Effective cleaning of plastic processing equipment is vital for keeping the machinery running productively and free from trouble. Josephine Komarmi of Dyna-Purge® Div. of Shuman Plastics Inc. discusses the issues involved when comparing manual cleaning or in-house remedies to the use of commercial purging compounds for compounders.
There are several occasions that call for purging and cleaning processing equipment, including colour changes, resin changes, formulation changes, and routine shutdown and maintenance. Ensuring that equipment is cleaned thoroughly and effectively is critical for quality control and in extending the operating life of the machinery. Although breaking down a large extruder and painstakingly cleaning it by hand is thorough and effective, increasing pressures in the marketplace can make this method a strain on productivity. For example, Just-In-Time delivery demands result in greater frequency of resin and colour changes.
Dyna-Purge purging compound
In addition, there is always the need to manage bottom-line costs to stay competitive and profitable. Machine downtime is neither competitive nor profitable to a compounder's operations.