June 29, 2016
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Cleveland — Proper gas burner maintenance in rotational molding ovens is important for keeping good cycle times and running a smooth operation, Adam Covington, vice president of aftermarket at Ferry Industries Inc., said at the Society of Plastics Engineers’ Rotational Molding Conference.
“It costs money to have that burner running. So we want to have it as efficient as possible,” he said.
Covington compared routine checks and maintenance to regular oil changes for your car.
Covington reviewed tools that he said every rotomolder should own. One, a manometer, is an inexpensive handheld device used to check for proper combustion levels of the burner. Another tool, a temperature calibrator, ensures properly tuned thermocouples and checks the oven temperature controllers, he said.
Another thing to watch for: Filters for the air inlet can get covered in debris, impeding airflow and wasting gas, and not allowing proper combustion.
“Check all the obvious things before calling around and saying ‘This burner doesn’t work,’” Covington said.
Ferry, which makes rotational molding machines, is based in Stow, Ohio.
