PETpla.net Insider 04 / 2021

PREFORM PRODUCTION PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 04/21 www.petpla.net 21 sent specific challenges. Whereas reground PET preforms are clean and relatively easy to handle, the repro- cessing of PET post-industrial fibre waste for example is quite another matter. The Gneuss MRS devolatilis- ing extruder is well suited to process- ing fibre waste which usually has a high residual moisture level and is often coated with spin finish oils. The dynamic viscosity control of this extru- sion system ensures a uniform IV of the material which is important if the material is to be put back into fibres. Halabi: What does it take to process a polymer into a pellet which is fully capable of being recircu- lated? Prangnell: Post-indus- trial preform regrind is a sought after material and usually used for high quality applications. With the MRS extruder, it is possible to pro- cess this material without the need for pre-drying or any kind of heat treatment prior to extrusion. For this reason, the MRS extruder offers the processor the ability to reprocess raw material with the minimum of quality loss through re-processing. Halabi: For preforms manufacturers the PET pel- lets need to be of highest quality with regard to trans- parency and yellowness. Can you describe the way how your machines handle these factors? Prangnell: With the MRS extruder, it is possi- ble to process PET without any thermal pre-treatment whatsoever and in the case of post-consumer PET bottle flakes, thermal pre-treatment for the purpose of decontam- ination for food contact appli- cations is likewise unneces- sary. This means that one major cause of yellowing of the material is taken out of the equation completely. The multiple satellite screws of the MRS extruder provide excellent distributive mixing which ensures good clarity and transparency. Halabi: Together, Europe and North America are expected to capture more than half of the global PET preforms market by end of 2030. However, East Asia is anticipated to have highest growth trajectory, at a CAGR of 4.6%. How do you prepare your company in order to participate and profit best pos- sible? Prangnell: Gneuss has always worked hard to embrace worldwide mar- kets and to adopt different approaches to different markets in different regions. In some regions we operate via daughter companies and in other regions we oper- ate via highly trained representatives with the aim of providing the same level of advice and support as direct from Germany, but with a local touch. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that this approach is more important today, than it ever has been. Halabi: Thank you for your time. www.gneuss.com