Bologna, Italy — GMG SpA developed a high-capacity line for recycling preforms made of PET and recycled PET, the latter of which is being used in increasing concentrations.
The system maintains the mechanical properties and physical characteristics of the plastic so the regrind being reintroduced into the manufacturing process doesn't reduce the quality of the preforms, a company news release says.
Preforms vary in shape, weight, color, neck size and layers depending on the kind of container desired. As companies pursue sustainability goals, recycled PET concentrations in blends with virgin PET are increasing from what has been a common range of 20 percent to 30 percent.
"Those percentages are rapidly growing, to the point that several bottlers have started to advertise 50 percent [recycled] PET and even 100 percent," the release says.
While recycled PET is easily processable and doesn't require machinery replacements or major upgrades, the material isn't as stable as PET "and the resulting production efficiency or finished product quality may drop of a couple of percentage points," the release also says.
CMG introduced a high-capacity preform recycling line to address quality issues. The system has larger vessels of storage, high-volume infeed conveyors, rugged belts and bridge-type metal detector units. The granulator is equipped with efficient, high-power motors while the evacuation, de-dusting and filtration system provides "gentle handling" regrind.
"The output material is homogeneous in dimensions, small enough to be reprocessed without generating injection molding disruptions and with absence of dust," the release says.
The first CMG high-capacity PET and recycled PET recycling systems have been installed with a range of capacities from 400 kilograms per hour to 800 kg/h. A test demonstration system is available at the CMG Tech Center in Bologna, Italy.
For information, call +39 051 6920875 or email [email protected].