SICA OPEN HOUSE

The company SICA, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, organized an Open House in mid-July, opening again the doors to its factory to extruder and corrugator manufacturers, and pipe producers from all over the world.

Among the 15 machines on display there were: swarfless cutting machine for PE pipes up to 2500 mm; cutting machine for cutting and chamfering without removal of material for PVC, PP and PE pipes up to 160 mm; electric belling machine for PVC pipes up to 200 mm; and multi-belling machine for PP sewage pipes up to 200 mm.

The first (TRK/C 2500) works in an extrusion line, and it cuts up to 180 mm without material removal. SICA’s solution completely avoids all the problems and the major inconveniences that result from cutting with production of chips and dust and from their subsequent collection and management.

The second (TRS 160W) has been specifically designed and assembled for cutting and chamfering PP and PVC pipes without material removal. This model cuts pipes from OD 32 mm to OD 160 mm in extrusion lines. The system can also be realized for saws up to OD 500 mm. The bigger the pipe, the higher the cost savings due to material savings. The new system does not need a vacuuming system or material recycling operations, provides superior chamfer quality, requires less maintenance, and maintains a clean environment. Furthermore, the pipe is clean to be heated again in case of socketing.

The third (Unibell1 200 JRE) has an IR-SW short-waves oven and is characterized by the electromechanical movement of the forming carriage and the complete elimination of hydraulic drives, also for the Rieber System (fully pneumatic). A screw jack, connected to a latest generation brushless motor with resolver, allows a quick and precise mandrel positioning in a closed loop with high mechanical efficiency (up to 70%) and very low noise level. Without the need for oil cooling, this solution also allows a considerable reduction of water use. Moreover, with the elimination of hydraulic movements any possible oil leakage into the environment are avoided and ordinary maintenance is reduced. Both the heating system (IR-SW oven) and the implemented forming carriage drive lead to a high level of process energy efficiency: the machine uses energy only when strictly required, during the pipe heating phase and for the duration of the carriage movement. The consequences are: faster return on investment, greater market competitiveness and greater respect for the environment.

The fourth (Everbell4 200 PSP) has been completely rethought and modernized. It presents innovative features such as: pipe heating in a single IR-SW oven, and both mandrel and flange electromechanical movement. This assures high speed with accurate positioning of the belling tools, easy process parameters setting from operating panel, high energy efficiency, very low noise level, and high system reliability. Since it sockets PP pipes, it is equipped with the Permanent Socket Profile feature. It assures the repetitiveness of the process and the shape of the socket over time.

The 15 machines on show remained on display from the 11th to the 16th of July for everybody to experience Sica’s new technologies for saving money and respecting the environment.