Compressed air resin drying is widely used in plastics processing, but many processors only understand part of how it actually works. In this episode we break down the fundamentals of plastic resin drying, hopper drying, dew point, airflow, and moisture diffusion — and why common rules of thumb about compressed air dryers are only partially correct. In Episode 102, Novatec’s top experts Conrad Bessemer (Co-Owner), Tim Noggle (VP of Sales), and Greg Washburn (VP of Engineering & Operations) sit down with Mark “Drying Doc” Haynie (VP of Drying Technologies) to unpack what’s really happening inside the drying hopper and why processors often get conflicting results. Topics covered:• Compressed air drying vs desiccant drying assumptions• Dew point vs actual moisture removal• Airflow distribution inside the drying hopper• Why pellets dry from the inside out• The role of temperature, pressure, and diffusion• Why over-drying and under-drying both happen• Seasonal processing variation in plastics manufacturing• Uniformity and part quality in injection molding and extrusion This episode is intended for plastics processors, process engineers, technicians, and anyone responsible for material handling or drying performance. Drying isn’t black magic — but it isn’t as simple as a single number on a controller.