Filling systems for liquid resins
WestWood relies on FRICKE equipment for maximum flexibility
WestWood relies on flexible filling systems from FRICKE. With automated IBC filling, quick cleaning, and easy changeovers, the company increases efficiency and ergonomics in liquid resin production.
About the company
WestWood Kunststofftechnik GmbH develops and manufactures sealing and coating systems based on PMMA liquid resins for construction refurbishment. Whether multi-storey carparks, open decks, streets and bridges, applications on roofs, arcades, balconies, or special applications such as heliports and waterproof concrete joints – the products must meet a wide range of requirements: short reaction times, high elasticity, weather resistance, and extreme resilience. To handle this diversity, WestWood relies on modern filling systems that can easily process varying viscosities and container sizes.
Find out more: www.westwood.de
Challenges: Fast product changes, minimal downtime
The production of highly reactive liquid resin systems requires frequent product changes on the filling lines, along with time-consuming cleaning and recurring downtimes. At the same time, the resins are filled into a broad spectrum of containers – from small cans to large IBCs. The older machines increasingly reached their limits, as configurations often had to be adjusted manually, and filling processes were controlled by hand. “For WestWood, it is essential to be able to clean the units very rapidly for product changes and they must be flexible as regards viscosity and container sizes,” explains Dirk Novak, Chief Sales Officer (CSO) BU Filling Technology at FRICKE.
Solutions: Automated filling systems for safe and flexible container filling
Within just two years, WestWood commissioned four new FRICKE filling systems: two FFS 31 units and two compact EFS 11 units. The EFS 11 is particularly suitable for open containers such as cans, pails, and hobbocks from 1 to 60 kg. With dimensions equal to a Euro pallet, they are space-saving and can be integrated efficiently into the production lines. The FFS 31 is a bung-hole filling station for containers from 200 to 1,500 kg, which can be filled directly on the pallet. All systems are EX-protected, operate with pre-set filling programs, and feature valves with only three product-contacting parts – ensuring fast cleaning and minimal downtime. “The oldest of our eight systems from FRICKE has been in operation for over 20 years,” says Bernd Brinkmann, Operations Manager at WestWood. “Since we already had positive experiences, it was only natural to rely on FRICKE again for our latest production expansion.”
Implementation: Automated filling technology for IBCs: Increased efficiency, safety and ergonomics
One major highlight is the automated IBC filling, which has significantly improved the workflow across production. Whereas in the past filling had to be stopped manually, the process now runs automatically, safely, and ergonomically. “Filling large IBCs no longer needs to be stopped manually. This has massively increased the efficiency of our production lines,” notes Brinkmann. Ergonomic improvements also play a key role: thanks to roller conveyors, container centering, and automatic lid closers, containers can be positioned and transported easily, eliminating the need for heavy lifting. Operation requires only one hand, while the filling process remains in full view. “Thanks to the new FRICKE systems, no heavy manual labor is required anymore, ensuring the long-term health of our employees,” Brinkmann emphasizes.
Looking ahead together: Responding flexibly to increasing requirements
With the new filling systems, WestWood can now make production not only more efficient and flexible but also fully prepared to meet rising market demands. Quick changeovers between different products and container sizes, combined with easy cleaning, result in minimal downtime and high process reliability. “Since we have also been using Fricke machines on all three production lines, our employees are familiar with the processes, so virtually no training was necessary,” Brinkmann concludes. “As regards precision, cleaning and maintenance outlay, and adjustment to different viscosities, Fricke systems have never let us down.” With this setup, WestWood is well positioned to continue setting benchmarks in construction refurbishment with its innovative liquid resin systems.
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