Recycling systems provider Erema is to introduce a twin-screw extruder for the processing of complex input materials such as multilayer films.
The new TwinPro is said to combine the advantages of a twin-screw extruder with the strengths of Erema’s Preconditioning Unit (PCU). Building on the twin-screw extruder concept presented at K 2022, the company claimed to have developed a waste system that opens up new opportunities for thin-walled post-consumer regrind material.
Producing high-quality recycled pellets using complex input materials such as multilayer film consisting of PE-polyamide or PE-ethylene vinyl alcohol is a major challenge for the recycling process. According to Erema, this is where the TwinPro comes in, with its key feature of highly efficient homogenisation.
The first stage of homogenisation takes place in the PCU, which shreds, heats, dries, compacts and buffers the input material.
Directly coupled at a tangent
With the help of Erema’s Counter Current technology, the extruder, which is directly coupled at a tangent to the PCU, is continuously filled with heated and pre-compacted material. Even with low bulk density material like film waste, the PCU said to be able to deliver full throughput.
The PCU covers a wide bandwidth of input materials, with bulk densities of 30g to 800g per litre processed in a single work step, without the need for separate agglomeration, weighing or a stuffing unit.
This is followed by intensive homogenisation in the twin-screw extruder, which is essential for multilayer films so that the different polymer types are mixed in the best possible way.
According to Erema, this produces recycled pellets with the improved mechanical properties needed for reuse in multilayer films.
Erema said the TwinPro can also easily process thin-walled packaging. The PCU reliably removes residual moisture from the washing process and also deodorises the material, the company added.
More information from erema.com/en
