TECHNOLOGY | FILM RECYCLING
Just ahead of K2025 came an announcement
that compounding system maker Leistritz and NGR were teaming up in the recycling arena. The cooperation focuses on recycling and compound- ing in one step to produce high-quality material, which the partners said is particularly needed for polyolefin films to meet quality and defect-free requirements. Material preparation is carried out using NGR’s C:Gran cutter-compacter-extruder technology. The material is then further processed in a Leistritz twin-screw extruder. In the announcement, the companies also
Above: The X:Gran 145 combines elements of NGR’s S:Gran and X:Gran technologies
quality. According to the partners, the technology significantly reduces gel formation and black spots during film recycling. There is less mechanical stress and reproducible processing means consistent product quality even with fluctuating feedstocks. Benefits listed by the companies for the iQon-
icTwin PreDensifier include: energy efficiency of around 0.22 kWh/kg; no dust emission and no water injection; compact design and simplified mainte- nance; seamless integration into existing systems; and easy cleaning with faster material change. NGR has a variety of technologies for film
recycling, including the S:Gran shredder-feeder- extruder combination, with over 1,200 patented installations worldwide since continuous production began in 1997. The latest machines feature revised feeding geometry, improvements in the cutting performance, and option packages to allow the machines to be tailored for challenging materials, including films. An innovation launched by NGR at K2025 was the X:Gran 145, combining elements of its S:Gran and X:Gran technologies, under the direction of NGR’s NXT:Platform allowing a high level of modularity between core component groups.
New concept “We are very excited to bring this technology to market” said Creighton Varney, Product Manager of Post-Industrial Recycling at NGR. “It is a completely new concept, bringing all the benefits of our IP from the S:Gran, and combining it with a twin screw, mechanical feeding solution.” The sophisticated X:Gran 145 utilises a Classifi-
cation Unit, comprising of two uniquely designed augers to accurately convey, mix, and meter the material to the downstream process. Using a variable speed shredder shaft, augers, and updat- ed Auto-Pilot controls, the level of size reduction is accurately controlled. The cutting process can introduce varying levels of heat into the material. This is used, in conjunction with an air-flush system, to reduce the levels of residual moisture in the material before it enters the extrusion process.
16 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | January/February 2026
indicated the importance of efficient degassing for removal of VOCs, for example for food-grade applications. Optimisation of mechanical proper- ties through the addition of additives, fillers and stabilisers is another focus in the partnership. A joint recycling and compounding system has been installed at the NGR Test Centre in Feldkirch- en an der Donau, Austria, to demonstrate the combined technologies. The system is designed for throughput of approximately 300-500 kg/h and is available for customer trials. In January this year, Leistritz said it had worked in close collaboration with NGR on a project in Finland. The customer, Syklo, has expanded its packaging recycling capacities at its facility in Hyvinkää. Three new cascade extrusion lines significantly increase the efficiency of recycling HDPE, PP and LDPE from post-consumer waste streams and can boost Finland’s plastics recycling capacity by up to 50%, said Leistritz. At Syklo’s new Circular Economy Hub, the three
recycling extrusion lines process mixed post-con- sumer plastics from household and commercial waste. The waste is first processed by NGR’s C:Gran technology, consisting of a cutter-compactor and a single-screw extruder, and then fed to a Leistritz ZSE twin-screw extruder with Maxx technology.
K2025 exhibitors Among the major suppliers of recycling lines exhibiting at K2025, Amut, Gamma Meccanica, Coperion and Gneuss showed technologies relevant to film recyclers. Amut said key highlights on its stand included the unveiling of a new polyolefin pelletising line, designed to seamlessly integrate with its washing and sorting systems. The line combines a purpose-built pre-treatment unit with advanced extrusion technology and Amut’s dedicated “granulAItion” software suite. New developments exhibited by Gamma Meccanica included Smart recycling lines. These shredder-extruder models have been designed as compact units, reducing the floor space need for
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: NGR
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