--- title: Reduce Your Machine Downtime With These 3 Tips description: Machine downtime is one of the most costly, yet unaddressed issues in plastics processing. Learn these three essential purging tips to maximize your uptime. image: https://www.asaclean.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/this%20image%20depicts%20someone%20filling%20out%20a%20checklist-1.jpeg --- [ 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/reduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips#subscribe-modal) ### Suscribirse Injection Molding / 4 min read / December 13, 2016 # Reduce Your Machine Downtime With These 3 Tips - [Facebook Share ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asaclean.com%2Fblog%2Freduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips) - [Twitter Tweet ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asaclean.com%2Fblog%2Freduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips&text=Reduce+Your+Machine+Downtime+With+These+3+Tips) - [LinkedIn Share ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asaclean.com%2Fblog%2Freduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips&title=Reduce%20Your%20Machine%20Downtime%20With%20These%203%20Tips&summary=Machine+downtime+is+one+of+the+most+costly%2C+yet+unaddressed+issues+in+plastics+processing.+Learn+these+three+essential+purging+tips+to+maximize+your+uptime.&source=) - [Pinterest Pin ](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asaclean.com%2Fblog%2Freduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips) - [Email Email ](mailto:?subject=Reduce%20Your%20Machine%20Downtime%20With%20These%203%20Tips&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asaclean.com%2Fblog%2Freduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips) ![Reduce Your Machine Downtime With These 3 Tips](https://www.asaclean.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/this%20image%20depicts%20someone%20filling%20out%20a%20checklist-1.jpeg?width=640&height=500&name=this%20image%20depicts%20someone%20filling%20out%20a%20checklist-1.jpeg) ![Reduce_Your_Machine_Downtime_With_These_3_Tips.jpg](https://www.asaclean.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Reduce_Your_Machine_Downtime_With_These_3_Tips.jpg?width=350&name=Reduce_Your_Machine_Downtime_With_These_3_Tips.jpg "Reduce_Your_Machine_Downtime_With_These_3_Tips.jpg")When you experience machine downtime at your facility, you are losing more than just production time – you’re also squandering profitability. Insufficient resin color changes may lead to significant production inefficiencies such as wasted, contaminated products and increased scrap rates, and certainly, unnecessarily long downtime between production runs. Operators taking purging shortcuts and “autopurging” may be saving time today, but extended machine downtime tomorrow is far more costly. You know the importance of uptime and its impact on your bottom line. Learn these three fundamental tips to maintain your efficiency and maximize your profitability. ### **1. Make Purging A Periodic, Proactive Task** Periodical purging is your greatest defense against unnecessary downtime. In order to prevent carbon from developing in your barrels and contaminating your products, you must use the right purging compounds and procedures for your machines. Once carbon is developed, it can’t be removed without a screw pull and manual cleaning, which requires much more significant machine downtime than proper purging. There are many variables that go into what purging compound is best, including the resin you use, their processing temperatures and more. Using the most appropriate purging compound is critical to mitigating the risk of color and carbon contamination. Of course, using the right purging compound is of little benefit if you’re not using the right amount, implementing the maximum safe screw speed and backpressure and keeping the screw completely forward while purging, when using a mechanical type purging compound. Make proper purging procedures a priority to cut down on the unnecessary downtime that’s hurting your bottom line. ### **2. Seal Your ****Screw And Barrel**** On A Weekly Basis** With an appropriate grade of heat-stable purging compound, seal your screw and barrel weekly to prevent oxidation from developing. Typically done upon shutting down for the weekend, sealing the screw and barrel ensures that heat-sensitive resin left from your last production is displaced by a purging compound to prevent oxygen from entering the barrel. If your screw and barrel are not sealed properly, this oxygen leads to carbonization (how quickly depends on the resin). Additionally, molders should run another barrel of purge on Monday mornings, before starting a production run. Taking