Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/550316
40 tobaccoasia MANUFACTURING NEWS 制造新闻 Ideal for Developers and Test Series HAUNI PROLAB has been developed for research and development divisions. Compact and flexible, it is ideal for the production of test series and operates in the same way as full-size machines. The combination of the rod maker (PROLAB-P) and/or filter assembler (PROLAB-F) is specially tailored to the requirements of research and develop- ment divisions. The two components are able to operate either separately or in combination. Together, they are no larger than a PROTOS 70. With an output of between 100 and 2,000 cpm, the maker can manufacture cigarettes with a diameter of 4.5 to 8.4 mm and a length of 60 to 120 mm. This is ideal for the production of very small batches for test markets. The remarkable flexibility of the lab maker is due to the fact that PROLAB does not have a rigid machine base plate but instead uses a machine base, on which patented mounting plates can be installed and exchanged. This makes it easy to change format and brand specifications and thus process a wide variety of materials to a very high standard. In addition, PROLAB offers special functions such as laser perforation or inspection drums. Hauni's engineers quickly saw that the lab maker would have to be based on the PROTOS technology used in its latest M generation machines. "Dur- ing preliminary discussions, our customers in the US market emphasized that PROLAB would have to comply with the requirements of the American Food & Drug Administration (FDA)," says Mamoon Ibrahim, project manager at Hauni Richmond. As the production processes developed on a smaller scale with PROLAB use exactly the same components and technology, they can be transferred directly and cost-effectively to the large Hauni cigarette machines. "We use the identical drives, valves and control systems. This simplifies han- dling enormously," says Ibrahim. PROLAB marks the start of a new phase of development for Hauni itself. "In the future, we aim to supply new components that can be integrated into existing machines or retrofitted," says Ibrahim. "With this lab maker, we can offer customers a platform for developing their own individual products.". The researchers had tried to create an inexpensive water filtration system using items such as banana peels and rice hulls, but nothing worked well. Then they decided to try using cigarette ashes, as they are porous, do not rot, and are easily available. For cigarette ashes to be able to filter arsenic from drinking water, all that is involved is a simple one-step procedure: coating the ashes with aluminum oxide as it is insoluble in water. The version used in the experi- ment was alumina (Al2O3), which is food compatible. When the researchers test-filtered water using the cigarette ashes, more than 96% of arsenic was removed from ground water. The level of arsenic found in the water presented in their final product was below the standard that is set by the World Health Organization as suitable for drinking water. The Netherlands ATD Machinery's Move After almost 50 years, as part of the Royal Agio Cigars, ATD Machinery will continue as an independent company and move to their new ultra-modern production facility at a brand new industrial park, "the Kempen" in Hapert. The industrial park is located not far from their current location and equipped with all modern facilities, next to the highway A67. The new facility will replace the company's current facility at the Wolverstraat in Duizel. The new facility will allow ATD Machinery to continue developing its business in order to be an even better partner for their clients in the future. The business at the Wolverstraat facility was phased out during the last few weeks of December, and was fully operational at the new location on January 1, 2015. Feel free to contact the company at its new address: ATD Machinery B.V., Smaragdweg 30, 5527 LB Hapert, The Netherlands.