--- title: "Simplifying PCR Processing: Overcoming Key Challenges Easily" description: Can better purging support lean manufacturing? Discover how optimized purging cuts scrap, boosts uptime, and increases profits in plastics processing. image: https://www.asaclean.com/hubfs/PCR%20Blog%20Header.jpg --- [ Order Online ](https://asaclean.my.site.com/b2bstore) [ Free Sample ](https://offers.asaclean.com/free-sample) ## [ Asaclean Blog ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog) Browse by Topic " aerospace asaclean asaclean news Asaclean® benefits asahi kasei automotive Best Practices black specks blisters blow molding blown-film extrusion buyers caps and closures carbon contamination cast-film extrusion Chemical Purging Compounds clear applications Color Changeovers Company News compounding consumer products contamination Cost savings custom molders Customer Success Story decreasing scrap defects electronics Energy Efficiency EX Grade extruder cleaning Extrusion fillament glass filled Glitter Grade Selection HDPE High and Low Temp Changeovers hold a bubble Hot Runners Injection Molding Injection Molding Tips LDPE Lightweight automotive components LLDPE low residue maintenance Material Changeovers Mechanical Purging Compounds medical Melt Flow Index NPE 24 nylons on the fly packaging PCR PEEK Polypropylene Post Consumer Resins preventative preventative purging processing tips profile extrusion Purge Program purge programs Purge Training Purge Trial purging purging compounds purging concentrates purging procedures Purging Tips quality recycled resins residue issues scrap reduction Screw Pulls sheet extrusion shutdown and sealing start-up super engineering resins Sustainability Tech Day technical support training trials Troubleshooting Twin Screw twin screw extrusion two step purging U Grade ULTEM venting Viscosity webinars wire extrusion - 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[Twin Screw](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/twin-screw) - [twin screw extrusion](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/twin-screw-extrusion) - [two step purging](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/two-step-purging) - [U Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/u-grade) - [ULTEM](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/ultem) - [venting](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/venting) - [Viscosity](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/viscosity) - [webinars](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/webinars) - [wire extrusion](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/topic/wire-extrusion) [ Subscribe ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/navigating-the-challenges-of-processing-pcr-how-asaclean-simplifies-the-process#subscribe-modal) ### Suscribirse Chemical Purging Compounds / 3 min read / September 06, 2023 # Simplifying PCR Processing: Overcoming Key Challenges Easily - [Facebook Share ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asaclean.com%2Fblog%2Fnavigating-the-challenges-of-processing-pcr-how-asaclean-simplifies-the-process) - 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Though it offers an environmentally conscious alternative, PCR has its own challenges. Enter Asaclean. This article delves into the unique hurdles PCR poses and illuminates how Asaclean facilitates a smoother processing journey. ##### **Decoding PCR** Post-consumer resin (PCR) is the plastic waste consumers generate. Once these plastics serve their initial purpose (like water bottles or packaging), they are collected, recycled, and reprocessed into new products. While PCR is an eco-friendly approach, it has its complications. ##### Challenges with PCR 1. **Variability in Quality:** Unlike PIR, which originates directly from manufacturing processes and boasts consistency, companies source PCR from various post-consumer products. Multiple scrap streams can lead to inconsistency in the resin's quality. 2. **Contamination Concerns:** PCR often encounters contaminants, such as food residues or non-plastic materials. These can negatively influence the mechanical properties of the recycled resin and pose challenges during processing. 3. **Degradation:** PCR undergoes processing several times, leading to potential degradation of the material. Over time, this can reduce the resin's strength and performance capabilities. 4. **Complex Processing Needs:** Owing to its varied nature and potential contaminants, PCR demands sophisticated sorting and processing techniques. This sorting process can complicate the manufacturing process and lead to increased costs. ##### Asaclean’s Solutions for PCR Processing 1. **Effective Contaminant Removal:** One of Asaclean's standout benefits is its ability to purge contaminants. Given the inherent contamination concerns with PCR, Asaclean ensures that processing machinery remains uncontaminated, leading to a higher-quality end product. 2. **Minimized Degradation:** Asaclean reduces the time and heat exposure required for [changeovers](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/color-changeovers), meaning PCR undergoes less degradation during processing. This preserves the resin's integrity and ensures a more consistent product. 