At a joint presentation at IFAT in Munich, the EREMA Group and Lindner showed how constant recycled pellet qualities can be achieved in plastics recycling by exchanging data between the extruder and washing system, and how intelligent energy management reduces costs. The two Austrian companies thus presented the first results of their cooperation.
Breaking new ground in plastics recycling means looking at the value chain in its entirety. The great opportunities for the future lie in fine-tuning the individual process steps – from the collection of recyclable materials to recycling and the end product. This is precisely where the collaboration between Lindner and the EREMA Group comes in, which was officially launched with the 50/50 founding of the joint holding company BLUEONE Solutions in August last year. Shares in Lindner Washtech were contributed. The expertise and experience of EREMA – manufacturer of extruders and filtration solutions for plastics recycling and the largest company within the EREMA Group – will now be combined with that of Lindner Washtech – leading provider of all-in-one solutions for shredding, sorting and washing plastics.
Data transfer ensures more efficient recycling processes
Process control is a particularly important aspect of plastics recycling. The standardization of these is a first result of the corporate cooperation. “We have jointly developed a platform that allows data to be exchanged between the extruder and the washing system,” says Manfred Hackl, CEO of the EREMA Group, at IFAT in Munich. “This enables a more precise analysis of the data and the targeted derivation of improvement measures.” All important parameters are taken into account and monitored via a digital interface. For example, it is possible to use information about current throughput volumes in the EREMA Pre Conditioning Unit to optimize the process in the washing system as early as possible, which can compensate for capacity fluctuations and achieve a significant increase in output. This data transfer represents a further step on the roadmap to digitalization.
High efficiency thanks to smart energy management
“It is essential for sustainable recycling to find the right process for the respective application and to optimally coordinate the individual process steps,” emphasizes Michael Lackner, Managing Director of Lindner. Initial successes have already been achieved in energy management by coordinating the process steps. A concrete example of this is heat recovery. “We use the waste heat generated during the extrusion process as an energy resource for the washing and drying process,” explains Lackner. “This enables our customers to sustainably reduce their energy costs andCO2 emissions.”
Exploiting synergies along the value chain
Synergies must be utilized in order to establish the respective quality standards for each end application. “The key question is how we can improve the end product and increase the overall efficiency of the recycling process at the same time,” Manfred Hackl and Michael Lackner agree. This will only work if companies join forces along the value chain. The industry leaders can already point to several examples of jointly improved recycling processes that have made it possible to move away from downcycling. “The recycling loop of HDPE starting material, which is processed into high-quality, food-safe rHDPE granulate using our two technologies, is one of them,” says Lackner. Lindner Washtech and EREMA continue to work intensively together to develop strategies for upcycling plastics and increase recycling rates.
All in all, the joint venture offers companies from the waste and recycling industry a special service plus and improves the overall process. “We want to encourage our customers to come to us with their source material and discuss the possible options together. With the combined expertise of Lindner Washtech and EREMA, we can find the optimum solution for every requirement,” says Hackl.
Picture above: At a joint presentation at IFAT in Munich, Michael Lackner, Managing Director of Lindner (on the right), and Manfred Hackl, Managing Director of the EREMA Group (on the left), presented the first results of the joint venture. photo: Lindner Recyclingtech GmbH