ENTEK TO INTRODUCE NEW SOLUTIONS FOR TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDERS FOR BIOPOLYMER COMPOUNDING APPLICATIONS AT NPE 2009
Lebanon, OR (June 22, 2009) . . . ENTEK Manufacturing Inc, the leading U.S. based manufacturer of twin-screw extruders and replacement wear parts, will introduce customized twin-screw extruders specifically designed for bio-based compounding applications at NPE 2009.

On display at the company’s booth (#71063, McCormick Place North) will be a specially outfitted E-MAX™ 27mm twin-screw extruder designed for processing bio-based blends. It includes two dry feeders and a liquid feeder for processing a combination of thermoplastics and a bioresin or starch material.

New Machine Configurations Based on Experience

The use of ENTEK twin-screw extruders for biopolymer processing is not new; in fact, the company’s machinery is currently being used by several processors worldwide in commercially successful bio-based applications. However, because of the ever-increasing number of biopolymer materials, additives and fillers being used in the industry, ENTEK has developed new machine configurations specifically designed for compounding materials in the following three areas:

-Reactive bio-based materials (starch-based materials and plasticizers)
-Bioresin materials (PLA, PHA, PSM, etc.)
-Bio-based blends (Bioresins or Starches blended with Thermoplastics)

“Our development lab has seen a real spike in the number of bio-based material and product trials,” said John Effmann, ENTEK Director of Sales and Marketing. “The experience we’ve gained from these trials, as well as our in-field bio experience, has helped us understand what’s needed to successfully compound the many types of bio-based materials on the market.”

ENTEK NPE 2009 Press Release – Twin-Screw Extruders for Biopolymers

The result is ENTEK E-MAX™ twin-screw extruders designed and outfitted with the proper auxiliaries and options for processing these materials. These include:

-feeders (both dry and liquid)
-vent combinations (atmospheric and vacuum)
-dies (strand, pellet and sheet)
-screw options

-downstream equipment to match end use needs

ENTEK 27mm, 40mm, and 53mm twin-screw extruders are the most popular models for bio-based applications, but larger models such as the 73mm and 103mm machines are also in use for commercial applications. “Typically a customer will use our in-house development lab for material trials, then start with a 27mm or 40mm machine,” said Effmann. “Once the bio-based compound makes it to market, the customer ramps up for production by purchasing our larger machines,” he said.

ENTEK Lab Trials for Bio-Based Materials

ENTEK was an early participant in biopolymer processing. Back in 2004, Australian customer Plantic, a pioneer in biopolymer compounding, successfully processed their patented packaging products on ENTEK machinery before the term ‘biopolymers’ was common in the industry. The first Plantic products got their start in the ENTEK lab in Lebanon, Oregon, and the two companies continue a strong business relationship today.

While still a young industry, today biopolymers are a fast-growing field. In 2008, bio-based material trials made up 36% of all trials run in ENTEK’s in-house development lab.

Several new players have emerged in the industry in this area, and ENTEK is working with many of them. New materials of all types are arriving at the company weekly, and ENTEK welcomes the opportunity to lend its lab and processing expertise for the next breakthrough biopolymer application.

About ENTEK

ENTEK Extruders are produced by ENTEK Manufacturing, Inc. Headquartered in Lebanon, Oregon, USA, ENTEK is a customer focused manufacturer of turnkey production systems, twin-screw extruders, and components. The company is a leader in the extrusion of natural fiber-plastic composites (wood decking), pelletizing, custom compounding (mixing of colorants, fillers, etc), specialty sheet lines, and other markets including food and medical applications. In addition to producing state-of-the-art twin screw extruders, ENTEK’s highly-trained engineering department helps companies optimize production, and ENTEK’s turnkey expertise helps customers establish complete plant-wide operations, often from the ground up.