News

UWT, maker of level and point level sensors, appoints Alina Niekrawietz to its senior leadership team. As Head of Business Operations & International, she oversees key functions and the subsidiaries in Spain, Brazil and Mexico. Betzigau, Germany. Alina Niekrawietz joined the UWT Group’s senior leadership team on 1 October 2026. UWT develops and manufactures sensors for continuous level measurement and point level detection in bulk solids and liquids across a wide range of industries. As Head of Business Operations & International, Alina Niekrawietz oversees Marketing, HR, Controlling, and Finance & Accounting at the company’s headquarters in Betzigau. She also manages the subsidiaries in Spain, Brazil and Mexico. Her appointment marks the beginning of a gradual generational transition, based on close collaboration with the other department heads and managing directors. Experience at UWT and in International Sales Alina Niekrawietz has had close ties to the company for many years. While working at UWT alongside her studies, she gained insights into project management, strategy, recruitment, international sales and order processing. Her subsequent professional experience included international…

Hellweg Maschinenbau demonstrated its granulators at Fakuma by successfully size-reducing difficult polymers and rubber compounds. The true scissor-cut technology delivered homogeneous, high-quality regrind. Roetgen/Germany, October 2026. At Fakuma 2026, Mark Hellweg, Managing Director of Hellweg Maschinenbau, had made an unusual offer to visitors at short notice: “From numerous trials in our technical centre and our experience with our customers’ materials, we know that our granulators can handle (almost) any challenge,” he said. “Anyone who would like to see this for themselves is invited to bring samples of their ‘problematic’ material to our stand to test them.” The positive response, despite the very short lead time, highlights the importance of the topic. The result is indeed impressive. “By the end of the trade fair, the score was 8–0 in favour of our mills!” Hellweg summarises. Eight visitors to the stand had brought material that they considered difficult to granulate and were eager to see how it would fare in the milling process. On eight occasions, the material disappeared into the hopper of the fully operational MDSi 230/150 mill within seconds.…

GREIF-VELOX and CHG-Meridian combine bagging technology, service and flexible rental models. This enables companies to build or expand packaging capacity without having to invest directly in their own equipment. How can companies add new bulk material bagging capacity when production volumes increase, new products are introduced or new markets are entered, without having to invest directly in their own packaging equipment? GREIF-VELOX and CHG-Meridian are expanding their collaboration in the field of Packaging as a Service (PaaS®). The joint model combines industrial packaging technology with technical services and individually structured rental models. This enables companies to build additional packaging capacity or modernize existing solutions without having to purchase the equipment outright. Adapting packaging capacity to demand Especially when building new production capacities, launching products or entering new markets, capacity utilization often develops gradually. The PaaS® concept allows contract terms, payment structures and service components to be adapted to the respective business situation and expected development. The bagging system is not considered an isolated…

Coperion has upgraded its high-volume ZSK Mv twin screw extruder series with a specific torque of 14 Nm/cm³. The new ZSK Mv¹⁴ delivers up to 24% higher throughput rates for demanding bulk material processing. Increased specific torque boosts throughput Coperion has introduced the ZSK Mv¹⁴ twin screw extruder, replacing the ZSK Mv PLUS series. The upgraded machine features an increased specific torque of 14 Nm/cm³, representing a 24 per cent increase compared to its predecessor. This advancement enables significantly higher throughput rates while maintaining process reliability and product quality in high-volume compounding operations. Optimised screw geometry for gentle handling The ZSK Mv¹⁴ series retains a large free screw volume with an outer-to-inner screw diameter ratio (Do/Di) of 1.8. This ratio makes the extruder suitable for materials with low bulk density, poor feed characteristics, or high filler content. The deep screw flight depth reduces average shear stress and thermal load on the melt, enabling gentle processing of heat-sensitive and shear-sensitive materials. Robust shaft materials and expanded size range To handle the higher specific torque, Coperion…

