Foam Extrusion Specialist
Foam Extrusion Specialist
​Dick Venuti
Extrusion expert plastic film
Foam extrusion expert Dick Venuti
​Dick has over 40 years’ experience in Polystyrene (PS) foam and Polyethylene (PE) foam along with Thermoforming PS foam and sheet. His broad background includes machine design, experience in offset printing, medical packaging. Extended skills include environmental permits for air quality applications. Dick also has worked with packaging foam, fill and seal equipment.  Dick has his own designs for round and flat foam extrusion dies.
​
Professional Experience
2002 – present
RJV Consulting Inc., Owner & Founder
Sarasota, FL
  • Consulting in plastic, process, manufacturing and facilities.
  • PE and PS foam process problem identification and fixes
  • Solutions for Extrusion and Extruder problems
  • Thermoforming  process and machine problem resolution
  • Plant engineering problem resolution
  • International work including setting up a PE foam plant in China 
  • Forming of deep draw thin wall containers
  • Solved shrinkage problems prior to shipping material to customer
  • Sold used and rebuilt Plastic Machinery
  • Increased production output for several companies

1991 - 2002
Sealed Air Corporation, Director of Engineering
  • In charge of an engineering group that was responsible for fixing all the process problems associated with PE foam. The group also designed the tooling necessary to upgrade the existing product line and the design of new products.
  • Annual budget of $3,000,000 for capital expenditures and expenses 
  • Spearheaded the development of a new product line
  • Selection of new machinery
  • Trouble shot process problems
  • Cut cost by purchasing used machinery and rebuilding it
  • Project Manager for a new plant and moved equipment from old facility to new
and rebuilt the machinery before installing
  • Traveled extensively to four other facilities in the U.S.
  • Interfaced with Plant Managers to solve equipment problems
  • Obtained Air Quality permits in CA, NY, TX, NC


1983 - 1991
Packaging Industries, Inc., Corporate, Vice President Engineering
Hyannis, MA
Responsible for engineering activities in five locations.  Oversaw air quality issues, plant relocation, plant upgrade, foam processing problems
  • Moved manufacturing plant from MA to NY
  • Startup of Bead Molding Plant
  • Startup of Crosslink Plant
  • Played a key role in obtaining air quality permits in CA & NY
  • Worked with Job Development Authority in NY

1980 – 1983
U. C. Industries, Manufacturing Engineer
Tallmadge, OH
  • Solved process problems on PS foam insulation board lines.  
  • Traveled between two manufacturing  plants.
  • Increased production by lowering the scrap rate
  • Worked with production personnel to solve manufacturing  problems
  • Got the 4' board line running with minimal problems.  Cut the scrap rate by ~ 50%
  • Improved output of Scrap Reclaim System
  • Improved extrusion tooling

1978 – 1980
RJV Plastic Company
Thermoforming Company
  • Produced 8” Dia x 8 high .028 mil PP sheet paint pot liner
  • Produced PS trays. 
  • Worked on a sputter Chrome project for GM


1970 – 1978
Borden Chemical Company, MA Process Engineer Plant Manager
North Andover, MA
Produced PS foam meat trays & egg cartons
  • Responsible for thermoforming & process problems
  • Designed of all tooling for thermoforming
  • Promoted to Plant Manager
  • Responsible for Scheduling, Engineering, Maintenance & Supervisors
  • Redesigned a rim cutter for PVC film

1967 –1970
Rexcel, Division of Rexcel Chemical, Plant Engineer/Manager Design & Development
Ludlow, MA
  • Managed a 15 person maintenance department to include Maintenance Supervisor, Machine Shop & Design Engineer
  • Positions included Design, Product, Plant, Mechanical, Process & Mfg. Engineer
  • Maintained & upgraded all plant equipment
  • Designed:
  • Thermoforming tooling
  • Material handling system
  • Yogurt container



TEACHING EXPERIENCE
  • Approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to teach Mechanical Drawing in vocational schools

PATENTS
  • Foam Egg Carton
  • Perforating device for foam Thermoformer

PRESENTATIONS
  • Presentation of foam Extrusion problems and solutions