July 5, 2007

Davis-Standard Extruders Augment UMass Lowell Laboratory Capabilities

Two Davis-Standard, LLC extruders will support educational and R&D laboratory operations at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML). The two
1 1/4-inch (30mm) 24:1 L/D extruders were donated to UML earlier this year by a global leader in the medical device industry upon completion of an R&D project. The extruders were in good condition, but needed upgrades to address UML’s diverse lab requirements. Davis-Standard rebuilt the extruders and improved functionality by installing new discrete electronic controls and drives. The recently upgraded extruders will be used in two different labs. One will be set up as a tubing line for SPC (Statistical Process Control) studies, and the other will be used for theoretical and experimental output studies as well as instruction on the basics of controls, instrumentation, safety and operation. The extruders will also be used for coextrusion applications.

“Davis-Standard has an outstanding reputation as a manufacturer of high quality extrusion equipment,” said Professor Robert Malloy, Chairman of UML’s Department of Plastics Engineering. “The control and drive upgrades to these extruders will enable us to support multiple applications and will benefit our laboratory for years to come.”

In addition to the Davis-Standard extruders, UML’s lab features a Davis-Standard Killion lab line. The University’s program was established in 1954 and offered well-equipped lab facilities from the start. Today, the UML Department of Plastics Engineering has 20,000 square feet (1,859 square meters) of dedicated laboratory space that is used by both undergraduate and graduate students. Industry leaders have been instrumental in helping the University maintain and improve its lab by donating or supplying equipment, machinery, materials and software at a significantly reduced cost.

Several exciting projects are currently underway at UML’s plastics’ lab. Examples include development of PHB process formulations; nanomanufacturing research including electrospinning of nano fibers and replication of nano features by various molding techniques; and the development of a self-regulating valve to reduce surging during an extrusion process. Most of the major research projects at UML are funded by government agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Defense (DOD). However, about 40 percent of the funding is from industry. In most cases, UML’s lab provides a venue to companies lacking the expertise or lab capabilities to conduct R&D projects in-house. Many of these projects involve the development of new materials, blends or additives, or may be process related. To support these demands, UML’s lab is equipped for sheet extrusion, rods and tubes, blown film, twin screw compounding and coextrusion applications.

According to Malloy, “Our lab is busy, but we always welcome the opportunity to talk or meet with companies interested in doing research projects. Scheduling is sometimes an issue because the best time to begin a project is at the start of the fall semester in September or at the start of the summer session in May. But, we can usually work out a schedule and accommodate most requests.”

As for the impact of the laboratory on students at UML, Malloy says that the program produces plastics engineers that have a “good balance of theoretical and experimental capability.” Both undergraduate and graduate students are required to take hands-on lab courses in plastics processing. Students can also utilize lab equipment for research, depending on the project. UML most recently started offering online graduate classes in the areas of plastics materials and processing to open up the program to practicing engineers around the world. In this regard, there are also plans for developing lab exercises that can be completed remotely.

For more information about the Department of Plastics Engineering at UML, contact Robert Malloy at robert_malloy@uml.edu or visit the school’s website at http://plastics.uml.edu. For more information about Davis-Standard extruder upgrades, contact Paul Banks at pbanks@davis-standard.com.