An apparatus (10) for producing reshaped plastic granules from a plurality of initial granules (12) with a predetermined shape is disclosed comprising: a feeding unit (20) for continuously receiving a plurality of said initial granules (12), a pressing unit (30) for mechanically reshaping the initial granules, said pressing unit comprising at least two opposite pressing surfaces (32) with a gap (34) therebetween, the width (W) of said gap ranging from 0 mm to 0.5 mm, a receiving chamber (40) for receiving the reshaped final granules (13) from the pressing unit, and a frame (50) for supporting the feeding unit, the pressing unit and the receiving chamber. A method is also provided to produce final granules by mechanically reshaping the initial granule, each final granule having a certain surface-to-volume ratio and a primary thickness of at most 0.7 mm within substantially the entire volume of the final granules.

Calender for the treatment of web-like materials, including a fixed structure supporting two heated rollers reciprocally arranged so as to form a nip traversable by web-like materials, where each roller has pins mounted on bearings. The structure includes two lower levers and two upper levers adapted for exerting on the bearings forces oriented according to not coinciding directions, each lever being connected with an actuator that controls its rotation around a horizontal axis to put it in a first engagement position of the respective bearing and in a second release position, such that in the second position of the levers the extraction of the rollers from the calender is allowed.

A multi-stage roll type sheet molding apparatus includes four or more molding rolls including a touch molding roll, a main molding roll and finish molding rolls disposed in the horizontal direction in parallel to each other, in which a molten sheet is supplied downward from above to a first nip part interposed between the touch molding roll and main molding roll, the sheet is compressed by the molding rolls, and the compressed sheet is windingly fed sequentially from the main molding roll to the finish molding rolls, thereby molding a sheet having a specific thickness. The apparatus further includes a rear-stage side rail for guiding the finish molding rolls in a horizontally movable manner and second to fourth hydraulic cylinders for horizontally moving the finish molding rolls to in such a manner that they can pressurize the sheet.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method including at least one of one or more pairs of shapeable and flexible dual-temperature bands and a rotating assembly that rotates the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to impart a twist to the thermoplastic composite.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method including at least one of multiple pairs of shapeable and flexible bands and a rotating assembly that rotates the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to impart a twist to the thermoplastic composite.

A method and configuration for automated operation of a two-roll mill. Also provided is a method for continuous or semi-continuous operation of a two-roll mill.

A device for blow molding a container from a preform. The device includes a mold base and a pedestal for supporting the mold base. An electric heating element is beneath the mold base for heating the mold base. An insulator is between the heating element and the pedestal.

A method and configuration for automated operation of a two-roll mill. Also provided is a method for continuous or semi-continuous operation of a two-roll mill.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours.