Promix to present process technologies at Fakuma 2026

Promix Solutions will present process technologies for mixing, foaming, cooling and process monitoring in plastics processing at Fakuma 2026, held from 12 to 16 October in Friedrichshafen. The company will exhibit in Hall A6, booth 6108. The main focus will be on the proven Promix Microcell Technology for reducing material consumption, as well as the Visco-P inline viscometer for real-time monitoring and control of extrusion processes. A notable new feature is the availability of the Visco-P with a closed-loop control system and direct connection to metering systems. This enables raw material flows to be controlled automatically based on the viscosity measured in the process. A typical example is the automatic control of the intrinsic viscosity, IV, value in PET processing.

Material savings through physical foaming with Microcell

Since raw material consumption accounts for the largest share of the CO2 footprint in extrusion, material efficiency is becoming increasingly important. Promix Microcell Technology addresses this requirement through the precise addition of environmentally friendly atmospheric gases, which create a fine microcellular foam structure within the polymer. Depending on the application, this can reduce product weight by 20 to 50%.

In addition to significant material and cost savings, Microcell Technology provides opportunities for product optimization. Depending on the application, properties such as reduced weight, improved thermal and acoustic insulation, enhanced shock absorption, and visual and tactile effects can be achieved. The technology is used in the production of films, sheets, foamcore pipes, profiles and cable jackets, and is suitable for nearly all common polymers.

A new field of application is the foaming of monofilaments. Together with an industry partner, Promix is currently developing foamed monofilaments for artificial grass applications. Microcell Technology, which is available for both new installations and retrofits, has now become widely adopted worldwide. More than 350 industrial Microcell systems are already in use, and numerous machine manufacturers integrate the technology into their equipment as standard.

Pet foams and foam films

The Procell foam and nucleating additives have been expanded to include a new grade for PET foams. This is an endothermic blowing agent that does not release water and is therefore suited for PET. It enables fine cell structures and, at higher dosages, can also be used as a standalone foam additive.

After years of development and optimization, the Promix annular die for the efficient production of foam films made from PP and PS is now ready for the market. This technology combines more than 20 years of experience in foam die design. According to the company, the patented die design allows foam density and film thickness tolerances to be further reduced. This leads to material and cost savings as well as higher product quality.

The flex-lip design enables precise and reproducible adjustment of film thickness. Even when the die is opened and closed, the set lip geometry is maintained, eliminating time-consuming readjustments and reducing setup times.

Real-time viscosity measurement and control

The increasing use of recycled materials and raw materials from various sources poses growing challenges for extrusion plants. Fluctuating material qualities make it difficult to maintain consistent product quality and stable processes. With the Visco-P inline viscometer, Promix offers a system for continuously monitoring the melt directly within the production process. The system measures the actual viscosity under real processing conditions directly in the melt stream, without a bypass and without material loss.

The maintenance-free measuring module homogenizes the melt and prevents clogging, deposits or material degradation. This makes the system particularly suitable for recycled materials, filled compounds and shear-sensitive materials.

At Fakuma, Promix will demonstrate the automatic control of the IV value during PET extrusion. If the measured IV value falls below the specified setpoint, the system automatically controls the dosing of an IV enhancer until the required melt quality is restored. The same principle can also be applied, for example, in PP recycling through the metered addition of suitable chain extenders.

Additional trend analyses, statistical functions and reporting features enable documentation of process data. User-definable thresholds automatically trigger warning messages in the event of deviations and assist the plant operator in optimizing the process. The Visco-P is compatible with all common extruder types and most thermoplastic materials and can be integrated into existing systems. All standard communication interfaces are available for integration into modern production environments and Industry 4.0 concepts.