When you're in the business of compounding, downtime is expensive—and screw pulls are a necessary evil. But what if the most dreaded part of your cleanout could become one of the easiest?
Asaclean® EX Grade is changing the game for compounders. Developed specifically for screw pushes and deep cleaning in extruders, this innovative purge compound delivers cleaner results, faster turnarounds, and safer working conditions—all while boosting your bottom line.
The Twin-Screw Challenge: Why Traditional Cleanouts Fall Short
Whether you’re producing filled masterbatch, color concentrates, or engineering resins, resin buildup, black specks, and degraded material can wreak havoc on quality and efficiency. Twin-screw lines are especially vulnerable to contamination due to dead spots and tight geometries.
When it’s time for a screw pull, maintenance crews are stuck wire-brushing carbonized plastic, scraping barrel walls, and dealing with hazardous hot metal. It’s time-consuming. It’s dangerous. And it costs you money.
Asaclean® EX Grade: The Clean Breakthrough
EX Grade is a mechanical purge compound that scrubs the screw and barrel. Once cooled, it solidifies into a peelable shell—making cleanup after screw pulls faster and dramatically safer.
What Makes EX Grade Different?
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Scrubbing Power That Works Harder
As EX Grade activates, it scrubs, reaching areas regrind or virgin resin can’t touch. -
Peel-Off Cleanliness
Once cooled, EX can be removed in large, clean chunks—no brushing, no scraping. -
Ideal for Preventative Maintenance
Use EX Grade during planned screw pushes to maintain equipment and prevent black specks before they start.
Proven Results in the Field
One Asaclean customer, a custom compounder in the Midwest, saw a 65% reduction in screw pull cleanup time after switching to EX Grade. What used to be a 3-hour ordeal now takes just over an hour—and they no longer need two people on the job.
“EX Grade completely changed how we handle screw pulls. Our team doesn’t dread cleanouts anymore, and we’re back in production faster than ever.”
— Production Supervisor, Color Compounder
Where EX Grade Shines
EX Grade is ideal for:
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Twin-screw extruders running filled or pigmented resins
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Screw pushes during changeovers, contamination removal, or shutdowns
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Facilities seeking to standardize maintenance and reduce manual labor
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Plants that value safety, efficiency, and product quality
It’s also compatible with a wide range of resins, including:
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Polypropylene (PP)
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Polyethylene (PE)
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Polystyrene (PS)
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Polycarbonate (PC)
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ABS, SAN, and many more
Safety That Pays Off
Burns, hand injuries, and rushed late-night screw pulls shouldn’t be part of your standard operating procedure. With EX Grade, your team works smarter and safer, reducing exposure to dangerous cleanup procedures.
When cleanouts become easier, your team is more likely to follow best practices—leading to better equipment health, reduced defects, and higher output.
Final Thoughts: A Must-Have Tool for Compounders
Whether you're blending high-performance polymers or running filled masterbatch at scale, EX Grade delivers real value. It’s more than a purge—it’s a maintenance strategy, a safety solution, and a performance enhancer rolled into one.
If your team is dealing with tough resin transitions or temperature swings, we can support you with a customized purge protocol. Request a free sample or schedule a consultation with one of our purging experts today.
Tom Hanvey is the Associate Director of Marketing & Sustainability at Plastics North America. Before joining APNA, he worked as the Senior Marketing Manager for Asaclean Purging Compounds. He's worked in the plastics industry for over 10 years and focuses on recyclable resins and on the inbound marketing side, providing easy-to-digest content to processors looking for an edge on their competition.
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