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Resin Dryers: What do they do, and how do they work? The basics
If you know anything about plastics processing, you know that it begins with resin pellets. There are many different types of plastic resins that offer a wide range of different physical and chemical characteristics. These differences in characteristics make every resin unique. The environment and seasonal changes also play a...
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When conveying, “equivalent distance” matters
On a regular basis, I get calls and questions from processors who are trying to figure out why their conveying systems aren’t working as expected. In a number of cases, the problem turns into one of distance. The system can convey material from one location, but can’t pull a similar...
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Questions and Answers about Storage Silos for Plastic Resin
What are the benefits of a storage silo for resin? Some of the benefits of using a silo for storage include the ability to buy resin in bulk. This will allow you to pay a lower cost. Silos also reduce the time and labor associated with handling and moving material...
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What is a Thermolator®?
A “Thermolator” refers to a Thermolator® temperature control unit (TCU). Through the years, Thermolator TCUs have been so reliable and have become so ubiquitous that in the plastics industry that many processors use the brand name, “Thermolator,” and the generic name, TCU, to mean the same thing. Thermolator® is a...
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Vacuum Pumps: What are the types, and which type is right for your conveying needs?
There are three major types of pumps used to power vacuum-driven conveying systems. They are, in rough order of power and capability: Regenerative pumps Positive displacement pumps Long-distance positive displacement pumps Regenerative pumps can serve conveying systems that are small to moderate in size, up to about 450 feet in...
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Seven Key Factors for a great size reduction solution
It’s easy to think of shredders and granulators as “brute force” equipment, with all brawn and no brains, but the opposite is true. There are few pieces of plastics processing equipment that allow for so many variables, so much configurability, as a shredder or granulator. Thus, the application information that...
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Comparing Loaders and Receivers: Similarities, Differences, and Applications
Material receivers and loaders share a couple of key similarities: Depending on their configurations, both can receive, hold, and discharge hold various materials, which may include resin, regrind, or powders, or blends of materials drawn from multiple sources. Both offer multiple models: “Direct feed” or “JIT” meaning Just in Time...
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Industry 4.0: Four key criteria for equipment monitoring solutions
I recently read a Plastics Technology article, authored by Max Preston of Smart Attend, discussing how an automotive parts manufacturer introduced Industry 4.0 innovations to production staff. One paragraph, in particular, got me thinking: “As many suppliers offer new digital gateways for managers to access their data, it’s devastating for...
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What’s the role of a crystallizer?
In simplest terms, a crystallizer is a heating device that converts virgin, post-process, or scrap PET from an amorphous state to a semi-crystalline state. Crystallizers are important to processors who generate or utilize large volumes of scrap or recycled PET material. Because processing causes virgin PET material to change state...
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Why our best ideas are always yours
I’ve worked most of my career in product development. And people who learn about that often ask: ‘Where do you get these ideas?’ ‘How do you know they’ll work?’ Good questions. The kind that make me wish I had really clever answers. But I don’t. The fact is, we get...
By A.J. Zambanini 
By Doug Brewster 
By Jim Fisher 
By Dave Miller 
By Alan Landers 
By Rich Shaffer