Masterbatches cut purge time in plastic processing.

Press Release Summary:



SmartColor(TM) Masterbatches limit color build-up in plastic extrusion and molding equipment. Unlike conventional purging agents, which remove color contamination after it occurs, SmartColor Masterbatches retard formation of such contamination. They are also less likely than traditional masterbatches to create residues that break off and contaminate parts after color change.



Original Press Release:



New Color Masterbatch Line from Ampacet Cuts Purge Time in Plastic Processing up to 60%



SmartColor(TM) Masterbatches Limit Color Build-up to Reduce Downtime, Scrap Generation, Purge Media Use

Tarrytown, NY, October 4, 2005 - In the spirit of the saying 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure', Ampacet has introduced SmartColor(TM) Masterbatches, a masterbatch line that limits color build-up in plastic extrusion and molding equipment. The decreased build-up shortens the purge time needed in switching colors as much as 60 percent, which can help processors reduce a major source of lost productivity.

Unlike conventional purging agents, which remove color contamination after it occurs, SmartColor Masterbatches retard the formation of such contamination. Ampacet created this line by evaluating a wide range of raw materials to find those less likely to cause color deposits. In addition to improving operations by shortening purge time, SmartColor Masterbatches also cut the amount of resin needed in purging by up to 50 percent which leads to significantly less scrap generation.

"Our customers have repeatedly asked for help to shorten the color change-overs that waste valuable machine time, labor and resin," says Doug Brownfield, Strategic Business Manager. "SmartColor responds to this need. It is based on a three-year research program that identified which raw materials cause relatively low pigment deposition in extruders and molding machines.

"As a result, SmartColor purge-friendly masterbatches are much less likely than those in traditional masterbatches to create residues that break off and contaminate parts after a color change. With SmartColor, processors can expect shorter color changes, less need to dismantle and clean machines, less scrap to deal with, and fewer color quality issues."

Ampacet has put an audit process in place to help companies adopt SmartColor formulations. "Any company that spends hours purging one color in changing to another would do well to let us audit their process to see which SmartColor Masterbatch formulation works best for their operation," says Brownfield.

The SmartColor line has broadened how Ampacet characterizes its pigments. In addition to noting hue, strength and dispersion, as it normally did before, the company now includes purge performance and stain resistance. This added information influences how it formulates color masterbatches for many processes, including those for blown, cast and extruded films, injection molding products, extruded profile and sheet, extruded coatings, and blow molded packaging.

Less Purging. SmartColor(TM) Masterbatches use proprietary formulations that are less likely to stain screws and other machine surfaces. As a result, they reduce purge time significantly when colors are changed in a broad range of processing equipment.

About Ampacet
Ampacet Corporation is the world's largest volume global masterbatch supplier and offers the broadest range of custom color, special effect, black, white, and specialty additive masterbatches for extrusion, molding, and a multitude of other processes and applications. Founded in 1937, it now employs more than 1,400 people and has revenues exceeding $625 million. Headquartered in Tarrytown, N.Y., Ampacet Corporation operates technical and color development centers and manufacturing sites throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe.

For more information on SmartColors Masterbatches and the audit process Ampacet is offering to enable the use of SmartColor formulations, contact: Doug Brownfield, Ampacet Corporation, 660 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, NY 10591. Tel: (513) 247-5412. E-mail: dbrownfield@ampacet.com. Or visit: www.ampacet.com.

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