Welcome and thank you for visiting our site.

We invite you to explore our innovative Turbo-Screws® technology products for extruded thermoplastic polymers, including the latest bio-resins like polylactic acid (PLA).

Turbo-Screws® technology is the lowest shear, highest output foam feed screw technology in the world. Turbo-Screws® technology is unequaled in performance and value today.

Jim Fogarty, a true foam industry pioneer, has devoted the vast majority of his working life to foamed polymers.

 , the world's largest bio-polymer manufacturer, and Turbo-Screws® technology, came together in January of 2005 to foam NatureWorks' bio-polymers.

As a result, Turbo-Screws® technology leads the world in foamed bio-polymers.

Once again, we have to thank Bioplastics Magazine for the article in the January 2011 issue. Click on the picture below to read the article:

We are very proud to have our Turbo-Screws® technology featured in the January 2009 issue of Bioplastics Magazine. Click on the picture below to read the article:

 We are also pleased to have been featured in the "Innovation & Optimization" section of the February 2008 issue of the February 2009 issue of Modern Plastics. Click on the picture below to read it:

We are also very proud to have our Turbo-Screws® technology featured in the Product Watch section of the February 2008 issue of Modern Plastics. Click on the picture below to read it:

    Click here for our PLA Foam Extrusion  Brochure in PDF format.

     Key Milestones

• 1962 - Jim Fogarty makes polystyrene foam on the world's first commercial tandem extrusion system

• 1968 - Plastic Engineering Associates, Inc., our sister company, is incorporated. Visit:

• 1998 - Plastic Engineering Associates Licensing, Inc. is incorporated to license Jim Fogarty's invention, Turbo-Screws® Technology Foam Feed Screws.

• 2000 - Jim Fogarty is granted the first of seven U.S. Patents on his extraordinary Turbo-Screws®  and many foreign patents follow, including Russia, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, England, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and many more.

• 2002 - Jim Fogarty celebrates 40 years of work in the foam extrusion industry.

• 2005 - Jim's Turbo-Screws® technology screws are called on by NatureWorks LLC scientists to foam polylactic acid polymers (PLA)and Turbo-Screws® technology delivers and successfully foams NatureWorks Bio-polymers.

• 2006 - Jim Fogarty develops the latest generation of Turbo-Screws® technology screws to run high viscosity polymers. The first Turbo-Screws® technology license for PLA foam food packaging applications is signed.

• 2006 - Plastic Engineering Associates Licensing, Inc. becomes a preferred equipment manufacturer of NatureWorks LLC.

• 2007 - The second Turbo-Screws® technology license for PLA foam food packaging applications is signed.

• 2008 - Both Turbo-Screws®  PLA foam licensees commercialize the PLA foam process and introduce PLA foam containers into the North American markets.

• 2008 - November. The third Turbo-Screws® technology license for PLA foam food packaging applications is signed.

• 2009 - January ~ December. PLA foam production output increases significantly, up 40%, then up another 40% again. The world's first PLA foam die is designed & introduced to the foam industry. Brazilian patent approval obtained.

• 2010 - August. Plastic Engineering Associates Licensing, Inc. announces it has made the world's first extruded PLA foam sheet for processor grade poultry trays.

• 2011 - January. The world's first deep draw 10K PLA foam tray is made

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide the polymeric foam extrusion industry with a better and faster method to increase extrusion throughput, reduce power and water costs, and increase the quality of end product, all in a cost-effective manner.