Film Extrusion Committee News
- Published: December 01, 2000, By David J. Bentley Jr., the PLACE Editor
Audrey Myers of Black Clawson Converting Machinery, vice chairperson of the Film Extrusion Committee, reports that "the group is busy with four goals. We are working on the technical program for the next Polymers, Laminations and Coatings Conference, our annual Film Extrusion Short Course in Dallas in February, publication of a revised Film Extrusion Manual, and maintaining member interest and involvement." Helping Myers with these projects are Chairperson Bill Hellmuth of Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering, Secretary George Panagopoulos of ExxonMobil, Technical Chairperson David Timm of Charter Films, and newly appointed Assistant Technical Chairperson Loren Harris from Tredegar Films.
These officers and the committee members thank the previous committee chairperson, Jeff Wooster, of Dow Chemical. During his term, he showed dedication and commitment to the success of the committee and its goals.
At the 2000 Polymers, Laminations and Coatings Conference, the Film Extrusion Committee sponsored ten technical sessions: "Extrusion Primer Plus"; "Extrusion Troubleshooting"; "Polypropylene"; "Extrusion Beyond the Die"; "New Materials and Applications"; "SPE Exchange"; Additives Primer"; "Advanced Additives"; "Film Processing: Dies, Screws, and More"; and "A Technical Potpourri."
This wide-ranging list of subjects was undoubtedly instrumental in attracting a record number of newcomers. The Film Extrusion Committee is soliciting constructive comments on their sessions to improve their future technical sessions. Anyone wishing to submit a paper should contact a member of the committee or TAPPI.
William H. Bode of Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering Co. is developing the Film Extrusion Short Course. Tom Butler of Dow Chemical is coordinating the work of many industry leaders on the publication of the revised Film Extrusion Manual. Publication should occur soon. This is the first update since the 1992 version.
Best Paper and Session Awards
The winners of the Best Paper Award for the 2000 Polymers, Laminations and Coatings Conference were Edward L. Cussler and Chungfang Yang of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science of the University of Minnesota. The title of the paper was Reactive Barrier Films. An expanded summary of this paper appeared in the September issue of "the PLACE."
Honorable Mention Awards went to David R. Roisum of Finishing Technologies, Inc. for his paper on Creative Problem Solving and Thomas I. Butler of Dow Plastics for a presentation on Gel Troubleshooting. An expanded summary of Roisum's paper appears in this issue of "the PLACE."
Amy B. Hitchcock of Eastman Chemical Co. won the Best Session Award for the 2000 Polymers, Laminations and Coatings Conference for her session entitled "New Materials and Applications," sponsored by the Film Extrusion Committee. The Honorable Mention for Best Session went to William N. Hellmuth of Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering Co. for the session also sponsored by the Film Extrusion Committee on "Extrusion Troubleshooting."
A new award initiated this year with a cash prize endowed by Davis-Standard Corp. to honor the memory of Dragon Djordjevic went to Barry A. Morris of DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers and Naozumi Suzuki of DuPont Mitsui Polychemicals Co. Their paper The Case Against Oxidation as the Primary Factor for Bonding Acid Copolymers to Foil appears as an expanded summary in this issue of "the PLACE."
In a related development, the Hot Melt Committee has announced that the winner of the Best Paper Award for its 2000 Hot Melt Symposium is Robert D. Mitchell of Austin Marketing Resources. Mitchell's paper on Smart Tackifier Selection: Key Considerations Beyond Performance appeared as an expanded summary in the September issue of "the PLACE."
