In association with Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering, Inc.
www.rauwendaal.com and resin supply from Westlake www.westlake.com
This 3-day program provides a broad overview of blown film extrusion, including materials, hardware, and processing methods. The DRJ Blown Film Lab is a versatile training and R&D environment, which houses a 3-layer and mono-layer blown film line used for hands-on workshops during the seminar, accompanied by a variety of state-of-the-art quality assurance equipment. Upon completion, attendees will be able to:
- Describe how all parts of an extrusion line interact with plastic material
- Identify various polymer materials used to produce blown film and discuss film properties
- Discuss in detail the hardware specific to blown film processing
- Describe how bubble geometry creates the molecular structure that influences film properties
- Troubleshoot both extruder and film problems
Hands-on Workshops
Each blown film training workshop is done from these four perspectives: Resin Handling, Machine Startup/Running, Web Handling and QC Film Testing. Each day increases the operational task difficulty for a 3-layer machine. Air Ring adjustment and QC testing tasks are part of every workshop.
- Day 1: Blown Film Safety, Machine Orientation, Setup/Operation for a monolayer structure with 2 components
- Day 2: Oscillating Nip Setup and Benefits, Handling Job Transitions, and the “Thinnest Film” Competition
- Day 3: Running and transitioning coex structures including property testing of two structures with swapped core and skin layers
What the attendees will learn:
- Hardware systems on an extruder and the functions that the extruder performs on the plastic material
- Various polymers used to produce blown film, including the rheological and solid state properties of these polymeric materials
- Upstream and downstream hardware specific to blown film extrusion
- Bubble geometry and the process parameters used to create specific bubble shapes
- Control systems, both manual and automated, for maintaining product targets
- Process/structure/property relationships in blown film: how bubble geometry affects molecular structure and film properties
- Basic blown film coextrusion principles
- How to solve both extruder and film problems
Who should attend:
- Operators
- Set-up technicians
- Process engineers
- Quality control personnel
- Floor supervisors
- Plant managers
- Film purchasers
Blown Film Extrusion Seminar March 12-14, 2025
Accompanying Blown Film Extrusion Book
As a companion to this seminar, the book “Blown Film Extrusion” is included for attendees.
From hardware and materials through processing and properties, this book presents a broad coverage of blown film extrusion and ensures a useful balance of theory and practice. This book explains certain effects in the blown film process so readers are better able to troubleshoot and improve their operations.
Blown Film Simulator Software: The Blown Film Extrusion Simulator enhances the learning process. This software was developed to teach blown film extrusion equipment operation and processing principles.
Location
D.R. Joseph, Inc.
921 W. Harris Road
Arlington, TX 76001
Date / Time
March 12-14, 2025
Day 1: 8:00am – 4:30pm CST
Day 2: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Day 3: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Seminars for blown film and maintenance functions are available 1-2 times per year taught by industry specialists. All of our seminars include lunch each day which takes place in our outdoor break area shown below. We also have a challenging professionally built putting green for attendees to use (equipment provided) during lunch.
Accommodations
Conveniently located hotel with shopping dining and entertainment all located within walking distance of the hotel
Hilton Garden Inn, Dallas-Arlington
521 E Interstate 20
Arlington, TX 76018
Meet the instructor
Kirk Cantor, Ph.D.
Professor, Plastics & Polymer Technology
Education
- D., Polymer Science, The Pennsylvania State University
- S., Polymer Science, The Pennsylvania State University
- S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland
Academic Experience
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology, 1990-present
- Penn College Now Instructor, 2005-present
- Over 50 company and industry seminars
