Vacuum-capable Vertical Blender/Dryers are proven equipment for drying plastic resins. These machines feature a slow-turning auger screw orbiting a conical vessel. As it turns, the screw gently lifts material upward and towards the center of the batch. At the same time, product from the top cascades back to the bottom while mixing with materials being moved upward by the orbiting screw. During the drying cycle, hot water, oil or steam is recirculated through the vessel jacket. Requiring relatively low temperatures to drive off moisture, vacuum drying is an excellent method for processing heat-sensitive plastics without fear of thermal degradation. The low energy consumption also minimizes operating cost.