new sem

Starting in the summer of 2007, I'll be living in California most of the time, and will not present public extrusion seminars in various cities as I have done in the past. Instead, I will be doing --

1. E-training sessions, 1 to 2 hours in length, on individual extrusion topics. I've already done several of these, one on screens and screening, another on general troubleshooting, and two entitled Get the Numbers, Parts I and II, on the importance of measuring, recording and analyzing material and process data. All these have been sponsored by SpecialChem/Omnexus, an international e-portal based in Paris.

There will be more of these later in the year, to be announced on the SpecialChem newsletters and on emails sent both by SpecialChem and myself.

Recordings of all sessions are also available from SpecialChem.

2. Private sessions at factory locations, based on the outline below, but adapted to individual needs and interests. Charges for such a session are $2500 for the first day and $1500 for each additional day, plus expenses, plus travel time at $75/hour, no matter how many people attend. Some sessions are focused on training of operators and technicians, others include trouble-shooting and consulting, and hours can be adapted to fit production needs. In the future, it may be possible to do this by teleconference or videoconference, but the best training is still by direct encounter, plus my direct observation of the equipment and products.

3. My full-length seminar as described in the outline below may be offered from time to time in the future, such as at NPE shows or in warm places in the winter, in 1-day or 2-day form.

This is an outline of the practical extrusion seminar that I have presented since 1979, attended by over 4,000 people since then. It is an intensive introduction for people in the extrusion business.

Part I -- Introduction
We first discuss the ten key principles of extrusion, then get some basics in plastics chemistry (plastics are polymers with additives).

Part II -- Hardware
Motors, drive systems, speed reduction, screw and barrel, the head zone, instrumentation (the vital signs) and other hardware such as screens and screeners, static mixers and gear pumps.

Part III -- Principles
Limits to output rate, how to estimate both inpush and output, and what happens in the various zones of the extruder. Simple practical rheology: melt index, IV and K-values, torque rheometry and shear rate, and why these things are important.

Part IV -- Operation and Troubleshooting
Setting conditions, how controllers work, start-up and shutdown, safety and maintenance. Common problems in extrusion, with suggested solutions and ways to prevent them from happening at all. Participants may bring samples and we stay as long as needed to discuss them.