such preventative measures decreases the need for screw pulls and additional machine downtime. ### **3. Use Glass-Filled Grade Purging Compounds** [Using a glass-filled grade purging compound – EX grade](https://asaclean.com/purging-products/ex-grade-purging-compound/), for example – is a much more efficient way to clean thermoplastic injection molding machines and extruders than screw pulls. It requires significantly less downtime, and because of the strength of this grade’s glass-filled composition, it does a tremendous job of scrubbing carbon and color deposits. Unlike a screw pull, which can take anywhere from two to eight hours, running one or two barrel capacities of a glass-filled purging compound may reduce your machine downtime to 20 minutes. By taking a preventative approach to purging – from sealing your screw and barrel to running periodic purges and using the most suitable purging compound – you maximize your uptime, maintain your efficiency and increase profitability. **Learn how to reduce machine downtime with five quick purging compound tips for your injection molding application.** [![](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/468726/interactive-161626752518.png) ](https://www.asaclean.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKOu8fAJrkHlBEoXSN5s4rA4W%2Fpz47hxMZT2h2HvB4lyHfrXTDkp5hMMhct%2FSr%2FEbAvhWQ0ckSi3wMQDpBdKO2bpQ%2BVE1ewbyLHIFtliLjfbSGRyCUtEQkXG1a7dF3dvjUMP4sfwKMFNG6M63LPGh8Vz7B4zirFPZwa9ZStUNafDEUFbdunWdWTNimGqoq9%2FH0C0onCWEU1U1BBKgZccjnTRKEIko2%2FJ3GgacbjWPwiNqqL&webInteractiveContentId=161626752518&portalId=468726) ![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 [![](https://www.asaclean.com/hs-fs/hubfs/3_Easy_Ways_To_Stop_Your_Purging_Compound_From_Leaving_Residue.jpg?width=450&height=250&name=3_Easy_Ways_To_Stop_Your_Purging_Compound_From_Leaving_Residue.jpg) 3 Mistakes Companies Make When Using A Purging Compound Injection... / 4 min read / September 13, 2016 ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/blog-36-3-mistakes-companies-make-when-using-a-purging-compound) [![Why Automotive Molders Need a Purge Program Now More Than Ever](https://www.asaclean.com/hs-fs/hubfs/3%20Tips%20for%20High%20Temp%20Resins%20Blog%20Header.jpg?width=450&height=250&name=3%20Tips%20for%20High%20Temp%20Resins%20Blog%20Header.jpg) Why Automotive Molders Need a Purge Program Now More Than Ever SCRAP REDUCTION / 3 min read / August 22, 2023 ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/why-automotive-molders-need-a-purge-program-now-more-than-ever) ## Comments Get Started ## Ready to start improving your efficiency and increasing your profitability? - [Request a Consultation](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/reduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips#) - [Contact Sales](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/reduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips#) ![](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. [Request your free sample](https://offers.asaclean.com/en/free-sample?hsLang=en) ![](https://www.asaclean.com/hubfs/assets/images/icons/icon-calculator.svg) #### Cost Savings Calculator Use our free calculator to see how much you could be saving with Asaclean® Purging Compounds. [See your savings](https://www.asaclean.com/cost-savings-calculator) [ Back to Top ](https://www.asaclean.com/blog/reduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips#top) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tom Hanvey", "url" : "https://www.asaclean.com/blog/author/tom-hanvey" }, "dateModified" : "2025-07-08T17:47:27.934Z", "datePublished" : "2016-12-13T13:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Reduce Your Machine Downtime With These 3 Tips", "image" : [ "https://www.asaclean.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/this%20image%20depicts%20someone%20filling%20out%20a%20checklist-1.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.asaclean.com/blog/reduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips", "@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" : "When you experience machine downtime at your facility, you are losing more than just production time – you’re also squandering profitability.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tom Hanvey" }, "datePublished" : "December 13, 2016", "headline" : "Reduce Your Machine Downtime With These 3 Tips", "image" : "https://468726.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/468726/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/this%20image%20depicts%20someone%20filling%20out%20a%20checklist-1.jpeg", "name" : "Reduce Your Machine Downtime With These 3 Tips", "url" : "https://www.asaclean.com/blog/reduce-your-machine-downtime-with-these-3-tips" } ```