With VeloDrum SafeClosure, GREIF-VELOX automates the opening and closing of fine-thread bung closures during drum filling. The system is also suitable for reconditioned drums. Integration of the Closure Principle Many industrial filling processes are largely automated; however, opening and closing fine-thread bung closures often still involves manual steps. With VeloDrum SafeClosure, GREIF-VELOX has developed a patent-pending solution that integrates this process step into automated drum filling. Position, tool engagement, and screwing are checked on the process side. Monitored Process in Six Steps The automated sequence is divided into six steps: positioning, checking, opening, filling, closing, and verifying. First, the bung hole is approached with vision guidance. An overpressure test confirms correct fit and sealing. The screwdriver tool then engages the plug and opens it under torque monitoring. After filling, the plug is automatically screwed back in. Torque and screw-in depth then confirm correct screwing. Use with Reconditioned Drums VeloDrum SafeClosure can also be used with reconditioned drums from the circular economy, provided…

Polymer Solutions GmbH recycles polyamide offcuts from textile production into high-quality regranulates on two extrusion lines. The company also shreds and grinds start-up lumps and plastic parts, including as contract processing. Our production takes place on two high-performance extrusion lines, which we use to manufacture high-quality regranulates. In addition, we offer the processing of start-up scraps and plastic parts through shredding and grinding. Our technical capabilities are not only available to our customers for their own production – we also offer our services as flexible contract processing. In doing so, we prioritise quality, reliability and bespoke solutions that are optimally tailored to our partners’ requirements. With our experience, state-of-the-art plant technology and a clear focus on sustainable plastics recycling, we are your expert partner for the processing of polyamide and other plastic materials.

Gebrüder Lödige Maschinenbau has developed the Lödige Dashboard for browser-based visualization and analysis of machine and process data. The system can also be retrofitted to existing equipment. Transparent process analysis in real time The Lödige Dashboard expands machine control systems with analysis and information functions. It provides real-time and historical visualization of process data, maintenance tools to increase plant availability, and fast access to machine documentation. Customisable displays support trend recognition and recipe development. Local data storage for enhanced cyber security Data capture, processing, and storage take place locally on an industrial PC in the control cabinet without cloud connectivity, protecting operational data from cyber threats. By default, data is stored for 365 days, with optional external access via VPN. Straightforward retrofitting for existing machinery The dashboard can be integrated into new plants or retrofitted to existing equipment. Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) connect directly, while conventional controls use an additional communication module. An OPC UA interface enables communication with…

GKM Siebtechnik monitors the bearings of its KTS tumbler screeners with Schaeffler's Optime: wireless sensors track vibration and temperature, and the Optime C4 lubricator supplies all four lubrication points. GKM can also take over the monitoring. Tumbler screening machines operate continuously and are subjected to high loads. For the operator, therefore, it is not only the actual screening performance that matters, but also how reliably the machine remains available over the long term. Bearings play a particularly important part in this regard: Changes in their condition can be detected early on – provided they are continuously monitored. At GKM Siebtechnik, we therefore use Schaeffler’s Optime condition monitoring system on our KTS Tumbler Screeners. The aim is to provide transparency on bearing conditions and to detect potential anomalies at an early stage, before they lead to unplanned machine downtime. From machine condition to specific action required At the heart of the system are wireless Optime sensors, which are mounted directly on the relevant bearing points of the screening machine. They continuously monitor vibrations, shocks, and temperature, among other things. The data is transmitted via a…

Schiltach, Germany / Zurich, Switzerland. VEGA Grieshaber KG, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial measurement technology, is acquiring Akenza AG, a Swiss enterprise IoT platform vendor. VEGA, a measurement technology manufacturer based in Schiltach, Germany, is acquiring the Swiss company Akenza AG, headquartered in Zurich. With this strategic move, VEGA combines more than 60 years of experience in industrial process automation with akenza’s proven IoT expertise. The goal is to offer customers end-to-end, scalable IoT solutions from a single source in the future. VEGA is a family-owned company with more than 2,800 employees worldwide and a market presence in over 80 countries. Its sensors for level, point level, and pressure measurement, as well as the associated hardware and software, are used in industries such as chemicals, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, water and wastewater management, and mining. Akenza specializes in IoT solutions and provides Smart Industry and Smart Corporate Real Estate deployments for global organizations. Its agnostic platform enables the seamless connection of devices and systems and has proven itself across a wide…