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Plastics Discovery Tour

Fakuma

Inline color measurement is essential for automatic color adjustment of recyclates. Good results have now been obtained in an industrial project.

Color sensor front end, including the device for height adjustment of the product stream, immediately after pelletization and the drying process of the recyclate: The 20 mm-sized measurement spot compensates for the random position of the pellets and the vibration of the vibratory conveyor, and thereby ensures high measurement accuracy.

16:9

Farbmessgeräte

Messgeräte für Farbe

Messtechnik

Farbstoffe

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Kunststoff-Rezyklat

Automatically Adjusting to the  Desired Color

To make sensible use of recycled materials, they must be of a comparable quality to new materials. A new sorting technology could help.

With the PIDEA system, objects can be detected multiple times for statistical evaluation. 

Recycling

Sortierer

Kunststoff-Recycling

Additive

Inspektion, Analyse und Sortierung von Rohmaterial

Kreislaufwirtschaft

Sorting Done Differently

Until now, old car tires have only been recycled to a limited extent. A process from Evonik is now set to bring about a breakthrough.

Crumb rubber from end-of-life tires before processing (left), after processing without devulcanization agents (center), and after processing with devulcanization agents (right): The objective of the project at Evonik is to increase the proportion of recycled material from end-of-life tires that can be reused in the production of new tires.

Kautschuk / Elastomere

On the Road Again

The packaging world of the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries has long been balancing a tension between sustainable claims and regulatory reality.

Extrusion of PE films in the ISO7 cleanroom at Peku Folien. Recyclates are not permitted here, but certified bioplastics are.

For some time now, the packaging world of the medical device and pharmaceutical industries has been juggling sustainable aspirations and regulatory realities. Demand, reality and outlook

Verpackungsmittel aus Kunststoffen

Folien

Medizinprodukte

Claim, Reality, and Outlook

Ecofario has developed a technology that allows microplastics to be filtered out of wastewater. The start-up uses the so-called hydrocyclone principle more efficiently and cost-effectively than before.

Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Porkert (left) founded the start-up together with Adrian Scholl.

Nachhaltigkeit

Start up

Ehrhardt, Melanie

Prozess- und Umwelttechnik

Strong Vortex Ensures  Less Microplastics

One of the keys to a more efficient circular economy is optimizing regrind sorting. What technologies can be used to improve quality and yield?

The Pre-Sort offers maximum process flexibility thanks to any combination of sensors and a selection of different sorting sequences.

Streifinger, Florian

Kunststoff-Aufbereitung

“The Dust Has to Be Removed First“

Covestro has developed a new range of recycled polycarbonates. The plastics are obtained from end-of-life headlamps.

In the joint program initiated by German GIZ, the project partners develop value chains for materials recycled from end-of-life automotive headlamps.

Automotive

Polycarbonat

Polycarbonate Made from Recycled Headlamps

The composite materials currently used in cars are often not recyclable. Mercedes has therefore recently started using mono-material sandwiches.

As a reference part for the natural fiber-based multi-material approach used in series production and the recyclable PET mono-material sandwich, the bending-loaded door pocket of the door panel of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was used.

Verbundwerkstoffe / Werkstoffverbunde

Leichtbau

Polyethylenterephthalat

Faserverbundwerkstoffe

Not Only Lightweight,  But Also Recyclable

Audi and Fraunhofer IVV test solvent-based recycling process for PC/ABS blends. The recyclate obtained is also suitable for interior components.

Audi has set itself the goal of continuously increasing the proportion of secondary materials in the Audi fleet. For example, several components in the Audi Q6 e-tron are made from recycled materials. (Note: This does not apply to the PC/ABS described in the article).

Audi and Fraunhofer IVV make mixed plastic waste recyclable. The recyclate is also suitable for interior components.

Technische Kunststoffe

Physically Recycled Post-Consumer Recyclate from End-of-Life Vehicles

Different countries, different customs – this also applies to plastics recycling. Approaches range from state control to reliance on the invisible hand of the market.

Messe K-Kunststoffmesse

Caught between Necessity and Potential

The PRSE 2025 once again made Amsterdam the center of European plastics recycling.

Winners of the Plastics Recycler Awards 2025: the awards ceremony on the first day of the show is one of the highlights of PRS Europe in Amsterdam each year.

