Extrusion International 3-2021

46 Extrusion International 3/2021 EXTRUSION AND RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY Although synthetic lawn had been introduced in American baseball stadiums already at the end of the 1960s, it only became an accepted alternative to the high-maintenance natural lawn at the turn of the millennium. But after 12 to 15 years of use, up to 5,000 arti fi cial turf sports fi elds are currently due for renovation in Germany alone. This raises the question of the best possible disposal. Up-to-date the only serious answer is: “Recycling”. The Austrian extrusion and recycling technology company MAS offers innovative system technology for converting old and worn arti fi cial grass ef fi ciently and cost-effectively into high- quality plastic granulate New Life for Worn Artificial Grass The Austrian mechanical engineer- ing company “MAS-Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Schulz GmbH” in Linz / Pucking specializes in innovative ex- trusion and recycling solutions. Its core competencies are plastics re- cycling plants, like the DRD (Double Rotor Disc System) dry cleaners for the waterless separation of granular impurities from plastic fl akes and the conical twin-screw extruders with co- rotating screws, which plasticize par- ticularly homogeneously and gently. In addition, the MAS product port- folio includes also disc fi lter systems for highly ef fi cient continuous melt fi ltration. These are the basis for in- tegrated recycling systems, such as those to be used for the recycling of worn-out arti fi cial lawns. Arti fi cial grass is the resilient alternative to natural lawn If lawn sports fi elds are to be used all year round and to have uniform char- acteristics of use and visually appeal- ing qualities regardless of environ- mental in fl uences, there is no way around synthetic lawn. Especially if, in addition to a high level of use, increasing climatic extremes, such as long periods of dryness or heavy rain events, affect a natural lawn. The Picture 1: Schematic structure of a typical arti fi cial grass system (Picture: Poytan) Washed and dried quartz sand Elastic rubber granulate Turf fi laments Elastic layer of installation on site Picture 2: Removed and pre-cleaned arti fi cial grass tracks (Photo: FIFA / Re-Match)