Kurt Bartosch

39 years of hands on experience designing, building, and operating foam extruders and thermoformers. 20 years experience leading the RnD efforts for internal and external projects.

Managed a Tech center that designed and built extruders, thermoformers, printers, tooling, and other proprietary equipment for foam applications. The Tech center also performed all the research and development work on low density foam using physical blowing agents.

In depth knowledge of screw design, die design, tooling design, and ancillary equipment for various materials. Expert knowledge of blowing agent control and delivery systems. Expert knowledge of electrical and PLC control systems.

Two decades of experience running RnD trials that lasted 3 days to 3 years.

Developed an open cell PS process for meat tray applications in Easter Europe and South America that included formulation and hardware changes.

Represented the company in a Technology transfer from Sekisui Plastics for a coextruded PS/HIPS thin foam material. The material was for a printed shrink label that was applied to microwaveable soup tubs. The material needed to be lay flat and have no camber or curl. Both the foam and cap layer need to shrink at the same rates.

13 years experience processing HMS PP from five different resin manufactures. This included short multi week trials to develop base line conditions for the resin company to supply other processors to multi year project to help the resin company develop better HMS resins.