Larry Crovatt Plastics Consultant

 Larry W. Crovatt
Plastics Industry Consultant
2426 Persian Dr. 

Bldg 56; Ste 14
Clearwater, FL  33763
Office Phone: (850) 375-6757
E-mail: LarryCrovatt@gmail.com

Web: www.larrycrovatt.com

​ Hello, I’m Larry Crovatt plastics consultant. Welcome to my Web site!

·         Over forty years of Plastics Technology experience with Major Medical and Industrial Polymer Manufacturers. (e.g.                 Johnson & Johnson Medical, Monsanto Plastics Corporation, and others).
·         Major strengths in Extrusion, Polymer Synthesis, Melt Processing, Equipment Selection, and Facility Layouts.

Principal Areas of Expertise are the following:

  •           Plastic Materials Selection
  •         Extrusion and Molding Melt Processing
  •         Colorants and Additives Selections
  •         Formulation and Process Developments in:Medical and Industrial Tubing Extrusion

                         Medical and Industrial Tubing Extrusion
​                         Medical and Industrial Injection Molding
                         Medical and Industrial Wire Coating
                         Compound Mixing and Drying Operations


  • ​Set up of Complete Extrusion and Molding Line Systems comprising:

​                        Extrusion (tubing, wire coating, monofilaments, film, and other)
                        Polymer Synthesis (Polyurethanes, Nylons, Polyesters, and other)
                        Injection Molding and Materials Handling Operations
                        Product Testing and Packaging
                        SPC turn-key Process Validations and Operator Training

  • Problem Solving with Proven Ability to get the job done:

                       Excellent working relationships with highly reliable ‘outside testing laboratories’.

  • It is with this level of technical strength together with the attention to teamwork and communication that gives the added assurance of achieving successful and timely results.


For quickest response I invite you to email me at LarryCrovatt@gmail.com or text me at 850-375-6757 to discuss your program needs. You can also leave a message on my office line at 850-375-6757. We can then determine how I may best be of assistance in helping you achieve your goals in the most cost effective and ‘timely manner’.

After hearing from you I would be happy to supply you with my Consulting Fee Schedule including references for your review and consideration. The schedule outlines the general manner in which I conduct my service and can be modified to best serve the client’s needs.

DETAILS…AREAS OF EXPERTISE (HANDS ON SUPPORT)

  • Specialty in Medical Grade Polyurethanes (’Polymer Synthesis and Process’)

                    Lab Scale Custom Synthesis through Pilot Plant and Production level scale-up.
                    Experienced in Continuous and Batch Polymerization Manufacture
                         Pre-polymer and One-Shot Polyurethane Polymerization Processes
                         Lab and plant facility floor plans and layouts
                    Reactor Equipment selection
                              Polyurethane Meter Mix & Dispense Reactors
                              Polyurethane Continuous Twin Screw Compounding Reactors
                              Stirred Kettle Batch Reactors
                  Turn-key Startup, through Equipment, Process and Product Validations
                   Personnel training through validation and startup productions

  • Extrusion Expertise in Medical Tubing and Monofilaments

                   R&D through Manufacture scale-up operations in:
                            Heart pacemaker lead tubing development and production
                            Intravenous and Balloon Catheter tubing
                           Surgical Suture monofilaments
                                         Specifying of equipment components and installation
                                         Turn-key Startup including Equipment, Process and Product Validations
                                          Expert in Screw design selection
                                          Expert in Tooling (die design) selections
                                          Training of lab and manufacturing personnel

  • Wire Coating Extrusion Expertise

                     R&D through Manufacture scale-up in ultra-thin layer “fluoropolymer” coated Medical grade fine wire.
                               Specifying of equipment components and installation
                               Turn-key Startup including Equipment, Process and Product Validations
                               Screw design selections
                               Tooling (die design) selections
                               Training of lab and manufacturing personnel

