When you start using a new purging compound, you often follow your vendor’s instructions perfectly. But over time, you begin to see changes in your purging process. Maybe you’re not getting the same results, or you start noticing contamination during production runs, or Purchasing asks why your orders of purging compound are getting larger or more frequest.Plastics processing companies are under constant pressure to streamline operations, increase efficiency and cut costs. Sometimes, this leads to shortcuts or changes to your original purging procedures.
If you’re not seeing the results you expect from your purging compound, it’s important to understand why. Often, it comes down to working with your vendor and improving procedures.
Here are three tips for improving key variables of your purging process:
1. Work With Your Sales Representative
There’s no one-size-fits-all purging compound, which is why it’s so important to speak with your technical sales representative about the resins, processes and operating temperatures for your applications.
Using the proper type and grade of purging compound on a consistent basis minimizes the frequency you need to perform screw pulls, ensuring complete purges and eliminating contamination buildup.
Choosing the wrong product type or grade may have detrimental effects on your purging process and may not provide the results you want. Each purging compound is designed to be used in a specific manner to optimize the results.
Always work with your supplier when choosing a purging compound, and be sure to get specific purging procedures in advance.
2. Follow The Purging Procedures Your Supplier Provides
Although this sounds basic, variations are common based on the product you’re using. To help avoid errors and get the most value from your purging compound, your supplier should provide detailed instructions for each application as well as certain machine parameters for different scenarios.
It’s important to make sure all molding technicians are trained according to the procedures your technical sales representative provides. This is especially important when there’s high employee turnover, as information doesn’t always get passed down to new employees.
As a general rule, provide a refresher course on proper procedures at least once a year. Also, make your purging procedures part of the plant standard operating conditions (SOC), and keep a copy of the procedures at each line in your facility.
3. Document The Purging Process
Each purging compound application is unique, with different types of purging compounds calling for different procedures and amounts of material required.
Make sure to document the purging process for each specific job, such as a color change. Keep track of information such as the grade, the amount of purge required to complete the job and temperature.
Operator positions tend to have high turnover, which is one of the reasons it’s so important to document your purging process. Keeping track of this information will help you train new operators and re-train existing ones. This helps ensure all of your operators are following the same purging procedures.
Learn more about improving your purging process with proper procedures.
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