Purging advance for polymer processors

Hayes, UK – Polymer processors are risking productivity issues through ineffective purging strategies, according to Hayes-based Aquapurge, which has just launched a new purging compound for the plastics blow moulding industry.

The Poly Clear HMEX is the most universal and effective purging compound that the company has developed for both continuous and accumulator blow moulding of polyolefins, according to John Steadman, technical director.

The product is being introduced worldwide, though Aquapurge is initially targeting the UK blow moulding sector. A number of companies are set to run the compound through their systems this month to check out its performance at first hand.

Plastic blow-moulded container applications, typically from 0.5 litres upwards are set to see immediate benefits, especially in saving downtime; material cost and colour contamination, said Steadman.

Aquapurge’s Scrubber Freeze compound is still recommended for those in PVC blow moulding and Steadman notes for those in that sector that - deploying this compound - ‘there’s no need to ever strip your blow moulding equipment again.’

Aquapurge believes that many blow moulders are currently tying up valuable time and money, simply by:
a) not purging their equipment at all
b) instead, simply running colour or tool changes through to clear for the next job.
c) producing customer orders to an ‘ideal’ colour schedule
d) scheduling tool changes simply to match the colour running at that time

‘These are common practices,’ notes Steadman, ‘and can actually devalue the whole production process; decrease machine utilisation and also the value of polymers used.

Machine purging gives suppliers an opportunity to flex with market demand. A company that is enabled to quickly purge its machines can avoid losing business by having to make new customers wait in line. ‘Without purging, says Steadman, ‘new business has to wait on the existing schedule.’

Aquapurge research notes that the majority of blow moulders work on a high volume and small margin basis. Added to this, increasing ‘Just In Time’ (JIT) requirements place extra demands on their capabilities.

Poly Clear HMEX is, therefore, intended to insure and protect against any production disruptions that can harm the profitability of each order.

‘The accumulator blow moulding process,’ says Steadman, ‘is sensitive to inherent hold-up points in all head designs and, over time, can contribute to black specking and loosened or degraded polymer or masterbatch. At Aquapurge we question the practice of taking a risk with all these factors.”