TECHNOLOGY | WASHING AND DRYING


MetaPure Compact, a newly developed washing- module configuration, has been fine-tuned to better meet the material’s specific needs and was presented in this format at K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The innovative part is that the continuous


Above: The Suplas recycling facility in Pinghu, China, supported by Boretech, can process 28,000 tonnes/yr of PCR PET trays


ed cutter design limits material loss to under 1%, with a service life capable of processing up to 8,000 tonnes. It has been designed to work with the company’s Mega Aspirator Series which separates labels, dust, and free-flowing impurities from PET bottle flakes, achieving a label removal rate of up to 99%, with a flake carryover rate of less than 1%. Over the past year, Boretech has commissioned


several projects in China and overseas, demon- strating the application of its integrated washing technologies in both bottle and thermoform tray recycling. For example, in March 2026, a PET tray recycling facility supported by Boretech started operation in Pinghu, Zhejiang Province, China. Officially recognised as the country’s first closed- loop PET plastic tray recycling facility and operated by Suplas, the plant is designed to process 28,000 tonnes/yr.


In May 2026, a large-scale PET bottle washing line supplied by Boretech to Fuhai Group entered stable operation. The system has a processing capacity of 15 tonnes/hr. Fuhai produces food- contact PET flakes which are used in sheet and bottle-grade packaging applications serving bever- age, food and pharmaceutical markets. Outside China, a bottle-to-bottle recycling


Right: The new MetaPure Compact was conceived by Krones


specifically for production environments where space is limited


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project developed by Boretech for Chiripal Group in India was commissioned in April 2026, the installation integrating its ES process washing, food-grade pelletising technology, and solid-state polycondensation (SSP) system. The plant produc- es up to 2,000 kg/hr of food-contact rPET pellets.


Innovation As a partner in the Pac2Pac project, Krones has already demon- strated that its washing technology is especially suitable for single- and multilayer PET trays. The


PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | July/August 2026 www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


process means intermediate steps like interim storage or additional drying of the flakes are no longer necessary and devices that use high shear forces can be dispensed with resulting in mini- mised production of fine particles while the patented hot-washing process ensures washing results of a consistently high quality. The technol- ogy scores highly in terms of energy efficiency and water consumption, with the HydroCircle water cascade system playing a crucial part. “We’ve developed a concept specifically tailored


to film recycling, which uses a hot-washing process and still ensures a large throughput,” said Michael Gotsche, Managing Director at Krones Recycling. “That’s very important because it makes sure that film recycling is commercially viable.” Another highlight is the horizontal intensive washer developed specifically for this new concept which ensures consistently high throughputs for lightweight and clingy materials like films, which frequently tend to bridge in vertical processes preventing efficient material flow. The new solution features horizontal material transport and a lateral discharge which makes for an even flake distribu- tion and prevents blockages, thus keeping the process stable and resulting in optimum washing conditions, fewer stops, and a consistently high throughput, ideal preconditions for challenging film-washing processes. Vecoplan says that against the backdrop of the


EU’s Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the decisive factor in successful implemen- tation of new technologies will be to align regula- tory targets with economically viable solutions. The company has recently integrated its subsidiary Pla.to, a specialist in dry cleaning technology, which operates entirely without the use of water to fulfil different functions. “In some recycling applications, it enables


IMAGE: BORETECH


IMAGE: KRONES


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