Extrusion International USA 1-2022

34 Extrusion International 1/2022 RECYCLING As the demand for recycled plastics grows, so does the size of the machines. This applies to the processing of polyole fi ns as well as to PET recycling. With its unique dimensions and production capacity, this new size of plant features a screw diameter of 280 mm, implemented for the fi rst time in a VACUREMA ® Basic 2628 T large-scale project for producing rPET pellets. EREMA has just shipped the plant to a customer in Brazil New Dimension with Large-Scale Recycling Plants Up to 40,000 tonnes per year of rPET meeting the high- est quality standards can now be produced. “For this purpose, we installed a screw with a length of 10 me- ters, a diameter of 280 millimetres and a weight of 3.5 tonnes, which is the largest ever used in one of our recycling machines,” explains Managing Director Michael Heitzinger. The screw was manufactured by 3S, a subsidiary of EREMA. No less impressive is the re- actor of this recycling system, which, with a height of around 10 metres, is also unique and almost reaches the roof of the new production hall. 500 tonnes of in- put material were recycled during the test phase, which was subject to strict quality control. “The entire project was a great team effort,” Heitzinger said, thanking ev- eryone involved. Just four years ago, the largest extrusion line sup- plied by EREMA was designed for a throughput of 15,000 tonnes per year. This size of plant was ordered by customers once or twice a year. In the meantime, machines like this leave the production site in Ans- felden every month. As early as 2020, EREMA proved to be a pioneer and reliable partner for implement- ing unique large-scale projects. That was when the food and beverage packaging manufacturer Envases Universales Mexico commissioned two VACUREMA ® Basic 2625 T machines, each with a screw diameter of 250 mm and a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year. The reactor of the VACUREMA ® T large- scale plant, which will go into operation in Brazil, almost reaches the roof of the new production hall, which which was commissioned in 2021. EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH Unterfeldstr. 3, 4052 Ansfelden, Austria www.erema.com From the Left: Patrick Rachinger, Product GroupManager, and Sophie Pachner, R&D Engineer (Photo: EREMA GmbH)