PETpla.net Insider 06 / 2020

MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 21 No. 06/20 www.petpla.net 40 High-purity plastic flakes and increased productivity Meeting evolving requirements RCS is a company based in Werne, Germany, specialising in recycling management. With over 40 years’ experience, it provides companies solutions for the disposal of commercial waste with its three core competencies – waste disposal, raw material recycling and plastics. For a modernisation of the sorting plant, the company invested in Stadler systems. Sustainability and the environ- mentally friendly use of resources are the principles at the heart of RCS’s corporate philosophy. They run through every aspect of its operation, such as the advanced processes it uses to col- lect and transform waste into second- ary raw materials, returning them to the production cycle. These core values also form the basis for its service to clients, as it works in partnership with them to develop a concept that is envi- ronmentally friendly and individually tailored to their needs. An important area of focus for RCS is the recy- cling of PET bottles to produce plastic flakes for a variety of applications and high-quality regranulate for the food sector. This activity is centred at its sorting plant, where it separates clear PET from colour PET – which account for 85% of the input – aluminium and ferrous cans, film and other materi- als. With a capacity of 7 t/h, the plant operates on a continuous shift system, processing used PET bottles into high- quality food grade plastic flakes. The purity of the flakes is of paramount importance, as they are destined to the production of a variety of plastic products, from plastic fibres to films and packaging tapes, as well as products for the food industry. Every outgoing Big Bag is carefully checked for residual moisture, bulk density, incorrect colours and contaminants, as well as grain size distribution and adhesive residues to ensure the high quality of the output. A complete modernisation In order to achieve both the con- sistent high purity it requires and opti- mise the processes at its plant, RCS has relied on the expertise of Stadler Anlagenbau, a company dedicated to the planning, production and assembly of sorting systems and components for the waste disposal and recycling industry world-wide. “We had already purchased a ballistic separator from Stadler in 2005,” says Gerd Francke, joint CEO of RCS. “On the basis of the good experience with their technology, we decided again to choose Stadler for a new ballistic separator in 2014.” This was followed by a complete moderni- sation of the plant in 2017: “Stadler offered us the complete package, from project planning to the construction of the modernisation of the entire plant, managed and implemented by their staff,” explains Alexander Rimmer, joint CEO of the company. “We particularly appreciated their technical know- how and the support during the entire project. Their advice was flawless and they offered us great technical experts who advised not only on the technol- ogy and processes, but also on the implementation possibilities specifically adapted to our technical requirements with good solutions to problems.” The completion of the project within very tight deadlines was a key requirement for RCS. The modernisation has brought multiple benefits to the sorting plant – not only on the quality of the output, but also on its operation and running costs, to the satisfaction of RCS’s CEOs: “The biggest advantage was a triple increase in quantity, quality, and yield. In addition, work processes have become easier for our employees. Recycling Special Alexander Rimmer (left) and Gerd Francke RCS PET sorting plant