When processors use more regrind, it can mean they will generate more scrap.
Part of the problem, says Dri-Air Industries Inc. officials, is too much moisture, or improper drying techniques.
For those firms trying to maximize profits by using recycled materials, Dri-Air (Booth N5561) is offering a new three-component drying, blending and conveying system that dries multiple materials at the proper temperatures, and after blending, conveys it in a moisture-free environment to the molder or extruder.
Virgin resin, regrind and color additives all need to be dried at different temperatures to melt and process properly. Not doing so creates product defects, regional sales manager Manny Salinas said June 19 at NPE.
Volumetric mixing augers are placed under three individual hoppers, which are holding and drying the three unique materials separately. Changing color and regrind ratios ``on the fly'' is simple because of 10-turn potentiometers on the control panel.
``This allows you to maximize your regrind use,'' Salinas said.
The new multihopper system sits on one frame and uses just one dryer to treat the materials. Temperatures for each hopper can be controlled individually.
Another problem processors have is that they invest money in drying technologies, then expose the dried material in open-air loaders for processing. Some plastics can recoup 75 percent of the moisture removed by dryers in as little as 15 minutes of open-air exposure, Salinas said.
``Not only is drying critical, it's how you handle the material after the fact that's critical,'' he said.
In the new three-component system, there's no possibility of moisture re-entering the material.
Dri-Air officials said the new system was unique to their company, and that they are capitalizing on being the only ones in the marketplace with it.
``No one else is doing it right now,'' Salinas said.
The system was built as a way for processors to run more efficiently by being able to incorporate the maximum amount of recycled material.
Dri-Air President Charles Sears said companies that don't increase efficiency won't last.
In other Dri-Air news, the East Windsor, Conn., company also introduced two separate compressed-air dryer systems. Prior to NPE, the company did not have compressed-air systems available.