TECHNOLOGY | WASHING AND DRYING


Right: Herbold Meckesheim’s new Mechani- cal Dryer T 150-300 for large-scale drying


stage additives, it can clearly improve overall deinking performance without the need for more intensive processing.” Couet continued: “Another point that comes up often is the importance of collaboration across the value chain. Close exchange between recyclers, equipment manufacturers, additive suppliers, and automation partners is helping to improve washing, separation, and drying systems. At Evonik, we are working with different partners on topics such as process control, automation, and pilot-scale development, as well as with technology providers and system builders. These collaborations help develop more integrated and data driven approaches and move new concepts, such as hot wash processes, closer to larger scale use. Overall, the direction is clearly toward more integrated and application-focused processes.”


Drying developments In addition to effective washing, drying is equally important to the production of high-quality recycled plastics as residual moisture can create significant processing challenges. During extru- sion, water can vaporise rapidly causing bubbles, surface defects, and inconsistent melt flow. Certain polymers, particularly PET, are especially sensitive to moisture and may undergo hydrolytic degrada- tion, resulting in reduced molecular weight and compromised mechanical properties. Effective drying therefore serves as both a quality-control measure and a productivity enhancer. Mechanical drying systems commonly used


Below: clean rPET flakes


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immediately after washing remove large quantities of surface water through high-speed rotation, reducing moisture content before thermal drying stages. For applications requiring very low mois- ture levels, thermal drying systems provide additional moisture removal. Earlier this year, US-based recycling machin- ery manufacturer eFactor3 entered a strategic partnership with Broadview Group International (BGI), an engineer- ing firm specialising in rotary mechani- cal separation technologies based in Ohio, US. The collaboration will expand eFactor3’s access to BGI’s Rotary Impact Separator (RIS) technology and its expertise in recycling and materials recovery


operations. RIS can handle wet or dry feed and is engineered to perform me- chanical separation, cleaning, and drying in a


12 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | July/August 2026


single step, without the use of water, heat, or chemicals. At K 2025 Herbold Meckesheim, a Coperion


brand, presented a range of integrated systems and solutions, including the new high-capacity Mechanical Dryer T150-300 and a Hydrocyclone Separation Stage Mechanical Dryer T 150-300, which made its debut in a new size reaching throughputs of up to 2.5 tonnes/hr of film or more than 10 tonnes/hr of PET or rigid flakes. The redesigned dryer includes a rotating sieve basket with integrated water spray nozzles for full-cover- age cleaning and a centrifugal drying chamber for rapid moisture removal. It is equipped with hydraulically hinged housing for quick access and advanced monitoring systems supporting predic- tive maintenance. Float-sink separation tanks remain a cornerstone


of many recycling operations. By exploiting differences in density, these systems can separate polyethylene and polypropylene from heavier materials like PET, PVC, and various contaminants. The result is improved material purity and higher- value recycled output. The Herbold Hydrocyclone Separation Stage, a key component designed to deliver precise material separation through centrifugal forces, was displayed together with a Coperion ZSK FilCo filtration compounder. The Hydrocyclone system accommodates various application needs, providing additional washing and efficient impurity removal, and has the capabil- ity to separate residual contaminants using cyclone technology and high-turbulence washing. In March, Herbold Meckesheim was commis- sioned by Turkish recycling company Doğa PET to deliver a second PET bottle washing line. The order followed the successful operation of the first washing line, which has been in continuous operation since 2024. With the new installation, Doğa PET will double its existing washing capacity at its recycling site in Kırklareli. According to the customer, stable operation and consistent output quality were the decisive factors behind the


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


IMAGE: HERBOLD MECKESHEIM


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