  • Polymer Materials Selection and Sourcing (Medical & Industrial Applications)

                     Custom polymer synthesis
                     Raw material monomer ingredients expertise
                     Additive modifiers
                                    Stabilizer selections
                                    Colorant selections
                    Reinforcing agents
 

  • High Performance Engineering Polymers

             Expertise in the molding and extrusion process in the Industrial Applications end-use areas (e.g. Nylons,                                  Polyurethanes, Polyesters, Polyacetals, Polycarbonates, Polysulfones, and others)
                      Injection, Ram, and Compression molding and technology.
                      Medical and Industrial Tubing extrusion
                      Monofilaments extrusion (e.g. consumer personal and industrial brushes)
                      Extruded rod, sheet, profile, and slab.
                      Extruded film (lay-flat and blown)
                      Wire coating (e.g. medical, cable, industrial and automotive)
             Equipment Sourcing and Selection Assistance
                        Turn-key Startup, through Equipment, Process and Product Validations
                        Personnel training through validations


              Design of Experiments, including Process Validation, Equipment Selection and Floor Plan Layouts
              FDA Validations (IQ/OQ/PQ)  
                        Polyurethanes, Silicones, PEEK and others
              Balloon & IV Catheter tubing extrusion process developments.

  • Biocompatible Plastic Component Materials Selection (Implantable devices)

               Molding process development through validations
                          Superior quality
                          Smooth surface properties
                          Significantly reduced or eliminated 'stress cracking tendency'
               Preparation of Polymeric Wear Debris Particles for FDA Biological Response Studies
               Polyurethane ‘Gel-free Extrusion’ and Molded Products
                           Achieved through the utilization of special design state-of-art ‘’’micron filtration’’’ technology                                                    combined with other requirements in equipment design setup and processing conditions.

  • Polymer Alloys, Reinforcements, Colorants, Stabilizers, and Blends Technology

               Twin Screw Compounding Extrusion Expertise
                Equipment Selection and Process Development

  • Troubleshooting Stress Cracking Problems in Molded Parts

                Causes of and Corrective Action

  • Materials Testing and Specification Requirements

                 Recommendations on Incoming Raw materials and Finished product

  • Statistical Process Control Implementation and Training
  • Chemical and Physical Properties Testing Expertise

                Excellent knowledge and working relationships with highly reliable outside testing laboratories including several                   university lab services and other technologists.
                Broad background knowledge in this area, including:
                           Applied Melt Rheology (MFI and Instron Melt Rheometry)
                           Molecular Weight Investigation Considerations (e.g. GPC)
                           Crystallinity/morphological studies and influence on properties.
                           Moisture analyses (accuracy +- 0.002%) and influence on properties.
                           DSC, DMA, TGA, FTIR, HPLC, SEM, Mass Spectroscopy and other.
                           Physical properties (tensile, modulus, impact, creep, etc.)

  • Patent Documentation Assistance

                 Expert Witness (e.g. Research assistance on Patent Infringement questions/issues)

  • Personnel Training

                  Laboratory and Plant Operations

  

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

     JOHNSON & JOHNSON MEDICAL
     Principal Scientist (R&D Implantable Products

     MONSANTO ENGINEERING PLASTICS CORPORATION
     Group Leader R&D

EDUCATION

     BAYLOR UNIVERSITY (DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY)
                Post Graduate Polymers Research

     UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
               Master of Science (Polymer Chemistry)

     UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
              Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

REFERENCES

Available on Request

FEE SCHEDULE

I would be very happy to supply you with my Consulting Fee Schedule for your review and consideration. The schedule outlines the general manner in which I conduct my service and can be modified to best serve the client’s needs. 



I invite you to contact me:

Email: LarryCrovatt@gmail.com

Text: (850)375-6757

  

 

Together we can determine how I may best be of assistance in helping you achieve your goals in the most cost effective and timely manner.

Thanks!


​Larry Crovatt