Cast Film Extruder - Purchasing Guide: 10 questions to ask

Cast film extruders are one of the most expensive and complex equipments in a plastic converting line, so, choosing the right machine and supplier requires a thorough research. In our experience, the key to success is to nail down your requirements first. Asking and answering the right questions about your needs will help to create the specification of your cast film line, on which you can base your research and selection process.

The below guide will help you to go through the most important questions to consider when creating a specification for a plastic cast film extruder.

Specification of the plastic film manufactured on the cast film line

1) What types of film are you planning to manufacture? The plastic converting technology is developing very fast and is enabling the plastic film manufacturers to produce increasingly complex, high barrier film property films. The most advanced extruder machines are capable to produce film of up to nine layers.

2) The maximum width of the film you are planning to produce. Cast film extruders are capable to deliver huge efficiencies. The film width produced by the machines can go as far as 25 feet at certain models.

3) Thickness range of the film. A typical range would be 10 to 40 µm for a 5 layer film or .38mm to 1.5mm for a PVB film. Usually, Cast Film Extrusion Lines can be configured to a reasonably wide range, but it is important to have a clear understanding of your specification and the capacity of the machine you are looking on.

4) What is the maximum winding diameter you are planning to have? This question reflects to the performance metrics of the winding section of the cast film line.

5) What is the planned production rate of the machine? Most advanced extruders can produce anything up to couple of tons of film per hour.

6) How many air rings does your technology require?

7) How many sizing cages does your technology require?

8) Winding roll handling. Full automation is quite a standard requirement, but speed of the winding roll change over varies depending on the technology used at the given model.

9) Do you consider having special slitting options build in to your cast film line?

10) What type of user interface and control panel are you considering to have? The standard configuration is comprehensive state of the art touch screen interface, extended by remote control access. In case of some models, simpler interface is available for budget conscious buyers.

Learn more about our cast film extruder models: contact one of our sales engineers by submitting the online quote form or by calling us toll free at 1-888-277-1176.