Worldwide, extrusion lines successfully process more plastics into prod­ ucts than other processes by consuming at least 36 wt% of all plastics. They continue to find practical solutions for new products and/ or problems to meet new product performances. This book, with its practical industry reviews, is a unique handbook (the first of its kind) that covers over a thousand of the potential combina­ tions of basic variables or problems with solutions that can occur from up-stream to down-stream equipment. Guidelines are provided for maxi­ mizing processing efficiency and operating at the lowest possible cost. It has been prepared with an awareness that its usefulness will depend greatly upon its simplicity and provision of essential information. It should be useful to: 0) those already extruding and desiring to obtain additional information for their line and/ or prOVide a means of reviewing other lines that can provide their line with operating improvements; (2) those processing or extruding plastics for the first time; (3) those consider­ ing going into another extrusion process; (4) those desiring additional information about employing the design of various products more effi­ ciently, with respect to both performance and cost; (5) those contemplat­ ing entering the business of extrusion; (6) those in new venture groups, materials development, and/ or market development; (7) those in disci­ plines such as nonplastics manufacturers, engineers, designers, quality control, financial, and management; and (8) those requiring a textbook on extrusion in trade schools and high schools or colleges.