best practices

Film Extrusion

Boosting Extrusion Productivity-Part II of III: Optimize Product Changeover & Purging

Extrusion processors typically run a number of different products and resins.

Read More
Extrusion

How to Get Peak Performance & Efficiency Out of Your Extrusion Line, Part I

A lot of things must be in place to achieve what I like to call efficient extrusion.

Read More
best practices

How Much Regrind Can You Handle?

Most extrusion operations generate scrap, and in the case of sheet for thermoforming it can exceed 70% of total output.

Read More
Thermoforming

Thermoforming PLA: How to Do It Right

Polylactic acid (PLA) resins are made from 100% renewable resources such as corn, sugar beets, or sugarcane.

Read More

Balanced Filling Is Critical for Holding Molding Tolerances

Processors face a multitude of challenges whenever they approach an injection molding machine.

Read More

Having Output Problems? Check Your Feed-Port Design

With an extruder, like all other devices, “it can’t come out unless it goes in first.” That’s the first thing I remember when I am asked to figure out why an extruder is performing below expectations.

Read More
Additives

‘Lean’ Molding & Liquid Color: A Good Fit

If you want to take up parasailing, it’s probably best that you have no fear of heights.

Read More

Good Reasons to Make a Short Shot, and How to Do It Right

Making a proper short shot is an important aspect of practicing “scientific molding.” Upon startup of almost any mold, the first step is to make a short shot.

Read More
plant tour

'Do-It-All' Approach Keys One Processor's Growth

What shape will the successful North American plastics processing operation take as we move through the next decade?

Read More
Plastics Size Reduction
Process Cooling