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New Adjustable Mixing Dam provides an additional means of varying the amount of shear in the process. • The new Farrel Pomini Synergy System is a common frame- work with common standards for integrating the company's compounders with third-party equipment and controls in a processing line. • All systems now have a VPN gateway for remote web-based sup- port in real time. This system can enable Farrel Pomini engineers to adjust machine operating parameters and control limits "on the fly" while a line is running. • The newly patented Self-Aligning Seal (SAS) for the feed end of a Continuous Mixer, which was introduced at NPE2015 and is now used on every new machine (and is also retrofittable), has been supple- mented with a Self-Aligning Viscoseal (SAVS) for the discharge end of the mixer (see image above). Like the SAS, the SAVS automatically moves with the rotor to compensate for thermal expansion, rotor wear, and deflection of the rotor by the process material. The SAVS utilizes a melt film for sealing and incorporates a reverse screw thread to retain the melt and prevent leakage. The patent-pending SAVS is still in testing at the Ansonia lab and will enter field testing soon. • The Slotted Vent Plunger, also introduced in 2015, which provides a larger open area but reduced loss of material, is now standard on new mixers and is also retrofittable. • A new Adjustable Mixing Dam (see image left) provides an addi- tional means of varying the amount of shear in the process. Its elec- tronic adjustability eliminates changing out fixed dams between production runs. The company is experimenting with use of the adjustable dam in the upstream mixing chamber of the two-stage CPXL mixer (based on the Pomini LCM design). In this two-stage mixer, the first stage is normally used to combine feed ingredients without melting/fluxing, which occurs in the second stage after addition of further ingredients. But for specialty applications like halogen-free Continuous mixer technology, now 54 years old, continues to evolve. The latest developments in Continuous Mixers and Compact Processors (CP), many still in R&D;, were revealed at the recent grand opening event for the new headquarters of Farrel Pomini in Ansonia, Conn. (see last month's Starting Up). • As reported previously, the company is actively investigating new opportunities in compounding biopolymers such as PLA. Farrel Pomini equipment is seen as appropriate because of its "gentle" treatment of such sensitive polymers, with low shear and short residence times. By Matt Naitove Executive Editor Continuous Mixers Keep Learning New Tricks Farrel Pomini explores new applications, new methods of shear control, and other enhancements to improve ease of use. New Self-Aligning Viscoseal for the discharge end of a Continuous Mixer automatically moves with the rotor to compensate for thermal expansion, rotor wear, and deflection of the rotor by the process material. Air or nitrogen purge Same SAS as feed end of machine Clearance allows the viscoseal to self-align rotor 16 JULY 2017 Plastics Technology PTonline.com C O M P O U N D I N G Close -Up On Technolog y