Dana Darley
 Plastics Extrusion Equipment Specialist
Dana Darley
Dana has a multi-decade career involved in the operations, engineering, manufacturing, service, development, marketing and sales for processing machinery for the plastics industry. He is considered an industry expert in many areas of plastics processing equipment, including size reduction, gravimetric blending/control, drying/crystallizing systems, pelletizing, melt filtration and plastic recycling technology
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AREAS OF EXPERTISE

“Jack of all trades, master of most”
  • General knowledge of all plastics extrusion and molding processes
  • Extensive knowledge of solids handling auxiliaries
    • Gravimetric control and blending
    • Material storage and conveying
    • Size reduction, sortation and separation
    • Resin drying and crystallizing systems
  • Knowledge of extruders
    • Single, twin and specialty recycling (Erema/NGR)
  • Extensive knowledge of melt handling
    • Melt filtration
    • Melt pumps
    • Static mixing
  • Knowledge of downstream
    • Pelletizing
    • Forming – film, sheet, pipe, profile, fiber
    • Gauging
  • Complex, turnkey extrusion and recycling systems

MAJOR CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
  • Developed one of the first continuous gravimetric blending systems in NA
  • Comprehensive redevelopment of PCC blending systems, including the Guardian II
  • ​Developed two versions of gravimetric extrusion control systems
    • Gravitrol and Smart Hopper 
  • Developed a partial closed loop dryer dehumidifier and energy efficient dryer hopper air dispersion system (patented)
  • Co-developed a new single piston, continuous screen changer with Kreyenborg
  • Patented a control loop between gravimetric controls systems and a gear pump
  • Taught multiple 1-day courses on Extrusion Auxiliary Equipment for Rauwendaal Extrusion Consulting
  • While consulting (Extrusion Auxiliary Services) 
    • Specified and designed several recycling lines (Erema included)
    • Specified, designed and implemented extrusion lines (profile, compounding)
    • One year Project engineer/plant engineer role at PET sheet plant (Pactiv, Sante Fe Springs, CA)
  • Managed Process Control Corporation through extensive restructure and the recession of 2009/2010
  • In six years of sales at Vecoplan, sold $50 million in size reduction systems
    • Average sale was $ 250,000 with systems of $1 million plus
  • Business Development
    • Trained, supervised and mentored six new Sales Managers
    • Managed the specification, quotation and presentation of complex waste to energy systems (3-10 million $)
  • Technical articles, presentations and webinars
    • Developed and presented a three-part webinar series for Plastics Technology Magazine

PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
  • Organizations: Senior Member, Society of Plastics Engineers

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
May 2024 - Nov 2024
PSI-Polymer Systems - Sales Manager – Melt Pumps, Screen Changers and Mixers
  • Hire, manage and train sales engineers
  • Develop and ma age outside sales network
  • SOP development for sales
  • Develop and manage CRM for sales engineers and reports for ownership


Feb 2024 – May 2024
Erema NA - Application Sales Manager 
  • Responsible for North America sales for complete recycling lines for In-house/Industrial applications.

Feb 2015 - Dec 2023
Vecoplan LLC  - Several Positions

Business Development Manager – Plant Based Paper, Wood and Plastic
Feb 2021 - Dec 2023
  • Sales Manager development and training
  • Application and complex systems management
  • SOP development and administration, including margins and cost of sales
  • Key Advisor to the VP of Sales and CEO

National Sales Manager - Plastic
Feb 2015 - Feb 2021
  • Responsible for sales in North America and Canada
  • Managed Regional Sales Managers, OEM accounts and Sales Agents
  • Responsible for $ 45,000,000 in size reduction systems sales

Aug 2008 - Feb 2015 
Process Control Corporation - Vice President/General Manager
  • Responsible for operations/manufacturing, marketing, sales, engineering and customer service for
  • A leading manufacturer of auxiliary equipment for the plastics industry.
  • Restructured outside sales away from direct regional salesman to manufacturer’s representatives.

Nov 2001 - May 2004
Kreyenborg Industries - Several Positions

President
Feb 2003 - May 2004
  • Directed all aspects of the operation, including accounting, operations, sales, service and repair, while reporting to the owner of the company in Germany.
  • Developed complete business plan and operating budget, and was responsible for the overall profitability of the division.

VP of Sales and Marketing 
Nov 2001 - Feb 2003
  • Directed sales and marketing of all products of the Kreyenborg Group in North America, which included polymer and extrusion gear pumps, underwater pelletizers, continuous screen changers and various plastics material handling equipment.

Nov 1992 - Nov 2001
Maag Pump Systems Textron - Several Positions

Screen Changer Product Manager/Southeast Regional Sales Manager
  • After Maag’s buyout of LCI, became responsible for overall screen changer program, including development of new designs, establishing relationships with other screen changer suppliers and partners, application engineering, product supply and manufacturing assistance.

Fluid Systems Division, LCI Corporation, Charlotte, NC; Purchased by MAAG 04-1999.

Business Development Manager
  • Responsible for developing and supporting new business opportunities for a $20,000,000
  • division.
  • From 1993 to 1998 was responsible for the Kreyenborg GmbH continuous screen changer

Nov 1991 - Nov 1992
Process Control Corporation 

Nov 1991 - Nov 1992
Fluid Systems Division 

EDUCATION
BS in Mechanical Engineering, 
Clemson University, Clemson, SC