Plastic Engineering Associates touts Turbo-Screw^TM

By Michael Lauzon
PLASTICS NEWS CORRESPONDENT
 
CHICAGO (July 15, 11:40 a.m. EDT) -- Plastic Engineering Associates Licensing Inc. used NPE 2003 to introduce its patented Turbo-Screw^TM cooling screw that dramatically increases throughput in plastic foam extrusion.

Bill Fogarty, vice president of marketing, said the keys to the screw’s performance are cross-flight holes that improve mixing and reduce energy use. Total energy savings amount to 12 percent in some cases, according to Fogarty. Plastic Engineering has focused on foamed polyolefins and polystyrene in long single-screw extruders, tandem machines and twin-screws machines. At NPE, it displayed a 200-millimeter screw for tandem use.

Fogarty said he and two of his brothers co-own the firm. The company has six U.S. patents for Turbo-Screw and 50 foreign patents pending. His father, Jim Fogarty, developed the screw after four decades of experience in plastic foams and turned the technology over to his sons.

Bill Fogarty said his firm has been marketing Turbo-Screw^TM  globally for three years to end users, but Plastic Engineering also will discuss licensing with equipment manufacturers.