Systems and methods for manufacturing colored product

A system for making a polymeric product comprising:

• a) a primary polymer melt source configured to receive a polymer feedstock composition, wherein the primary polymer melt source has an outlet in fluid communication with a transfer line configured to receive a polymer melt from the primary polymer melt source and transfer the polymer melt in a flow direction that is towards a product forming device, the transfer line having a first end at the outlet of the primary melt source and an opposed second end at the product forming device;
• and
• b) a side arm extruder assembly comprising an outlet positioned within the transfer line between the first end and the second end of the transfer line to inject a colored polymer melt concentrate into the transfer line, wherein the side arm extruder assembly further comprises an extruder, a first valve, and a melt pump, wherein the extruder, the first valve, and the melt pump are external to the transfer line;
• c) wherein an outlet of the extruder is in fluid communication with an inlet of the melt pump;
• d) wherein an outlet of the melt pump is in fluid communication with an inlet of a product channel in the first valve;
• e) wherein the first valve further comprises a purge channel;
• f) wherein the first valve further comprises a diverter that can selectively be positioned to direct a flow of the colored polymer melt concentrate from the melt pump to the purge channel via a portion of the product channel;
• and
• g) wherein an outlet of the product channel in the first valve is in fluid communication with the outlet of the side arm extruder assembly.