Case studies

FET has undertaken hundreds of projects in over 35 different countries across five continents. These range in size from small standard units to complex turnkey solutions, designed, installed and commissioned.

We are accustomed to working directly with clients and their intermediaries to ensure full cooperation in every project and a successful outcome every time.

Below is a small sample of some of our more recent contracts.

Case Study 1

Leading European manufacturer of fluorpolymer products

FET have successfully developed, designed and manufactured a High Speed Melt Spinning Process for the production of continuous filament yarns from fluoropolymers including PVDF. The filament yarn produced offers outstanding performances without the disadvantages in regards of physical properties and the difficulties in production of other fluoropolymers.

These difficult to process polymers offer high chemical, weathering and temperature resistance. When converted to filament yarn using FET’s melt spinning technology they are ideal precursor materials for filtration and sealing applications.

The system based on 4 spin packs/spinnerets has the following features:

 

  • Yarn types; POY, FDY
  • Extrusion temperature to 450°C
  • Special alloys for all polymer contact surfaces
  • Special developed melt pumps
  • High temperature godets to 400°C
  • Line speed up to 4,000 m/m
  • Automatic doffing winders
  • Fully integrated computer control system
 case-1

Case Study 2

UK based major medical device manufacturer

Elastomeric Monofilaments processed from Kraton polymer is another example of a challenging project presented to the FET team. Our Customer identified Kraton as being particularly suitable for use in compression bandages. When Kraton is stretched, the tension within the structure initially increases in a similar way to conventional elastomeric materials but then reversible changes take place in the chemical structure of the polymer that enable further extension of the bandage with relatively little additional applied force.

This property effectively limits the maximum tension developed within the bandage fabric during extension and subsequent application, and thereby controls sub-bandage pressure which is vital to produce clinically determined levels of compression.

In order to exploit Kraton’s unique properties FET were commissioned to design, develop and manufacture a suitable monofilament extrusion process. Kraton is difficult to process and represented challenges on several fronts including extreme extrusion pressures, special filament handling and very low tension winding.

Additionally uniformity in diameter and maintaining roundness were very important and had to be within exacting tolerances. Needless to say these issues were successfully negotiated and the resulting system is in commercial production.


FETuk