Producer of high-performance custom compounds for anti-static, flame retardant, ESD, structural, wear resistant and TPE materials for a wide variety of applications. Challenge they brought to ENTEK: producing TPE materials for automotive applications.
Their issue: combining very dissimilar materials with different melt flows along with high loadings of oil, and getting a thoroughly compounded product at acceptable run rates.
Situation
O’Neil execs performed an on-site trial at ENTEK and the machine performed beyond expectations. Bonus for O’Neil: ENTEK machines are made in the USA.
Approach
Install and start-up of ENTEK 53mm twin-screw extruder at Jasper, TN plant, featuring a long L/D and intensive mixing screw design.
Outcome
High output: The machine is successfully producing high volumes of both color concentrates and TPE’s. “The ENTEK machine is very effective because it compounds well at run rates that we would expect to see in a much larger line,” said Bob Anthony, O’Neil plant manager.
“From the initial trial to installation and start-up, we have run problem-free,” said Anthony.
O’Neil notes easy-to-use touchscreen PLC, ease of operation, and excellent size vs. rate performance as their key benefits.