Two-decade-old production line can again compete with modern plants
Anhui Guofeng New Materials Co., Ltd. is a leading company in China's high-performance film industry. Its IOM production line - a 10 meter biax film stretching line, commissioned in 2004 - has been in operation for over two decades. The original installation aimed to increase capacity and efficiency, but the existing configuration has struggled to keep pace with evolving production requirements.
From Casting Unit to Winder, full-scale modernization
The Brückner technical service team developed a tailored upgrade package covering every key stage of the line, from casting to winding.
- In the casting unit, a new water removal system reduces residual moisture for more reliable stretching.
- The MDO zone now features a direct-drive transmission for tighter control.
- The TDO benefits from a renewed Clip & Chain track system that maintains stability at higher speeds.
- A clean oven was also added to improve internal cleanliness and reduce oligomer-related quality risks.
- Meanwhile, new energy-efficient blowers have lowered TDO power consumption compared with previous levels - delivering long-term cost savings.
- On the winder, LIWIND technology paired with the upgraded IMC platform gives operators centralized, dynamic control over tension and nip-roll pressure. The result: markedly better winding quality, with more uniform roll edges and virtually no wrinkling.
- By optimizing the drive system and fine-tuning the process parameters, the team raised the line's stable operating speed from 380m/min to 450 m/min, delivering a substantial gain in overall throughput.
This upgrade project has revitalized the IOM line, which has been in service for more than two decades. Not only have its output capacity and line speed increased significantly, but product quality is also more stable and reliable.
The upgrade involved no major equipment replacement or civil works, yet it has brought a two-decade old production line in line with modern benchmarks.
Guofeng has reported being fully satisfied with the results. For manufacturers weighing new investment against asset renewal, this project offers a compelling case: with the right expertise, precision retrofitting can deliver performance gains rivaling new machinery - at a fraction of the cost.
