Equivalent Filter Elements Conversion for Tu Phuong BOPP Film Stretching Plant

May 2023

In BOPP film production lines, particularly during the operation of extrusion and stretching equipment, the quality and stability of the filtration system play a critical role. They directly affect operational efficiency as well as the quality consistency of the finished product. Therefore, selecting appropriate filter elements is always a key requirement for modern BOPP film manufacturing plants.

In 2023, Khanh Linh Equipment & Engineering JSC (KLE) successfully implemented an equivalent filter element conversion project for Tu Phuong BOPP Film Plant, a subsidiary of Plastic Chemical Group JSC.

Filter Elements Conversion Solution:

Tu Phuong, like the majority of BOPP film manufacturers in Vietnam, operates BOPP film stretching lines supplied by Brueckner (Germany). However, most plants currently rely on filter elements of Chinese origin, which typically result in shorter replacement intervals, increased operating costs, and reduced system stability.

To enhance operational stability, standardize consumable quality, and optimize long-term performance, KLE proposed and implemented a conversion solution using Seebach filter elements—a brand that was acquired and fully integrated into John Crane’s filtration equipment portfolio in June 2018. This acquisition significantly expanded John Crane’s specialized filtration capabilities and technologies under Smiths Group plc.

Within the project scope, KLE carried out the following equivalent conversion activities:

• Dimensional equivalence conversion: ensuring full compatibility from overall installation dimensions to filtration pore size, while improving product quality and reliability.
• Filtration material equivalence conversion: fully meeting operating conditions and process requirements of the extrusion line, with working pressures of up to 150 barg.
• Brand equivalence conversion: replacing the customer’s existing filter elements with John Crane products.

The selected solution allowed the customer to retain the existing filter cartridge design without any modification, while significantly improving system reliability and operational stability during continuous operation.

After commissioning, John Crane filter elements have been operating stably on the extrusion units of the BOPP stretching line. To date, the customer continues to use John Crane filters with proven performance benefits: the replacement interval has been extended from 20–25 days to 30–45 days (depending on production throughput), resulting in a substantial reduction in operating costs and reinforcing customer confidence for long-term application.

Through this project, KLE further demonstrated its capability in delivering equivalent conversion and replacement solutions for industrial consumables, flexibly meeting customer requirements across various industrial sectors.

Source: KLE