Equipment for polymer recycling: features, purpose, selection criteria

Polymer recycling equipment is a set of machines and devices that are designed to process plastic waste and turn it into recyclable raw materials. The main types of equipment and their functions include:

• crushers and shredders: These devices are designed to shred plastic waste into small pieces. Shredders can handle large, hard items such as pipes and cans, while crushers are typically used for smaller, softer plastic items.
• washing plants: After shredding, plastic waste must be cleaned of contaminants such as dirt, food debris or chemicals. Washing plants include soaking baths, washing drums and drying centrifuges.
• separators: These devices are used to separate plastics by type and color. Separation may occur based on differences in density, color (using optical separators), or other characteristics.
• granulators: After washing and sorting, the plastic waste passes through granulators, which melt the plastic and form it into pellets. These granules are the starting material for the production of new plastic products.
• extruders: In some cases, granulation can be combined with extrusion, in which the plastic is melted and formed into a continuous thread or strip. These threads can be cut into pellets or used in the production of plastic products.
• agglomerators: These devices are designed for dense and lightweight plastics such as films and bags. Agglomerators compress and cut plastic into small, dense pieces, which can then be easily processed into pellets.
• thermal processing equipment: Includes pyrolysis and gasification plants that decompose plastic waste at high temperatures, turning it into liquid fuel or gas that can be used for energy purposes.

All these components can be combined into automated lines that provide a full processing cycle from waste reception to the production of finished raw materials.

Areas of application

Polymer recycling equipment https://pzo.com/ applied in a variety of applications, reflecting the wide range of possibilities for plastic recycling and reuse. Main applications include:

• industrial production: Companies that produce plastic products (packaging, toys, household appliances, auto parts, etc.) often use recycling equipment to reduce raw material costs and reduce waste.
• waste disposal and recycling: Recycling plants and recycling centers use these systems to process household and industrial plastic waste, helping to reduce waste in landfills and reduce environmental pollution.
• production of building materials: Recycled plastics are used to produce a variety of building materials such as plastic pipes, panels, insulation materials and coatings.
• textile industry: Recycled polyester and other plastics are used to make fabrics and textiles, including clothing, carpets and upholstery.
• Automotive industry: Many automakers use recycled plastics to produce various vehicle components, such as dashboards, seat upholstery, and other interior components.
• food and packaging industry: Recycled plastics are used to make new packaging for food, drinks and other products. This contributes to the creation of a closed cycle of packaging materials use.
• Agriculture: Recycled plastic materials are used to make agricultural films, drip irrigation systems, greenhouses and other products that help improve the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture.
• electronics: Recycled plastics are used to make housings and components for a variety of electronic devices, including computers, mobile phones and home appliances.
• furniture industry: Recycled materials are used to produce various types of furniture, especially outdoor and garden furniture, which require resistance to external influences.
• infrastructure and urban improvement: Recycled plastics are used to produce road surfaces, curbs, benches, waste containers and other elements of urban infrastructure.

These examples demonstrate how polymer recycling equipment can help reduce environmental burdens, save resources and create new business opportunities in a wide range of industries.

Equipment selection criteria

When selecting polymer recycling equipment, it is important to consider several key criteria to ensure an efficient and cost-effective recycling process. Here are the main selection criteria:

Type of processed materials:

• consider which polymers you plan to process (PE, PP, PET, PVC, etc.).
• some machines specialize in certain types of plastics, which increases their efficiency.

Volume and scale of processing:

• determine the volume of waste that is planned to be processed (tons per day/month).
• The choice of equipment must match the scale of your production or recycling center.

Quality of initial waste:

• The original plastic waste can be of varying quality and degree of contamination.
• The presence of washing facilities and pre-sorting systems can be critical to improving the quality of the final product.

Energy consumption and environmental efficiency:

• Equipment energy consumption directly affects operating costs.
• modern cars often have improved energy efficiency and systems to minimize emissions.

Performance and Efficiency:

• The productivity of the equipment must meet your needs (the amount of material processed per hour/shift).
• recycling efficiency (percentage of recyclable material recovered).

Quality of the final product:

• It is important that the equipment produces high quality pellets or other forms of recycled plastic suitable for further use in production.

Equipment cost and maintenance:

• Consider not only the initial cost of the equipment, but also the maintenance and operating costs.
• Availability of spare parts and service also plays an important role.

Automation and control:

• The degree of automation of processing processes can significantly influence productivity and reduce labor costs.
• Modern systems are often equipped with software for monitoring and managing processes.

Manufacturer and reputation:

• The manufacturer’s reputation and reviews from other users can give an idea of ​​the reliability and quality of the equipment.
• Availability of guarantees and service support is also important.

Compliance with regulations and standards:

• equipment must comply with local and international safety and environmental standards.
• make sure that the equipment is certified by the relevant authorities.

Flexibility and upgradeability:

• equipment must be flexible enough to adapt to changing requirements and be upgradeable in the future.

Selecting the right polymer recycling equipment requires careful consideration of all of these factors to ensure an efficient and cost-effective recycling process.