MELT FILTRATION | TECHNOLOGY
Automation and flexibility are vital qualities needed in melt filtration for plastics recycling operations. Mark Holmes finds out more
Keeping the melt pure
Reliable operation providing a high degree of automation, coupled with the flexibility to handle a wide variety of mixed plastics waste streams are key requirements of the melt filter. With increasing environmental and regulatory pressures to ensure that greater quantities of plastics are recycled, the melt filtration system is at the heart of a successful plastics recycling operation. There are a number of important issues that need to be considered in melt filtration for recycled plastics, according to recycling specialist Erema. “A high degree of safety and reliability is essential, ensuring that no unfiltered melt can pass through,” says Robert Obermayr, Head of Business Unit Powerfil. “Another important issue is automation, with long filter change intervals possible for fewer production mistakes, high uptime and consistent, high quality recycled pellets. Specifically, this means increasing line throughputs and higher continuity in the whole recycling process, and in particular the melt filter. The less often a filter needs to be changed, the better the annual productivity and overall quality will be. In addition, ever finer filtration achieves re-pellets that are of a similar quality to virgin pellets.
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com “Every application comes with its own special
requirements and the filtration depends strongly on the whole recycling process. This extends from sorting and washing to downstream equipment and, of course, the compatibility of the extruder and melt filter is one of the most important pre-conditions for high process efficiency and the final quality of the recyclate. Erema’s competence in this field as a recycling pioneer and a manufac- turer and supplier of both recycling extruders and melt filters is important. We understand our customers’ needs and provide adequate solutions.” However, the plastics recycling industry is now facing decreasing quality of input material, which means higher levels of contamination. “The bigger the throughput of a complete line, the more important a continuous process without interrup- tion for screen changing is,” says Obermayr. “Erema’s ‘Lock and Change Unit’ enables our modu- lar Laserfilter-system – available as Twin, Triple and Quattro – to shut off one of the filters for screen change, while the other filters stay in production. That is a significant improvement for recycling lines that are continuously fed by washing lines.” Originally developed for highly contaminated
Main image: The melt filtration system is at the heart of a successful plastics recycling operation
March/April 2019 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 17
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
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