Continental orders second VIC mixer for Timisoara plant

Castellanza, Italy -- Continental's tyre production staff in Timisoara, Romania have confirmed their preference for variable-clearance rotors with an order for a second Techint-Pomini VIC mixing line. The new project is identical to the line delivered to Timisoara a year ago. Techint-Pomini said plans at Conti call for a third line to be added later, as the plant expands.

The new mixing line is based around a VIC 275 with TDE11 twin dump extruder, which passes material directly to batch-off processing. Techint-Pomini also supplied the control and automation systems, based on Beckoff hardware and Techint-Pomini software.

Techint-Pomini has patented the VIC mixer, in which the clearance between the rotors can be adjusted, so giving the benefits of both tangential and intermeshing designs in a single unit.

Techint-Pomini said the main driver for Conti's decision was the performance of the initial line during the last year. Techint-Pomini said Conti is using the VIC in a fully automatic setup, with no open mills. The result, said the company, is significantly improved productivity and quality compared with more conventional lines.