Surface World May 2020 Surface World May 2020 | Page 70

PRODUCTS & PROCESSES
Surface technology with extreme finesse
Poreless nickel plating for blown film die heads
The Kuhne Group, a classic
example of the German
"Mittelstand", is a worldrenowned
producer of
machine technology for the
film and sheet extrusion
sector – and, in certain
fields of application, even
the world leader. By far
the most coffee capsules
and synthetic sausage
casings, for example, are
produced on machinery
made by Kuhne. The key
components of all Kuhne
production lines are the
extrusion dies, which, in
the case of blown film
extrusion, are referred to as
blown film die heads. For
the chemical nickel plating
of these highly complex
components, Kuhne relies
on the precision work of the
company Pallas GmbH und
Co. KG, established experts
in the field of sophisticated
surface engineering.
Leading technology and decades of
accumulated skill and know-how in terms of
industrial experience and knowledge of raw
materials make the Kuhne Group a soughtafter
expert for tailor-made extrusion lines.
With three autonomous divisions, the
company offers planning, design,
manufacturing and installation – all under
one roof. The division Kuhne Maschinenbau
GmbH develops and manufactures turn-key
extrusion lines for flat film and sheet. These
are used for the production of, among other
things, thermoformed articles like yoghurt
tubs and coffee capsules, or agricultural and
construction membranes. The core
competency of the division Kuhne
Anlagenbau GmbH is the construction of
multi-layer blown film systems for the food,
medical and pharmaceutical industries. But
also manufacturers of balloon and battery
membranes rely on the outstanding efficiency
of these highly sophisticated extrusion lines.
Finally, the division K-Tool GmbH, staffed by
specialists in milling and polishing processes,
produces all the requisite components for all
types of Kuhne extrusion lines:
blown film die heads, flat dies, extrusion
screws, and many more. This integrated
arrangement under
one roof enables
Kuhne to guarantee
premium quality that
is 100% "Made in
Germany". At the
same time,
international
customers benefit
from the resultant
synergies, which are
reflected in the
continuous further
development of
Kuhne's
sophisticated
extrusion technology.
With around 250 employees, the Kuhne
Group at its location in Sankt Augustin
generates an annual turnover of 75 million
Euro, 80% of that through global exports.
For each property a
separate layer of film
As consumer expectations become more and
more sophisticated, the demands of the
packaging sector regarding the properties of
film packaging are getting increasingly more
complex. These include characteristics like
maximum gloss, brilliant transparency or soft
touch and feel, as well as a wide range of
mechanical and functional properties. As a
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68 MAY 2020
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