Sustainability in Feed Screw Manufacture, Repair, & Rebuilding
Sustainability is a word that we dislike, strongly. Not the word itself or even the idea of sustainability, but the misuse. True sustainability is achieved by several important ideals, perhaps the most important of which are these: manufacturing products in such a way that we minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources.
One of the ways we can achieve sustainability in the plastics, rubber and food industries is by monitoring screw wear in our presses and then rebuilding as needed. Maintaining optimum output, so as to not waste energy, materials, and time. Running a screw until it is worn under to the point that output is reduced by half is not only a waste of energy, it’s a waste of money. By rebuilding a feedscrew before production and quality begins to suffer, companies can benefit from a rebuild program that includes screw inspection and evaluation.
With good manufacturing oversight and practices, true sustainability can be achieved in feedscrew repair, rebuilding, and even in the manufacture of new screws. At Precision Feedscrews, we understand that ideal and do whatever we can in order to reuse, repurpose and recycle our manufacturing & process materials, no matter what it takes.
Best Practices for Sustainability
1: Reducing inputs for production in the first place
Rebuilding existing feed screws reduces inputs for production.
2: Improving the efficiency of facility operations
Using our inspection process, we can quickly determine if a feedscrew is able to be repaired or rebuilt. If rejuvenation is possible, we can quickly move forward with the work. If rejuvenation is not possible, we will determine the screw is scrap and move forward with the customers’ request, either to return it or recycle it.
3: Improving products to reduce impact in use and at the end of life
By carefully rebuilding an existing feedscrew, we can extend the life of the part by many, many years. Typically, a screw will need to be reworked every 2-5 years depending on the material being run. Aggressive additives can often cause significant wear in as little as 6 months, typically in the feed areas. By reinforcing these areas with hard surface encapsulation, we can sometimes double or even triple the life of that area. That causes less down time and creates more efficiency.
Note: The optimum situation is having two screws for each machine. When a screw is evaluated and it is determined that the screw needs repair/rebuilt, the company has a backup screw to install in its place so there is little down time. This also requires good record keeping on the performance and output of the press to help determine the time frame for pulling the screw and giving it a thorough inspection.
Recycling
Precision Feedscrews reuses or recycles anything and everything that we can.
We recycle:
- All cardboard & paper through a local company that employs and supports handicapped adults
- All plastic through a local company
- All of the metal and chips from our manufacturing processes through two local companies
- Our welding powder overspray and grinder sludge
- Magazines, paper, and mail through a local church
- Used oil through a local company that fuels its heating system with used oils
If your extruder or injection screw is damaged beyond repair, we will recycle it at our local metals recycler for scrap or return it to you so that you can recycle it for scrap. There your screw will be melted down and then reenter the manufacturing stream as raw material.