3. **Reduced Equipment Wear and Tear:** PCR, with its potential contaminants, can be harsh on processing machinery. Asaclean cleans the machinery and provides a protective layer, reducing wear and tear and ensuring equipment longevity. 4. **Economic Efficiency:** With Asaclean ensuring smoother processing of PCR, there are fewer shutdowns, reduced maintenance requirements, and lower scrap rates. All these factors culminate in significant economic savings. ##### Conclusion While Post-Consumer Resin (PCR) is a cornerstone of the sustainability movement within the plastics industry, it undeniably brings its own set of challenges to the table. Fortunately, with tools like Asaclean, processors can navigate these challenges more easily, ensuring that PCR remains an environmentally sound and economically viable choice. Ready to reduce your production downtime to protect your profits? [Request a Free Sample of Asaclean today.](https://offers.asaclean.com/free-sample) ![Tom Hanvey](https://www.asaclean.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tom%20Headshot.jpg?width=150&name=Tom%20Headshot.jpg) #### [ Tom Hanvey ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/author/tom-hanvey) Tom Hanvey is the Associate Director of Marketing & Sustainability at Asahi Kasei 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. - [Share On LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashanvey/) ## Related Posts [![Asaclean UF2 Blown Film Use-1.jpg](https://www.asaclean.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asaclean%20UF2%20Blown%20Film%20Use-1.jpg?width=450&height=250&name=Asaclean%20UF2%20Blown%20Film%20Use-1.jpg) 3 Benefits of Purging on the Fly in Film Extrusion Troubleshooting / 2 min read / August 02, 2017 ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/3-benefits-of-purging-on-the-fly-in-film-extrusion) [![3​ Essential Tips For Improving Key Variables In Your Purging Process](https://www.asaclean.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/This%20image%20depicts%20someone%20making%20checkmarks%20on%20a%20checklist-4.jpeg?width=450&height=250&name=This%20image%20depicts%20someone%20making%20checkmarks%20on%20a%20checklist-4.jpeg) 3​ Essential Tips For Improving Key Variables In Your Purging Process Troubleshooting / 3 min read / December 06, 2016 ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/3-essential-tips-for-improving-key-variables-in-your-purging-process) ## Comments Get Started ## Ready to start improving your efficiency and increasing your profitability? - [Request a Consultation](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/navigating-the-challenges-of-processing-pcr-how-asaclean-simplifies-the-process#) - [Contact Sales](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/navigating-the-challenges-of-processing-pcr-how-asaclean-simplifies-the-process#) ![](https://www.asaclean.com/hubfs/assets/images/icons/icon-layers.svg) #### Free Sample Request a free sample of Asaclean® Purging Compounds for your plant and start saving today. 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[See your savings](https://www.asaclean.com/cost-savings-calculator) [ Back to Top ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/navigating-the-challenges-of-processing-pcr-how-asaclean-simplifies-the-process#top) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tom Hanvey", "url" : "https://www.asaclean.com/blog/author/tom-hanvey" }, "dateModified" : "2025-05-06T15:34:45.361Z", "datePublished" : "2023-09-06T17:56:00.000Z", "headline" : "Simplifying PCR Processing: Overcoming Key Challenges Easily", "image" : [ "https://www.asaclean.com/hubfs/PCR%20Blog%20Header.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.asaclean.com/blog/navigating-the-challenges-of-processing-pcr-how-asaclean-simplifies-the-process", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.asaclean.com/hubfs/Asaclean%20Logo%20TM.jpg" }, "name" : "Asahi Kasei Plastics North America" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Article", "articleBody" : "Getting Started The drive towards a circular economy has brought Post-Consumer Resin (PCR) to the forefront of the plastics industry. Though it offers an environmentally conscious alternative, PCR has its own challenges. Enter Asaclean. This article delves into the unique hurdles PCR poses and illuminates how Asaclean facilitates a smoother processing journey. Decoding PCR Post-consumer resin (PCR) is the plastic waste consumers generate. Once these plastics serve their initial purpose (like water bottles or packaging), they are collected, recycled, and reprocessed into new products. While PCR is an eco-friendly approach, it has its complications.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tom Hanvey" }, "datePublished" : "September 06, 2023", "headline" : "Simplifying PCR Processing: Overcoming Key Challenges Easily", "image" : "https://468726.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/468726/PCR%20Blog%20Header.jpg", "name" : "Simplifying PCR Processing: Overcoming Key Challenges Easily", "url" : "https://www.asaclean.com/blog/navigating-the-challenges-of-processing-pcr-how-asaclean-simplifies-the-process" } ```