PROCESSING | MACHINERY
Research published in Polymers journal in 2025 *
Above: Group photo of Kurimoto and SKZ represent- atives at the handover of the S2KRC mixer at the SKZ Technical Centre
plant. The system will be integrated into SKZ’s research and development activities and be available in the future for both publicly funded projects and industrial research collaborations. “Kurimoto’s loan of the kneader represents a valuable addition to the SKZ’s technical equip- ment,” said SKZ Division Manager Johannes Rudloff. “With this technology, we can specifically expand our research and service portfolio and provide even better support to companies in the development of innovative and sustainable plastic products.” The collaboration also represents an important step for Kurimoto which sees the partnership as an opportunity to further tap into the European market and intensify the exchange between science and industry. “We are very pleased that the kneader is being used at the SKZ,” said Kurimoto’s Rieko Ishii. “The SKZ’s expertise in the fields of processing and plastics engineering provides the ideal conditions for collaborating with interested parties to explore new applications and demonstrate the benefits of kneading technology for a wide variety of process- ing methods.”
Right: The RingExtruder from CPM is a process transformation platform designed to help manufac- turers transition to continuous production
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Continuous mixer Another technology receiving renewed attention is the continuous mixer, which typically employs two counter-rotating, non-intermeshing rotors followed by a single-screw extruder. The mixer performs the principal melting and mixing operation, while the downstream extruder provides further homogenisation, devolatilisation and pressure build-up. This architecture gives the technology a different processing profile from a twin-screw extruder. In particular, continuous mixers can provide high free volume and controlled shear, making them attractive for formulations containing large quantities of fillers or other additives.
COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2026
examined the influence of rotor geometry, screw design, and operating parameters in a Farrel Pomini Continuous Mixer processing polypropyl- ene. The work highlighted how rotor configuration, rotational speed, feed rate, and discharge restric- tion, can influence residence time and melt temperature. This kind of process understanding is vital as the modern compounder increasingly needs to balance mixing intensity against polymer degradation, which is particularly relevant for recycled materials. Mechanical recycling already exposes polymers to thermal and mechanical histories, so unnecessarily aggressive processing during recompounding can further reduce molecu- lar weight and affect mechanical properties. The Farrel Pomini approach is also being applied
to more specialised processing challenges, a recent development involving developing systems for virgin and recycled rigid PVC using its Continuous Mixer combined with a hot-feed single-screw extruder and Dry Face Pelletizer. The company says the arrangement eliminates traditional finishing stages and can reduce the temperature and pressure associated with conventional pelletising. Farrel Pomini’s activities around recycling are expanding too. In January 2026, it announced that it had acquired majority ownership of WF Recycle- Tech, a company involved in end-of-life tyre pyrolysis technology which also incorporates the Continuous Mixer. This points towards an increas- ingly important role for continuous mixing beyond conventional polymer compounding.
Ring extruder Sensitive materials require careful temperature control and efficient mixing, while high filler levels and extreme viscosities can make it difficult to achieve consistent dispersion. At the same time, producers must manage changing formulations, raw material variability, and increasingly demand- ing quality and sustainability requirements. The
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IMAGE: CPM
IMAGE: HOFFMANNBECK/SKZ
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