Extrusion International 6-2024-USA

46 Extrusion International 6/2024 RECYCLING Creating New from Used – Which Technologies Are Key for High-Efficiency Plastics Recycling Over 180 participants from 25 nations accepted the invitation from Coperion and Herbold Meckesheim to attend the Recycling Days² in the newly opened Recycling Innovation Center in Weingarten, Germany, on November 6 and 7, 2024. In keeping with the theme of “Experience A New Dimension of Plastics Recycling,” the two-day conference featured a variety of presentations and live demonstrations, allowing participants to gain insights into various technologies designed to enhance the efficiency of the plastics recycling process. I nternal and external experts from the industry, in- cluding researchers, shared insights on how the right equipment can save resources and costs without compro- mising the quality of the recycled compound. Practical ex- amples from successful recycling plants also significantly enhanced understanding of the topic. Achim Ebel, Head of Sales at Herbold Meckesheim, and Kürşat Başdemir, Company's Founder and Project Director at Ekosistem Ltd., presented the latest advancements in Herbold washing lines, focusing on the impact of water treatment on the quality of the recycled compound. Martin Müller, CEO at Polymetrix, and Sabine Schönfeld, Sales Manager at Coperion, gave a joint presentation on a bottle-to- bottle recycling plant. This system of Indian preform and plastic packaging manufacturer Magpet Polymer Pvt Ltd. produces rPET granulate approved for direct food con- tact by both the European Food Safety Administration (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Furthermore, it is brand owner approved. Spotlight on extrusion: The impact of various technologies on the process Coperion leaders Frank Mack, Head of Process Technology Engineering Plastics, and Jochen Schofer, Head of Sales Recycling, presented a lecture on the range of possible extruder types for plastics recycling, demonstrating how the choice of extruder technol- ogy can impact both the overall process efficiency as well as end product quality. One unique feature of twin screw extruders is their especially high output capacity. Coperion developed the ZS-B MEGAfeed to complement its ZSK twin screw extruders. This side feeder compresses recyclates with primarily very low bulk density, such as flakes and fi - bers, enabling them to be introduced into the recycling extruder in large quantities while leveraging the equip- ment’s optimal performance. A further advantage of twin screw extruders touched upon by Mack and Schofer is their flexible configuration, adaptable to a variety of recycling ap- plications. This flexibility makes it easy to incorporate additives, glass fibers, and fillers commonly needed in high-value recompounds into the process. Coperion ZSK recycling extruders feature a modular design: The co-rotating twin screws are comprised of various screw elements that perform specific tasks to achieve the desired effects. Depending on the recycling ap- plication, intensive mixing, plastification, or shearing can be achieved. Moreover, the continuous surface renewal caused by the rotation of the twin screws re- Coperion and Herbold Meckesheim welcomed more than 180 guests to a conference in the newly opened Recycling Innovation Center in Weingarten on November 6 and 7 The live demonstration on a ZSK 58 MC 18 recycling extruder impressively demonstrated how rPE flakes can be processed into rPE compounds at extremely high throughputs despite their low bulk density thanks to innovative equipment design (Photos: Coperion, Stuttgart Germany)