Dynisco uses the cloud to help recyclers improve their consistency

Düsseldorf, Germany — The cloud can help recyclers provide better resins to their customers.

That's part of the message at Dynisco LLC, which highlighted its new Industry 4.0 platform, known as the Dynisco Cloud Connect, at K 2019 in Düsseldorf.

With the technology, Microsoft Azure aggregates all of a customer's devices data into one place that is secure, reliable, easy to share and is always accessible.

While all types of extruders can use the technology, President John Biagioni said it is particularly well suited for recyclers.

Here's why: With the push for a more circular economy, brand owners are now demanding more recycled content in packaging and other products. That means molders and other processors that are more familiar with using virgin resin will be using more recycled pellets.

But the properties of recycled plastics can vary a lot. Recyclers can minimize the variation by tracking all of the rheological and sensing data and also provide their customers with a full lot history of online measurements for the material.

"We see the requirements for post-consumer resin is going through the roof. People are freaking out about it," Biagioni said.

"At this show, we've seen an enormous number of opportunities. People are coming to us and saying, 'I have a problem.' Our job is to fix their particular problem," Biagioni said.

Dynisco can talk to customers about how understanding and validating what happens to the rheological properties of their material can help and predict how the cost of the device can rapidly pay for itself.

Franklin, Mass.-based Dynisco is known for its diverse portfolio of sensing and polymer test equipment. Its sensors and machines measure rheology, pressure and temperature to give extruders a window into their process.

With Industry 4.0 technology, Biagioni said the company now is more than a sensor provider.

"We're really an information company," he said.

With Dynisco Cloud connect, recyclers can give customers a certificate of analysis with key criteria, like the intrinsic viscosity of PET.

Also at K, the company launched its LMI5500 series melt flow indexer. It is designed with an easy-to-clean removable inspection plate, increased access for sample cutting and a revamped intuitive touchscreen.

Bill Desrosiers, vice president of business development, said Dynisco has been working to make controls on its equipment easy to use, even as they provide operators with more data. That's necessary because many Dynisco customers are dealing with an aging workforce and more employee turnover.

"We have to get to the touch-and-click type interface," instead of expecting customers to learn to use different controls on every machine, Biagioni said.