Curtain Up for Europe‘s Recycling Elite

Joining technology – interview with Plastics Insights, Professor Andreas Gross, Head of Training and Technology Transfer at Fraunhofer IFAM, and Anne-Laureen Lauven, Head of Marketing at Plasmatreat GmbH.

PlasmaPlus technology solves adhesion problems, for example, by applying a PT-Bond plasma polymer layer to plastics that are difficult to bond. The bifunctional layer promotes adhesion both to the plastic and to the adhesive.

Doriat, Clemens, Dr.

Elektromobilität

Plasmabehandlung

Klebstoffe

“Even in the 21st Century Products Will Be Multi-Material Composites”

Quality fluctuations make it difficult to process PCR. This can be achieved with continuous material monitoring.

Magnifying glass focuses on recycle symbol amidst recycled material.

Sensortechnik

Polypropylen

Real-Time Monitoring  and Dynamic Adjustments

Circular economy with CFRP: strategies for recycling carbon fiber waste as holistically as possible.

Examples of various carbon fiber materials, including fabric, short fibers and recycled carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (rCFRP) compounds.

How the Circular Economy Works with Carbon Fibers

The Hansgrohe Group is putting into operation the world‘s first plant for the electro-hydraulic fragmentation and material separation of electroplated plastic components.

True to the sustainability principle “Reduce, Repent, Recycle“, the handle of the hand shower of the product line Pulsify Planet Edition is made of recycled plastic.

Bautechnik, Sanitär

An Exemplary System

Together with partners, Brückner Maschinenbau is researching viable film solutions for a more sustainable future.

Designed with recycling in mind: These crisp bags made of BOPP can be recycled into new film with 80 % recycled content. 

Together with partners, Brückner Maschinenbau is researching viable film solutions for a more sustainable future. 

Schröder, Susanne

Flachfolienanlagen

Flachfolien- und Plattenextrusion

Sustainability Meets Technology

Pyrolysis oil from plastic waste has to be purified at great expense before it can be reused. Evonik has developed a range of new Purocel products and catalyst technologies for this purpose.

Evonik has announced a comprehensive suite of Puroce products that improve the quality of pyrolysis oil, driving greater circularity for plastics.

Evonik Advances Pyrolysis Oil Capability

Recyclabs has developed a chemical recycling process that paves the way to recycle what was previously non-recyclable PET waste .

From left: Georg Schacht (COO), Dr. Christoph Alberti (CEO) and Dr. Stephan Enthaler (CTO).

Recyclabs has developed a chemical recycling process that paves the way to recycle what was previously non-recyclable PET waste.

Perzl, Antonia

“We Approach Recycling  Holistically”

North American Braskem CEO Mark Nikolich explains his plastics vision for 2030 concerning bioplastics and renewable chemicalsand describes the political interplay of regulations from an international perspective.

Surprise puzzle in the Braskem working landscape. The motif in the center is unknown. 

A visit to the new Innovation Center in Boston

Biokunststoffe

In the Jungle of Bioplastics Research

Recyclates are rarely used in vehicle interiors. A project by BMW and TechnoCompound shows that this is possible with proportions of over 20 %.

The Mini Cooper E shows that a high content of PCR can also be used in interior components.

From the Yellow Bag to the Vehicle Interior

The SPE Automotive Awards were presented for the 22nd time in 2024. Our series highlights the award-winning components – part 3 of the series.

If you want to see the innovation of the cooling profile, you need technical help. The secret is hidden in micro-nano structures that ensure a secure and tight connection between aluminum and plastic. 

Emerging Technologies and New Mobility

“Paper Pearls” material opens up the possibility of integrating plastic-free, highly filled paper fiber blends into applications previously reserved for plastics – using standard injection molding machines and processes.

The “Slot-Lock” positioning tools, which are injection molded from “Paper Pearls” (here with 51 % fiber content) and weigh around 20 g, are sustainable, stable and compostable after use.

Spritzgießen

Faserverarbeitung

Injection Molded Parts for the Paper Bin

Massimo Serapioni, General Manager Business Unit Recycling at Coperion, explains the strategic direction of the business unit and the technological innovations with which Coperion intends to advance plastics recycling.

Massimo Serapioni, Head of Business Unit Recycling, wants to make Coperion a leader in the plastics recycling industry.