There are few things more frustrating than starting a morning shift following a shutdown and dealing with contamination and rejects. Fortunately, with a little thinking ahead, you can avoid these issues almost entirely. Follow these 3 tips and your shift will start up painlessly.
Tip #1: Make Sure You Select the Right Grade for Your Process/Application- We've stressed this in previous blogs, but it is worth repeating. There is no one-size-fits-all purging compound. Your process, be it Injection Molding, Blown/Cast Film, Extrusion Blow Molding, Profile/Tubing Extrusion, etc. needs to be considered before you use a commercial purging compound. Also make sure you never seal with a glass-filled grade.
Tip #2: You Must Follow Your Supplier Instructions or Customized Purge Program-There are different grades specifically engineered for different resins, processes, melt flows, temperature ranges and pain points. Double-check to make sure all shifts are still strictly following the instructions or your start-ups can get messy.
Tip #3: You Must Plug Vents During Your Purge Process Before Shutting Down- For best results, this is a necessity. Remember, Mechanical Purging Compounds depend on the machine's pressure, speed and shear. Chemical Purging Compounds work with heat and containment.
Following these tips will get you well on your way to easier start-ups without scrap or contamination.
Ready to reduce your production downtime to protect your profits? Learn more about how purging compounds and process efficiency work in tandem.