Ensinger Expands Composite Production with New In-House Polymer Pulverizer

Plastics processor Ensinger GmbH (Nufringen, Germany) is expanding its manufacturing capacities for composites, a development enhanced by the recent commission of a polymer pulverizer machine at the company’s Cham, Germany site, which extends Ensinger’s vertical range of manufacture. The range of thermoplastic polymers that can be pulverized on the new machine comprise of engineering plastics such as polpropylene (PP), polyamide 6 (PA6) and polycarbonate (PC), but also high-performance plastics such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylenimine (PEI) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The tightly toleranced pulverized polymer materials are said to fulfill the tough requirements and high demands of advanced thermoplastic composites.

With these new manufacturing capabilities, the Ensinger Group reports that it can provide its customers with additional cost-competitive advantages. The company’s Composites division is now said to be a “one stop shop” for a wide range of products and services relating to thermoplastic composite materials. The portfolio includes powders, semipregs, prepregs, organosheet, compression-molded composite plates and finished parts, as well as customer development projects which are achieved using diverse material combinations. 

The new polymer pulverizer machine, compliant with the ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosible) safety directive, also enables Ensinger to offer polymer pulverizing services to industry, enabling customers to outsource their polymer pulverizing requirements in a cost-effective solution.

“Purchasing the new machine is a logical step that makes Ensinger a complete solution provider in the area of thermoplastic composites,” says Daniel Grauer, who is responsible for international business development in Ensinger’s Composites division. “By extending the value added chain we are strengthening our position versus our competitors and can fulfill our customers’ requirements, both technical and commercial.”