One of the world´s leading film manufacturers, Manuli Film SpA (I-81037 Caserta; www.manulipackaging.it), signed an agreement in June 2001 with Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH (D-83313 Siegsdorf; www.brueckner.de) for the delivery of what, to date, is the biggest ever film-stretching unit for polypropylene (BOPP). With a working width of 10m, a production speed of up to 500m/min and an annual output of 41,250 t, the facility complies with the demands of the packaging market for ever faster and bigger production units for the manufacture of inexpensive standard film.

Now, two weeks before the contractually agreed date and despite the complexity of the system and its environment, Manuli and Brückner have successfully put the machine on stream. Just a few days after start-up, the machine is running in continuous shift operation at speeds of up to 320 m/min and a net output of 5,500 kg/h, which Brückner describes as a world record. It is the ninth film-stretching machine that Manuli has purchased from Brückner since 1977.

The plant is only the third film-stretching machine in the world to produce polypropylene film with a working width of 10m. Apart from Brückner, no manufacturer has so far built high-speed machines for this width. The level of automation of the new plant allows film production almost without the need for an operator. Only in the event of exceptional production faults does manual intervention become necessary. The machine also satisfies the very highest demands in terms of functionality, safety and operating comfort in order to guarantee the high annual output of over 41,000 t.