Most plastics processors know the basic pillars of resin drying — temperature, airflow, time, and dew point. But what’s actually happening inside a drying hopper is far more complicated than most people realize. In Novatec All-In #105, Conrad Bessemer, Greg Washburn, Tim Noggle, and Joshua Belisle dive deep into the science behind resin drying and how modern simulation tools are helping turn decades of industry “black magic” into measurable, visualized engineering. Topics discussed include: • Why all dryers are NOT created equal• The hidden importance of delivered airflow• Why airflow velocity matters more than most processors think• The relationship between pressure, airflow, and heat transfer• Why inconsistent airflow creates inconsistent resin• The difference between air temperature and actual resin temperature• How CFD and DEM simulation tools reveal what’s happening inside the hopper• Why simply hitting “-40 dew point” doesn’t guarantee optimal drying• The real challenge of achieving uniform, consistent dry resin This episode also explores how Novatec is using advanced engineering simulation technologies to better understand airflow, particle movement, heat transfer, and drying efficiency across a wide range of resin drying applications. Watch more episodes of Novatec All-In here: novatec.com/all-in #PlasticsProcessing #InjectionMolding #Extrusion #ResinDrying #PlasticManufacturing #ManufacturingEngineering #ProcessEngineering

You found a systems supplier. You signed the order. Now what?

For most plastics processors, that's where the uncertainty begins — and where too many suppliers disappear. In this episode of Novatec All In, Conrad Bessemer, Tim Noggle, and Greg Washburn sit down with Ricky Schultz, VP of Business Development, to pull back the curtain on what a systems project actually looks like from the inside.

They cover:

• How Novatec defines a "system" — and why it spans a much wider range than most processors realize
• What happens at a project kickoff meeting and why it matters more than the sale
• How field experience translates into fewer surprises during install
• Why the person who sold you the project should never just hand it off and walk away
• How contractors are selected, managed, and held accountable on your plant floor

Whether you're planning a greenfield facility, adding capacity, or upgrading aging controls, this conversation will help you ask better questions and hold any systems supplier to a higher standard.

Novatec All In is a podcast about the real challenges plastics processors face every day — hosted by the people who help solve them.

Your plant's central control system is the backbone of your entire operation. If it goes down, everything stops. And if it's more than ten years old, the clock is already ticking.

In this episode of Novatec All In, Conrad Bessemer, Tim Noggle, and Greg Washburn sit down with Don Wood, VP of Business Development for the Midwest, to tackle one of the most stressful challenges a plastics processor can face — replacing an aging plant-wide control platform without taking your facility offline.

They cover:

• Why industrial control systems age out and why it's inevitable regardless of manufacturer
• The warning signs that you're approaching the danger zone
• How a full controls retrofit gets executed while your plant keeps running
• Why weekend and holiday switchovers are more common than you'd think — and how to plan for them
• Remote connectivity, modern HMI design, and what today's platforms make possible that older ones couldn't

If you're running a central conveying system on aging controls — or you've already had a scary failure moment — this episode is required listening.

Novatec All In is a podcast about the real challenges plastics processors face every day — hosted by the people who help solve them.