3 Considerations for Purchasing the Best Purging Compound

There are 3 uncomplicated, yet essential, aspects to contemplate and consider, before selecting and purchasing the best purging compound(s) to use in your process (or processes):

1. Have a basic understanding of what you need help with and what you’re trying to achieve before you even begin trying to decide on a purging compound to use. Generally, your need will fall within one or more of these main categories:   1.) color/material changeovers, 2.) shutdown/sealing, and 3.) carbon contamination/screw pulls. Knowing what category your need(s) fall under should help drive you to the most suitable purge product to get the job done.
   
2. You can’t afford to exclusively focus on the lowest priced purge product. Way too often, we see personnel at plastic manufacturing plants choosing a purge compound solely based on the price-per-pound of the product. They have good intentions but misguided desires to simply get the cheapest thing out there in the market. Most of us know the saying, “You get what you pay for.” Not all purge compounds are created equal.
   While economics always plays an important role in the decision making process, price-per-pound is not the main factor to consider. Instead of the “cheapest purge product,” you may want to consider taking more of a holistic approach and measure all the costs associated with purging such as downtime and scrap rates. The term that’s widely-used in the purging arena is, “Cost-Per-Purge." As the US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
3. Teaming up with a reputable Commercial Purge Compound (CPC) supplier is critical. I think this is an obvious tip but it is often overlooked. CPC suppliers have extensive product lines and may offer products that may seem to overlap each other. Each Purge Compound is designed for specific processes, processing temperatures, and resins. The best thing to do is consult with a Purging Expert to discuss what your purge needs are, what your goals are, and let them provide insight on what specific procedures to use for the best chance of success. Ultimately, they will help decide and choose what makes the most sense for you and your company.

All 3 of aforementioned factors are great ways to make sure your company’s overall needs are met. Should you like to learn more or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at bmoore@asaclean.com.