recycled at the end of use up to six times.

Chiller hire companies frequently play an essential role in plastic production, helping plastic processing firms to fulfill orders on time, and to maintain the highest standards throughout, so that the plastics made are of the required quality and quantity.

With most good chiller hire specialists offering a 24/7, all-year-round emergency call-out service, plastics processing plant managers can enjoy peace of mind. Should a fixed cooling system develop a temporary fault or completely breakdown, hired chillers can be delivered, correctly positioned and made operational in just a few hours, allowing the plant to continue processing as normal.