How to produce high quality HDPE applications at a reduced cost

What drying system should you consider, when looking for the most cost effective solution for HDPE granules processing?

Get a brief glimpse on how you can improve quality and reduce the energy consumption in HDPE desiccant drying by an astonishing 89%.

Drying is vital for a good quality result
Because correct drying is vital for a good quality result. In fact, insufficient drying is the most common source of failure for the finished product. A fact often overlooked, because HDPE granules have a low moisture absorption, below 0,01 % for the base polymer, but he devil lies in the surface moisture that arises out of variations in temperature and from air humidity. Typically between transport, storage and processing.

Over and above the problems relating to using wet granules, a high moisture content will also be detrimental to the manufacturing process. Causing inconsistencies in processing and melt temperature, with subsequent variations in the surface integrity of the finished item.

The importance of drying of HDPE granules have been ignored
Traditionally, the importance of drying of HDPE granules have been ignored. Because the magnitude of failures from this faulty drying, has only recently become evident to plastic granule manufactures. Normally, the moisture content is within boundaries (200 pm) at the time of dispatch from the factory. However, moisture is then subsequently absorbed, or resting on the surface, due to condensation or rise in air humidity.
Moreover, from a competitive standpoint, the added cost of using desiccant drying to achieve an acceptable moisture content has been prohibitive to some finished item manufactures. But the awareness of the detrimental effects from high moisture levels – and the latest innovation in energy efficient drying methods, has made drying a no-brainer.

The latest proven innovation in the field of energy efficient desiccant drying of HDPE is found in the 2015 patented Labotek Efficient Air Cooling (EAC) System. With the Labotek EAC System, you can achieve energy savings of up to an astonishing 89%.

Such incredible efficiency improvements are achieved by recycling heated air, from a heat exchange process, that absorbs excess heat from inside of the pipe as well as the melt inside the extrusion die, during the extrusion process.

The result is a finished product that only uses 11% of the energy normally consumed for such a high quality product, free from the failure and degradation normally associated to HDPE granule moisture content.