APK has started commercial film recycling operations at its plant in Merseburg, Germany.
Using the company’s Newcycling process, the plant specialises in separating polyethylene and polyamide from multi-layer packaging films sourced from post-industrial streams.
The process features a complete melt processing system from Nordson. The hardware turns mixed and multi-layer waste into purified polymer with properties close to virgin resin.
The Newcycling process uses using solvents to selectively dissolve plastics within the shredded waste, separating liquid and solid components, purifying the polymer, and removing the solvent for reuse in the process.
An extruder delivers polyamide to BKG melt delivery and pelletizing components for production of APK’s Mersamid polyamide resins.
The BKG equipment includes a BlueFlow gear pump, HiCon screen changer, polymer diverter valve, underwater pelletizer and Master-Line process water/pellet dryer system.
“Our Mersamid products are intended for demanding technical applications as alternatives to virgin plastics,” said Florian Riedl, director of business development for APK.
“Nordson’s BKG pelletizing and melt delivery equipment contributes to meeting our requirement for high-quality granulates with homogeneous properties. In addition, these systems help us achieve a level of production efficiency that is consistent with our sustainability approach,” he added.
This first plant has an annual recycling capacity of 8,000 tonnes. Riedl noted that APK is looking to construct a second Newcycling plant with an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes, for processing of post-consumer mixed film waste.
This site will deliver high-quality PE and PP resins.