TECHNOLOGY | SIZE REDUCTION


Right: Herbold Meckesheim showcased several granulation and drying advances at K2025


At K2025, Herbold Meckesheim, which is part


of Coperion, showcased its SMS 80-200 granulator – the largest model in the series – which is built for demanding applications. It integrates energy-efficient double cross-cutting action and pre-adjustable rotor and bed knives to produce high-quality regrind with minimal fines and consist- ent particle size distribution. A hinged housing and quick knife change system help to reduce downtime and operational costs.


Large scale A forced feeding system – via three horizontally mounted screws – enables a high throughput of PET and rigid plastics, making it ideal for large-scale recycling. The SMS series is optimised for a range of materials and ideal for the size reduction of standard applications in the recycling industry, as well as special processing needs – such as heavy lumps, thin films, or substantial amounts of material. Also at the event, the company’s latest innova-


Below: Neue Herbold


showcased its re-engineered ZM 800 Pulverizer at K2025


tion, the T 150-300 mechanical dryer, debuted in a new size. It has a fully redesigned construction, including a rotating sieve basket with integrated water spray nozzles for full-coverage cleaning and a centrifugal drying chamber for rapid moisture removal. At Coperion and Herbold’s recycling pavilion, a Herbold hydrocyclone separation stage – a key component designed to deliver precise material separation through centrifugal forces – was seen with a Coperion ZSK FilCo filtration compounder. Herbold’s hydrocyclone stage enhances the purification of plastics during recycling, extending equipment lifespan and improving product quality. Neue Herbold, which offers size


reduction and recycling machinery, showcased its recently re-engineered ZM 800 Pulverizer at K2025. One major update is the optimisation


of its housing. In the past, machines of this type were made with a round housing on a platform – but now the new housing has a curved design. The reason for this is that the material’s angular momentum is used for the discharge, as it is pre-accelerated for the subsequent air convey- ance. This results in higher


42 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | September 2026


throughput rates, while the energy consumption is unchanged. Standard machine exten-


sions like the vibro-feeder or mounting bracket for the vacuum feeder blend into one compact machine concept. Meanwhile, all parts offer good accessibility. The machine also has an opti- mised door lock, which operates efficiently and with less space


requirements. Cables, connections and sensors are now housed in one central


processing unit, while the control unit for the water injection is now placed in a dust-proof, splash- proof housing. The clear design and the compact construction


offer simple operation as well as easy maintenance for customers, says the company.


Online flow


Hellweg Maschinenbau has begun integrating an online flow measurement system called Smart Flow into its products.


It complements information already available via


Hellweg’s Smart Control system for bearing temperatures, speed and power consumption. Together, they provide a basis for Hellweg’s next step: integration of self-learning AI modules. These will calculate the optimum ratio between material properties, feed and required power during granulator operation. The control system will then independently regulate the machine parameters to maximise energy efficiency without human intervention. “The importance of the grinding process for suc-


cessful recycling is still far too often underestimat- ed,” said Mark Hellweg, managing director of Hellweg. The energy consumption of the granulators used for this purpose is not specified on the type plate. It is a free variable that can be adjusted to the requirements of a specific material flow at any given time. Digitalisation of the relevant param- eters, including mass flow, is necessary for AI to carry out the optimisation to reduce energy consumption and contribute to a reduced carbon footprint of the granulators, he said. The core of Smart Flow is a sensor that measures the flow rate (bulk flow) without contact and is posi- tioned in the riser pipe of the extraction piping. Its data is transmitted to the Smart Control system, where it is processed and displayed in the form of the (extrapolated) mass ground per hour as a


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


IMAGE: NEUE HERBOLD


IMAGE: HERBOLD


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