PETpla.net Insider 11 / 2015

MATERIAL / RECYCLING 15 PET planet insider Vol. 16 No. 11/15 www.petpla.net point that we made the decision in favour of URRC because this way the high quality of the end product could be guaranteed at the same time as a high level of output and stability. In the URRC line the washed flake once again undergoes physico-chemical cleaning. The top layer is removed – using a caustic soda solution – so as to eliminate any surface contami- nation. After that comes an in-depth cleaning operation in a rotary kiln with a temperature loading of max. 200°C, where all undesirable sub- stances can be diffused out. Follow- ing rinsing and renewed washing with subsequent drying a technically highly sophisticated sorting process takes place.” Elimination of the brightly coloured PET flakes and particles is carried out by means of the colour sorter. Uncol- oured foreign particles are detected by a laser sorting system which sepa- rates the very fine PET particles from foreign matter. The end product is food grade flakes that can be intro- duced into the process cycle. Strasser: “The advantage that flakes have over granulate is that they do not go through the melt phase and so exhibit a higher chemical qual- ity. However, a regrettable downside is the relatively poor handling and processing capability in the injection moulding machines during preform manufacture. The additional mixing of flakes in the flow of virgin PET is more of a problem; overall handling is more difficult. This is the reason why we have decided to provide a granulat- ing line in addition to the URRC line for flakes – from Starlinger -, which promises high levels of flexibility in relation to the achievable IV value. As a result we today supply both flakes and granulate.” Both rPET formats – flakes and granulate – can be used separate or in combination. Strasser: “The sorters make a significant contribution towards the quality of the end products. The colour sorter, which realises colour variation and sorts out different-coloured flakes and then there is the Powersort laser sorting system from Unisensor. The strength lies in being able to detect extraneous polymers, for example PVC, nylon or silicone. It is able to distinguish, for example, a transpar- ent PVC flake from a transparent PET flake.” PETplanet: Where in the line is the Powersort laser sorter from Unisensor installed and why? Strasser: “Initially, we placed the Unisensor laser sorter at the end of the URRC process. Today the Power- sort laser sorter stands directly at the end of the washing line. From there both lines are supplied with material – one URRC line for the end product flakes and one for the end product granulate.” PETplanet: What led you to source the laser sorter from Unisen- sor? Strasser: “The Unisensor sorter is the Mercedes of sorters. In one second it can conduct one million colour spectrum analyses, thereby safeguarding the desired quality of our rPET – whilst simultaneously main- taining high productivity.” When questioned about the future and perspectives of recycling in Austria and PET to PET Recycling – Christian Strasser, Managing Director, offers a measured analysis. New storage - new silos Strasser: “Compared to our competitors we are privileged to enjoy a secure basis thanks to our owners, i.e. the beverages bottlers, who are in a position to influence the flow of materials. The product and our production facilities are “state-of-the-art”. We are engaged in on-going further development and optimisation. We have quality, com- mercial viability and sophisticated objectives. Despite this, we never- theless acknowledge the risks as we are dependent on unpredictable geo-political events. The main risks are:  unpredictable fluctuations in the price of oil that allows the chemi- cal industry to reduce the price of virgin PET to the price of rPET or even below, which makes sales more difficult, and  the availability of the PET col- lected for our recycling lines – the outflow of major quantities to China is endangering our business and European recycling overall. Hence our demand to politicians: we need stability. Otherwise the developments necessary to pro- tect the environment and preserve resources cannot be financed. It appears to us to be both sensible and essential to create framework propos- als for secondary materials. The EU Commission in Brussels should define and implement such framework condi- tions for all secondary materials in a totally unambiguous manner. We will not and should not be solely depend- ent on the goodwill and commitment of the private sector.” The important question about the value and regulation of the process cycle, the requirement for reliability and continuity deserves to be heard – and not only within the Austrian border, but in the European com- munity as a whole. Such important questions should be a necessary component in all future discussions and exchanges of opinion on the sub- ject of recycling. We thank Dipl. Ing. Strasser for the interview. www.pet2pet.at www.unisensor.de www.starlinger.com Christian Strasser in front of the Power- Sort 200 of Unisensor