PP multilayer pipe for well shafts

Munich, June 4, 2008 – Italian pipe manufacturer Riccini S.r.l., Perugia, will shortly begin operating a new extrusion line from KraussMaffei Berstorff to produce multilayer PP well pipe. This type of pipe is used in sinking wells that extract drinking water from groundwater. The section of the pipe that reaches into the groundwater has apertures through which water enters the pipe.

The conventional material for this type of pipe used to be PVC. Riccini is now planning to offer PP well pipe as an alternative solution. The middle layer of the pipe, with CaCO3 filler, is produced by the main KME 105-36 B/R extruder. The new extruders are Krauss Maffei Berstorff’s largest machines for polyolefin pipe; they deliver maximum output rates of 760 kg/h for PP and 1100 kg/h for HDPE. The longer processing units (L/D ratio 36) increase the specific melt throughput and total output. Increasing the time the melt spends in the extruder results in an extremely stable process and high product quality. It improves the thermal and physical homogeneity of the melt and makes it possible to run the process at relatively low temperatures.

The inner and outer layers of the pipe, made of unfilled PP, are produced on a KME 45-30 B/R co extruder. The compact design of this co extruder facilitates integration in a production line. The layers are joined in a KM3L RKW 75 3-layer pipe head.

The system is scheduled to go into operation in August 2008. Riccini is a long-standing Krauss Maffei Berstorff customer, operating two extrusion lines with a total of four KME 90-36 B/R extruders to manufacture PP well pipe