Italian filtration systems supplier Fimic has helped a new recycler improve efficiency and cut costs in Manduria, southern Italy.
Specialised in the production and maintenance of fire protection systems, family-owned ItalFire recently made its first foray into the recycling business with a plastics recycling unit for post-industrial and commercial low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
During recycling, however, high contamination levels of 4-5% were regularly encountered, causing problems during the extrusion process and leading to high costs being incurred for spare parts, said Fimic in a press release 26 Nov.
To tackle the issue, ItalFire turned to Fimic for help earlier this year, who recommended using a different melt filter. Fimic then supplied the company with a new RAS 700 melt filter with a filtering surface of almost 4,000 cm² and a single laser screen, specifically designed to handle highly contaminated materials.
The filter was adapted prior to shipping, so that the flanges and height fitted the customer’s extrusion line, Fimic said, adding that Fimic installation of the new melt flter went smoothly. The task was completed within a day.
Run by the Lodedo family, ItalFire can currently produce 1,500 kg/h of rLDPE film with a thickness of 150 microns at its plant.