In DeRegt's process, the extrusion lines are very important in producing the cables. The linchpin is our small extruder. Almost all cables (98/100%) have a component that passes through the small extrusion line. Adding a new extrusion line will significantly impact on the capacity of DeRegt. A new extruder will officially be delivered in February 2024, ready for use. "Thanks to a production speed of up to 800 meters per minute, we can establish a more reliable schedule and offer our customers a shorter delivery time," says Dino Hajdarbegovic, Project Manager of the extrusion line project at DeRegt.
Boosting In-House Capabilities: The Benefits of Investing in a New Extruder Machine
A rapid market recovery after covid meant that order intake rose faster than initially expected. Adding an additional 5th extrusion line will contribute to DeRegt’s growth while adding new capabilities simultaneously.
- Speed Constraints: Our current small polymer extruder typically operates at 80-100 meters per minute. The higher speeds on the new extrusion line will increase efficiency, especially since almost all cables (98-100%) have a component that passes through it.
- High-performance polymer Processing: The current machine cannot process high-performance polymers like PEEK. Outsourcing high-performance polymer processing to third parties often has its own challenges and can be costly and inefficient. Being able to process these polymers ourselves, we increase efficiency and extend our capabilities.
- Improved In-House Production Planning: Supplementing our machinery allows DeRegt to streamline production, reduce third-party reliance, and enhance product quality and delivery.
"Supplementing the current extruder machine with a new one will enable us to overcome current limitations, improve production efficiency, and better manage its resources. This allows us to meet our customers' needs", says Dino Hajdarbegovic.
Why Choosing high-performance polymers is Worth the Investment
As mentioned above, high-performance polymers have specific advantages in certain conditions. “There have to be good reasons to go for high-performance polymers”, says Dino Hajdarbegovic. “After all, other polymers can be up to 10 times cheaper”.
One such advantage is their high resistance to heat. A Regular polymer like Polyethylene has about 90 degrees Celsius resistance, and high-performance polymers can have over 200 degrees Celsius resistance. Another advantage is that with equal insulation thickness, high-performance polymers allow higher voltage through the cables without breaking down.
This means the cable can be made thinner while maintaining the same voltage, which is relevant for some markets, such as defense.
What this means for the future
In the coming months, we are not going to stand still. Specifically, we will change our machine layout and prepare the area for the new extrusion line. Additionally, we will travel to Rosendahl, our supplier, to gain firsthand experience with the new machine before it arrives, enabling us to better plan its integration. “In December, I expect the first team from the extrusion partner to arrive, so we can start building it up. I expect to be operational next February”.
Our business continuity will improve significantly as we can plan more efficiently and accelerate processes without relying solely on one machine. With alternative options at our disposal, we can either fall back on the current small extruder or deploy them in parallel, providing seamless and resilient operations. With a production rate of at least 800 meters per minute, we will have more reliable scheduling & shorter lead times.
