4-Part Workshop: Troubleshooting Single-Screw Extruders

Artificial Intelligence for Polymer Development and Processing

Workshop

Troubleshooting Single-Screw Extruders

Online

Dates All workshop days are from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT.	March 25, 2024
	March 27, 2024
	April 1, 2024
	April 3, 2024

Registration Information

SPE Premium Members	$360
SPE Members	$400
Nonmembers	$600

Number of seats are limited to 25!
Reserve your spot today!

Summary

The workshop addresses the most common root causes for high discharge temperatures, rate limitations, flow surging, resin degradation, color mixing problems, and melting limitations to name just a few. Once the root causes are identified, technical solutions will be provided. All troubleshooting problems will be described using actual field case studies and the remedies used to eliminate the problem.

Why Should You Attend?

Process engineers responsible for designing and optimizing extrusion processes who want to enhance troubleshooting skills. Professionals responsible for the maintenance and repair of single-screw extruders seeking in-depth knowledge to diagnose and fix problems efficiently. Production managers overseeing extrusion operations who want to improve overall efficiency and reduce downtime by addressing issues promptly. Professionals responsible for ensuring the quality of extruded products, as troubleshooting skills are essential for maintaining product quality. Those working in the broader plastics industry who want to deepen their understanding of extrusion processes and troubleshooting techniques.

Instructor

Mark Spalding
Fellow
Dow

About the Instructor

Mark A. Spalding is a Fellow in PE Product Research and Development in Midland, MI. He joined Dow in 1985 after completing a BS from The University of Toledo and a MS and Ph.D. from Purdue University, all in Chemical Engineering. He has performed fundamental research in single-screw extrusion, developed methods to measure resin physical properties that are important to polymer processing, developed numerous techniques to troubleshoot and increase the rates of extrusion lines, and has developed new mathematical models for extrusion simulation. He has designed and troubleshot numerous extrusion lines for Dow and for resin customers. Mark led rate increase projects for numerous PE production plants that were rate limited by the finishing section of the plant. He was instrumental in doubling the rates of many foam lines and fiber lines by applying fundamental technologies. Early in his career, he developed diagnostic techniques to determine the root causes of flow surging for many styrenic resins, and then redesigned the process to eliminate the surging. He has developed a screw deign protocol for mitigating gels in PE film lines. Many Dow resin customers have benefitted by using these techniques to optimize their extruders for rate and quality. He has authored 398 CRI reports and 157 outside publications. Mark coauthored the book “Analyzing and Troubleshooting Single-Screw Extruders” with Gregory A. Campbell, and is the editor of the “Handbook of Industrial Polyethylene and Technology.” He is a Fellow and Honored Service Member of SPE, a current member of the Extrusion Division Board of Directors. He was awarded the Bruce Maddock Award in 2006 for his contributions to the industry in single-screw extrusion, and the SPE Research and Engineering Award in 2019. He has won Best Paper awards in the SPE Extrusion and Injection Molding Divisions 10 times.

Questions? Contact:

For questions, contact Iván D. López.

Why Should You Attend?

Practical Knowledge and Skills: Emphasize that the workshop offers hands-on, practical knowledge that participants can immediately apply in their day-to-day work, enhancing their troubleshooting skills for single-screw extruders.

Reduced Downtime and Increased Efficiency: Showcase how attending the workshop can help participants identify and resolve issues faster, leading to reduced downtime and increased production efficiency. This is a key selling point for production managers and engineers.

Cost-Effective Problem-Solving: Position the workshop as a cost-effective solution for companies looking to address common issues in single-screw extrusion. By investing in the workshop, companies and professionals can potentially save on costly downtime and maintenance and reduce customer complaints and returns.

This educational program is provided as a service of SPE. The views and opinions expressed on this or any SPE educational program are those of the Speaker(s) and/or the persons appearing with the Speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. (SPE) or its officials, employees or designees. To comment or to present an opposing or supporting opinion, please contact us at info@4SPE.org.

Refund Policy

Full Refunds, minus a $50 processing fee will be granted until February 25, 2024. No refunds will be granted after February 25, 2024. Registration may be transferred before February 25, 2024. No transfers after February 25, 2024. Please contact customerrelations@4spe.org for assistance in transferring a registration.

SPE may take photographs and audio/video recordings during the event, pre-event meetings and receptions that may include attendees within sessions, networking areas, exhibition areas, and other areas associated with the event both inside and outside of the venue. By registering for this event, all attendees are providing permission for SPE to use this material at its discretion on SPE's websites, marketing materials, and publications. SPE retains ownership of copyright to all photographs and audio/video recording obtained at this event and attendees may request copies of any material in which they are included.

Refund Policy for Events

No discussion among members, volunteers, or staff, which attempts to arrive at any agreement regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume, territories, or customers;
No activity or communication which might be construed as an attempt to prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services or any business entity from obtaining services or a supply of goods;
No activity or communication which might be construed as an agreement to refrain from purchasing or using any materials, equipment, services or supplies of or from any supplier; or
No other activity which violates anti-trust or applicable laws aimed at preventing unfair competition.