- Washing system increases capacity from 300 to 2,500 kg/h
- No thermal drying needed
- Lindner Resource America at #NPE2015
Post-consumer plastic scrap can be made into high-grade recyclates provided that all processing steps are optimally matched. The quality level depends to a large extent on the efficiency with which the shredded plastic material is washed and dried. The German Lindner washTech GmbH focuses its activities on just this step in the recycling chain. The company has recently installed a high-throughput washing plant at Cedar Poly LLC and now represented in North America by its own subsidiary. Lindner Resource America LP of Atlanta, GA, will handle sales and technical service for the Linder Group’s complete portfolio.
Washing system increases capacity from 300 kg/h to 2,500 kg/h
Cedar Poly LLC of Tipton/IA, a leading North American plastic scrap trading and recycling company, recently commissioned a plastic washing system from Lindner washTech which enabled them to significantly increase both capacity and product quality. Cedar Poly uses the new system as part of its recycling line for post-consumer HDPE (highdensity polyethylene), which is obtained chiefly in the form of empty containers and bottles.
As the company’s managing directors Jeremy and Scott Rogers confirm: “With our old system we had a maximum throughput limit of 300 kg/h, and its cleaning performance was not sufficient to produce a recyclate suitable for direct further processing. With the new system we achieve throughput rates of up to 2,500 kg/h, and thanks to its superior cleaning performance we can produce high-grade recyclates inhouse.”
The working principle
The custom-designed washing system comprises multiple stages:
- In a first step, the shredded HDPE flakes pass a pre-washing cycle in which the material is soaked and contaminations such as stones, metals and glass are removed.
- Paper label residue and other contaminants are then separated by two washTech LF 600 friction washers (560 mm rotor diameter, 3000 mm rotor length, 30 kW motor). These washing units feature replaceable paddles and screens which help cut the overall operating cost. The newly developed rotor provides highly effective cleaning due to an optimized dwell time of the material.
- Heavier plastic fractions such as PET, ABS or PVC are removed in a further separator stage.
- The material is then sent through a washTech LMD 2000 / 1200 mechanical dryer (1200 mm rotor diameter, 2000 mm rotor length, 90 kW motor) providing a particularly ‘gentle’ drying action.At NPE 2015 in Orlando, booth S26189, Lindner Resource America will be premiering its Apollo line of shredders for throughputs from 300 to 1500 kg/h. These systems are equipped with a newly developed movable hopper which facilitates rapid cleaning of the machine while also providing optimum access for maintenance. Furthermore, the Lindner Group will be showcasing a shredder from its Antares line plustheir latest developments in the field of plastic washing equipment.
- The final stage is an air wash system in which any remaining fines and film particles are separated.
No thermal drying needed
When the cleaned and dried HDPE flakes are subsequently filled into big bags, they have a residual moisture of less than 1 %. Despite this very low moisture level and the high supported throughput rates, the operating costs of this advanced washing system are fairly low because no thermal drying is needed and the water consumption amounts to only around 5 m³/h.
Lindner Resource America at #NPE2015
At NPE 2015 in Orlando, Lindner Resource America will be premiering its Apollo line of shredders for throughputs from 300 to 1,500 kg/h. These systems are equipped with a newly developed movable hopper which facilitates rapid cleaning of the machine while also providing good access for maintenance. In addition, the company will be showcasing a shredder from its Antares line plus their latest developments in the field of plastic washing equipment.
Picture: Cedar Poly’s managing directors Scott (left) and Jeremy Rogers (right) have selected Lindner washTech’s modular washing system for their state-of-the-art plastic recycling plant in Tipton, IA/USA.
