SORTING | TECHNOLOGY
Boosting throughput and quality with optical sorting
New developments in optical sorting technology are improving recycling productivity and the quality of plastics recyclate. Mark Holmes finds out more
New developments in sorting technology for plastics recycling are helping to meet the demands now facing the industry. These include higher recycling throughputs and increased requirements for higher quality product. “Recyclers are focusing on quality with particular
attention to consistency,” says Alex Vaks, Sales Engineer at Bühler Sortex. “It is no longer accept- able for recyclers to simply sell recycled material that only meets minimum specifications. Recyclers must be able to supply a consistent high quality to consumers of flake and other recycled materials, as they become increasingly more sensitive to quality. As the recycling industry matures, competition between recyclers increases and therefore to remain competitive, recyclers must assure the quality of their material in more innovative ways. This will certainly continue to drive developments for optical sorting systems in the future.” Vaks continues: “Manufacturers and recyclers will have to collaborate closely, if they are to reduce the use of combinations of polymers that cannot be recycled with existing technologies. Optical sorting technology is improving, continu-
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ally resulting in the ability to separate complex mixes and produce consistent materials at increas- ing efficiencies. It is certain that in the future manufacturers will consider the use of polymers with recyclability in mind – with the use of optical sorting technologies for separation. We can already see this within the rPET industry where the use of detectable pigment, invisible to the human eye, is being considered by the industry to allow an optical sorting system to differentiate between various polymers regardless of colour. The optical sorting systems at the end of the recycling lines, must accurately separate and segregate colours and materials to maximise value. Without optical sorting systems to do this, the value of mixed materials will remain considerably lower.” Bernhard Gabauer, Head of Segment Plastics at Bühler Sortex, adds that China’s Operation Green Fence campaign has drawn attention to the unsustainability of export-based recycling and dependence on fragile global recycling markets. This has highlighted the need for more innovation and investment in recycling technology, such as sophisticated optical sorting, to enable successful
Main image: Plastics sorting at Saubermach- er’s plant in Graz Puntigam, Austria, where Redwave installed multiple
technologies
September/October 2018 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 33
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