Coperion Extrusion System Manufactures Fertilizer SpikesCoperion Extrusion System Manufactures Fertilizer Spikes

Düngemittelwerk (DMW) Coswig has started operation of a new Coperion ZSK twin screw extruder. Using the ZSK 76 Mv PLUS extruder with a screw diameter of 76 mm and equipped with a ProRate PLUS-MT twin screw feeder, the company produces fertilizer spikes of various formulations.

Thanks to its high reliability and gentle processing, the Coperion extrusion system ensures consistently high product quality, and allows for recipe changes in the shortest time possible. 

DMW Coswig has been operating Coperion extrusion systems for years. In the current production expansion, the company again chose Coperion as its partner because the technology portfolio Coperion offers, together with the process engineering support, conform precisely to the demands of fertilizer spike extrusion.

For feeding powder premixes that tend to stick together, Coperion provided DMW Coswig with the ProRate PLUS-MT gravimetric twin screw feeder. Coperion developed this feeder especially for handling poorly flowing powders. The feeder avoids material bridging in the feeder hopper utilizing an integrated ProFlow flow aid. With a horizontal agitator, the gravimetric feeder ensures that the two feed screws are always optimally filled with material so that ingredients are reliably and consistently fed into the extrusion process.

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In the ZSK 76 Mv PLUS extruder, the fertilizer powder is intensively mixed with liquid components and compacted in an extraordinarily short time. The intensive mixing behavior of the twin screws makes it possible to achieve the desired effect with a short process section. Upon exiting the extruder, the ingredients have been processed and compacted into an absolutely homogeneous mass, which is then dried and pelletized into the form of solid spikes.

“The ZSK extruder at DMW Coswig shows us how versatile and successful our extruders are in use. The high reliability of our technologies and very gentle processing are qualities that offer decisive added value for numerous applications. We wish DMW Coswig much success with their new Coperion extrusion system and we look forward to further collaborations”, said Peter von Hoffmann, general manager of the Business Unit Compounding Machines, Engineering Plastics and Special Applications at Coperion.

DMW Coswig benefits from Coperion’s twin screw technology on both the ZSK extruder as well as the ProRate PLUS-MT feeder. Both aggregates are self-cleaning and allow for rapid recipe changes with minimal cleaning time or effort, providing DMW Coswig with economical plant operation, even when frequent recipe changes are required.

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