Italy´s largest company in the field of PVC extrusion, Fitt Spa (Via Piave 4, 36066 Sandrigo VI, I-Vicenza) has developed new industrial scale technology for separation and purification of PVC and polyethylene from post-use electrical and telephone wiring. At a presentation organised by the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (EVCM, Avenue E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, PO Box 4, B-1160, Brussels), the company provided details of the technology, in which it said improved efficiency leads to reduced costs. Previously, such cables were unsuitable for recycling due to the high content of impurities.

In the process, the recovered polymer is passed through a series of flotation, centrifugal, vibrational washing and electrical separation systems to recover 99% of the ferrous and non-ferrous metals. According to Fitt, the new process efficiency eliminates the high cost of separating the impurities. Before treatment, these represent 5-20% in weight, but this can be reduced to 0.05%. A subsequent continuous filtering granulator virtually eliminates all impurities and enables the production of recycled polymer suitable for use in garden hoses or washing machine water fill pipes, for example. The company can process more than 1 t/ hour of post-use electrical and telephone wiring.

Fitt´s importance in PVC extrusion is manifested in its formidable presence in the Vicenza district, where it has six plants with 32 production lines for flexible pipes alone. Annual output totals more than 150m metres. Its portfolio includes hoses for irrigation systems as well as for use in other industrial applications, in addition to polyethylene sheets for covering and rigid pipes for building. With 300 employees, the company has annual sales of more than LIR 100bn; more than 70% is exported. Products are sold in 52 countries.

One of the most important patents owned by Fitt is NTS, No Torsion System, which it claims has become the new reference quality standard in Europe. It is used in a garden hose that, according to the manufacturer, is superior to all other hoses on the market. Special feature is a reinforcing sleeve with a helicoidal run that compensates for the force generated by the water pressure and eliminates torsion. Another important Fitt product is “Skin System”, a very thin but nevertheless rigid and scratch-resistant film that can be applied to all types of pipes. The company says it is especially suited for manufacturing industrial pipes with high resistance to damage.

READER SERVICE: Company profile Fitt (English): PIE-No. 43324.