LLDPE Plant Operator Increases Rotary Feed Drum Performance & Reduces Downtime
Component Wear Life in Demanding Environments
Texas, USA
Industry | Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)
- Cleaned and refurbished plugged rotary drum
- Applied “non-stick” surface treatment
- Reduced downtime frequency due to plugging
- Extended wear life from months to years
- Decreased production losses
Business Challenge
A customer’s large LLDPE manufacturing plant was experiencing production losses because the product, poly pellets, was plugging their rotary feeders. Rotary feed drums on the downstream side of pellet extruders are notorious for becoming plugged, which typically causes downtime every 2-3 months. This issue leads to production losses and safety risks, requiring many manhours to resolve.
T.F. Hudgins Solution
First, the rotary drum was sent to our Texas Rotating Equipment (TRE) facility, operated by T.F. Hudgins, where it was cleaned and then refurbished. Next, a proprietary treatment, TOUGH-TECH©, was applied to protect the metal surface from contact- or abrasive-particle-related wear and tear. It does so by developing a thermo-chemical bond into the substrate. This next-generation surface treatment process offers excellent release properties—even at higher temperatures.
Business Impact
The first refurbished rotary drum proved its value within two months of operation, and it has remained in service for 18 months (and counting) without any downtime. This success led to 15 additional drum refurbishment jobs, with 30 more to go, for the same customer.
TOUGH-TECH addresses the LLDPE industry demands for component reliability, minimal downtime, less maintenance, and overall cost-effective operation. It does so with the delivery of these technical advantages:
- Low surface energy
- Withstands high temperatures
- Non-stick surface
- Low coefficient of friction
- USDA & FDA compliant
- Excellent abrasion resistance
- No PFOA or fluoropolymers
Contact your T.F. Hudgins representative to see if TOUGH-TECH is right for your application.