Rubber compouding and molding

Gary Leiendecker

**** **** *** **

Clinton, Ohio 44216

330-***-**** Home

330-***-**** Cell

********@******.***

SUMMARY

An innovative Rubber Chemist /Technical Manager with 30 years experience in

all aspects of compounding, mixing, prepping, compression molding,

injection molding, and extrusion. Knowledgeable with both colored and

black compounds in solid rubber parts, rubber and carpeted mats, and

flooring. Combine good hands on skills with excellent computer skills

(Excel, Access, Word, and more) to maximize profits and solve problems.

Able to make decisions. Polymers include SBR, EPDM, Natural rubber,

Isoprene, PBD, Neoprene, Nitrile, XNBR, HNBR, millable Urethanes, PVC-

Nitrile, TPO and blends of several of these polymers.

Professional Experience and Accomplishments

Portage Precision Polymers P3, Ravenna, Ohio Custom Mixer

Development Chemist 2013 to current

. Designed compounds to meet customer requirements (ASTM, MIL, SAE).

. Ported customer recipes to P3 systems.

. Set up mixing parameters for different size internal mixers and mill

mixing.

. Interacted with customers on their needs, requirements, and problems.

. Developed software to track projects for technical staff and quoting.

Meteor Sealing Systems, Dover, Ohio Automotive Window Seals

Molding Engineer 2012 to 2013

. Responsible for 50 rubber injection molding machines and molds.

. Supervised 6 molding technicians.

R.C.A. Rubber Co, Akron, Ohio Rubber Flooring

Chemist, Quality Manager, Purchasing 2001 to 2012

. Set up a quality tracking system to follow material from the mixer to the

finishing tables. Was able to spot problems with manufacturing and

inspection criteria.

. Reduced waste material by over 50% by reducing variances in formulations

and standardizing operations.

. Wrote laboratory and factory procedures.

. Set up procedures for and evaluated alternate raw materials and raw

material suppliers.

. Managed laboratory staff.

. Color matching.

. Represented company for technical needs in Taiwan.

. Handled environmental needs including EPA permitting and reporting for

air, water, and hazardous materials.

. Scheduled and purchased all raw materials for factory.

Pretty Products, Inc., Coshocton, Ohio Automotive Mats

Technical Manager 1992 to 2001

Chief Chemist 1990 to 1992

Rubber Chemist 1983 to 1990

. Saved an average of $400,000 per year on material savings by developing

better compounds with less material costs and finding more economical

material sources.

. Reduced scrap defective by 50% by adjusting formulations, press loadings,

prep manufacture, and press setup. Worked with press operators and

foremen to optimize press operation.

. Improved product quality of carpeted floor mats by improving nib fill

while eliminating rubber bleed through and carpet crushing. Trained the

foremen to trouble shoot problems on these presses.

. Increased the shelf life of carpet backing compound from 3 days to 2

weeks while decreasing the cure time by 25%. Utilized Taguchi Design of

Experiments to optimize results in the laboratory before factory trials.

Followed the factory evaluations to fine tune optimal curative levels.

. Maintained existing equipment and cure times when manufacturing a new

line of OEM mats that had doubled the normal weight. The mat weight went

from 3 pounds to 4 pounds to 6 pounds per customer requirements with

minimal change in length and width.

. Matched rubber colors to OEM standards using a minimal pallet of pigment

concentrates.

. Developed special compounds for Koneta Rubber to meet special customer

needs such as oil resistance, cameos, and larger sizes.

. Developed a 100% recyclable floor mat with less material costs, lower

specific gravity, and eliminated PVC in the extruded mat backing.

Utilized rubber trim scrap from the Coshocton operation as a raw material

in the backing. Met all customer performance and temperature

requirements.

. Implemented a successful JD Edwards MRP installation. Reduced work in

process by 60% and reduced millroom calendar rework by 30%. Met the

needs of the plant scheduling and manufacturing. Responsible for bills

of material setup and development.

. Developed systems to share information plant wide with minimal data

input. Installed the first plant computer network vastly reducing paper

being used while increasing the information flow to all functions needed.

Used Excel, Access, and preprogrammed packages from different equipment

manufactures.

BF Goodrich Chemical Company, Avon Lake, Ohio Latex Polymerization

Process Engineer 1978 to 1982

Developed initial chemical stripping technology to remove unreacted vinyl

chloride monomer from latex. Responsible for product quality, material

efficiency, and energy efficiency.

Education

BS Chemical Engineering, University of Akron

Rubber Compounding - University of Akron, Monsanto (Flexsys)

Statistical Process Control (SPC) - Sigma Management Company, General

Motors Institute, Perry Johnson Inc.

Fundamentals of Color - Gretag Macbeth, Applied Color Systems

Design of Experiments Taguchi Methods - American Supplier Institute

Problem Solving - Pretty Products

QS 9000 Internal Auditor - Pretty Products

Hazard Communication - Ohio Center for Occupational Safety and Health

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