Plastics recycling systems and technology provider Erema (Ansfelden / Austria; www.erema.at) has become the new recycling systems supplier of extrusion machinery producer KraussMaffei Berstorff (Hanover / Germany; www.berstorff.com). The collaboration between the two companies will support the growth potential of the circular economy within the plastics industry, and “demonstrates that integrated recycling and compounding – or rather re-compounding – has become a key element of our strategic orientation,” said Peter Roos, president of KraussMaffei’s (KM, Munich / Germany; www.kraussmaffei.com) Extrusion Technology segment.

Known as “EdelweissCompounding”, during the re-compounding process operated by KraussMaffei Berstorff, a first extruder is used to melt the reclaimed material, which is then compounded on a second extruder. The integrated process occurs in a single line of tandem configuration, meaning the processed material does not have to be heated repeatedly – yielding energy savings while at the same time minimising the shear stress produced during plasticising and thereby giving the material an improved quality.

The re-compounding solution incorporates Erema's "Intarema" plastics recycling technology, at the heart of which is a preconditioning unit operated by counter current technology. In changing the direction of rotation, the feed material is said to be ideally prepared for extruding. The Austrian recycling specialist lists high throughputs, productivity and flexibility as well as constant output, easy operation and energy savings as the key advantages of Intarema.

Customers will be able to test the new solution in Q1 next year, Roos said, adding that by then the first line for outputs between 300-1,000 kg/h will be available for trial runs.