WASHING AND DRYING | TECHNOLOGY


Clean machine: what’s new in washing and drying


Cleaning feed material is an essential step in recycling requiring the right technology. Chris Saunders reports on new products for plastics recyclers


As regulatory requirements continue to tighten and brand owners demand higher-quality recycled content, effective washing and drying have become essential elements of modern plastics recycling operations. Many traditional washing processes struggle to effectively remove stubborn contaminants. Insufficient soaking time fails to achieve the desired effect, while excessive soaking affects processing efficiency. Too much friction, on the other hand, can damage the material, compro- mising the appearance of the final product. At the same time, without a water recirculation system operating costs remain high, and the process may fail to meet environmental standards. Boretech’s Polyolefin (PO) Rigid Plastic Washing


System has been optimised to address these concerns with a hot-wash module being one of the key components. Through precise control of timing, temperature, and dosage, the system facilitates the removal of oil, ink, and label adhesive with the friction-wash module applying mechanical force to further remove paper labels and adhesive residues.


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


Traditional horizontal de-watering equipment is prone to clogging in the pneumatic conveying system. The vertical de-watering machine works with an integrated lifting screw which significantly reduces clogging and material loss, while an automatic chemical dosing system ensures more precise dosage, faster response, and a higher degree of automation, preventing chemical waste while maintaining cleaning effectiveness. Coupled with a well-designed recirculation system, this contributes to a more economical and environmen- tally stable operation, says the company. Boretech’s Compact Pre-washer was a flagship


product in 2025. The system integrates four key functions: de-labelling, label separation, washing, and de-watering, into a single unit, reducing footprint by 58% and total power consumption by 46%, effectively solving common issues in tradition- al equipment such as leakage and material spillage. It achieves a de-labelling rate of 95% and a label separation rate of 99%, enabling precise separation of bottles, labels, caps, and neck rings. The patent-


July/August 2026 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 9


Main image: A large-scale PET bottle washing line supplied by Boretech to Fuhai Group in China entered operation in May this year


IMAGE: BORETECH


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