Extrusion International 1-2024

22 Extrusion International 1/2024 INDUSTRY NEWS Pure Material, Best Quality – 10 Years PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED  In 2013 SIKORA launched with the PURITY SCAN- NER a new type of technology on the market that dif- fered significantly from existing technologies. The de - velopment of a system for inspection and sorting of pellets was achieved in close cooperation with partners from the power cable industry. Today, the device is es- tablished on the market and helps users during sorting for the highest quality and sustainability. Particularly in the production of high-voltage cables, it is essential that no metal contamination, which can occur during production, gets into the insulation of the power cables. The aim was then and now to detect and sort out impurities in the plastic pellets. A particular challenge was to detect impurities even if they were melted into the pellet. The PURITY SCANNER's unique combination of X-ray technology and a flexible optical system laid the foundation for 100% inspection of plastic pellets already ten years ago. Discolorations and black specks in trans- parent or on translucent and colored raw materials are detected by up to three optical black and white cameras. In addition, the X-ray camera detects metallic contami- nants from 50 µm in size in the pellets. The contaminants are then automatically sorted out so that only pure ma- terial is processed further. The system has been continu- ously developed since its introduction. The PURITY SCAN- NER ADVANCED, the successor to the PURITY SCANNER, has nowbeen successfully established on the market. De- pending on the material and requirements, the customer decides howmany and which camera types are used. The pellets are conveyed via awear-free vibrating chute made of stainless steel, which is perfectly encapsulated to create a clean room within the system. The pellets fall evenly down the inspection area via the vibrating chute. This creates optimum conditions for optical inspection from the various camera viewing angles. With the PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED, customers have also the option of adapting the by-catch to the respective application using hybrid blowing. For rarely occurring, larger burns or metal contamination, for example, a larger ejection can be set than for small, light discolorations that are not critical. Thanks to the combination of the highest possible detection and hybrid blowing, the PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED enables material of the highest quality. This further optimizes production processes, and the re- duced bycatch contributes to cost-efficient and sustain - able production. SIKORA AG www.sikora.net With the PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED, the pellets are conveyed to the inspection area via a stainless steel vibrating chute Acquisition  Borealis announces the signing of an agreement to acquire a 100 % stake in Integra Plastics AD, an ad- vanced mechanical recycling player based in Bulgaria. The investment will strengthen Borealis’ advanced mechanical recycling portfolio, adding more than 20,000 tons of recycling capacity and support growing customer demand for sustainable solutions. The transaction is part of commitment to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and represents an- other critical proof point of that ambition. Based in Elin Pelin, Bulgaria, Integra Plastics AD op- erates a modern advanced mechanical recycling plant built in 2019 with state-of-the-art equipment. Integra Plastics has the ability to transform post-consumer waste into high quality polyolefin recyclates suitable for demanding applications. “In line with Borealis’ Strategy 2030, we continue making steady progress on our circularity journey by reinventing essentials for sustainable living. The addi- tion of Integra Plastics AD will strengthen our ability to deliver on our advanced mechanical recycling ambition and enable our customers to meet their sustainability targets,” says Lucrèce Foufopoulos, Borealis Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology. Borealis www.borealisgroup.com www.borealiseverminds.com Integra Plastics AD aerial view (© Integra Plastics AD)