Rumtoo
Inquire Now Advanced PET Bottle Recycling Machine
Transforming plastic waste into high-value resources with our efficient, automated PET processing technology. Discover the journey from bottle to reusable material.
Core Advantages
High-Throughput Crushing
Engineered for rapid volume reduction, efficiently breaking down bottles into manageable sizes for optimal downstream processing.
Precision Sorting Technology
Employs advanced optical and material sensors to meticulously separate PET from PVC, metals, and other plastics, ensuring superior flake purity.
Automated Process Control
Features a user-friendly PLC interface with real-time monitoring and automated adjustments, minimizing labor needs and maximizing uptime.
Durable & Space-Efficient
Constructed with heavy-duty, wear-resistant materials for longevity, yet designed with a compact footprint suitable for various facility layouts.
Energy-Optimized Design
Incorporates energy-efficient motors and intelligent system logic to significantly reduce power consumption per ton processed.
Simplified Maintenance
Designed with accessible components and clear maintenance protocols, reducing downtime and ensuring consistent operational performance.
The Recycling Process Explained
1. Debaling & Liberation
Initiates the process by efficiently breaking open highly compressed bales of PET bottles, transforming them into a loose, single-bottle stream essential for effective sorting and feeding into the subsequent stages.
2. Pre-Screening (Trommel)
Utilizes a large rotating cylindrical screen with precisely sized holes. As bottles tumble through, smaller contaminants like sand, glass shards, loose dirt, and small metal pieces fall out, protecting downstream equipment.
3. Wet Granulation (Crushing)
High-speed rotating knives cut the whole bottles into uniform flakes (typically 10-15mm). This crucial step occurs underwater (wet granulation) which pre-cleans the material, reduces heat generation, and minimizes blade wear.
4. Air Classification (Label Removal)
Employs controlled airflow in a zigzag or column configuration. Lighter materials like paper/plastic labels, film fragments, and fine dust are lifted away from the heavier PET flakes, significantly improving purity.
5. Sink/Float Separation
Capitalizes on density differences in water. Heavier PET flakes (density > 1 g/cm³) sink, while lighter polyolefins like PP/PE from caps and rings (density < 1 g/cm³) float, allowing for effective separation.
6. Hot Washing System
A critical cleaning stage where flakes are agitated in hot water (typically 70-90°C) with caustic soda and detergents. This effectively dissolves stubborn glues, removes oils, grease, and leftover beverage residues for high-quality output.
7. Friction Washing (Cold Rinse)
Utilizes a high-speed rotor with paddles inside a screen mesh. This intense mechanical scrubbing action polishes the flakes, removing any loosened dirt or chemical residues from the hot wash stage, often combined with a cold water rinse.
8. Mechanical Dewatering
A high-speed centrifuge spins the washed flakes, using centrifugal force to expel the majority of the surface water (reducing moisture content typically to <2-3%). This minimizes the energy needed for thermal drying.
9. Thermal Drying System
Circulates precisely heated air through the dewatered flakes, evaporating the remaining moisture to reach the final target level (often <1%). This step is crucial for preventing issues during storage or subsequent melt processing (e.g., pelletizing).
10. Product Storage (Silo)
The clean, dry, processed PET flakes (or pellets) are conveyed to large storage silos. This provides a buffer capacity, ensures product consistency, and facilitates easy loading for bulk packaging or transport.
11. Pelletizing/Extrusion (Optional)
For applications requiring pellets, the clean flakes are melted in an extruder, filtered, forced through a die head into strands, cooled, and then cut into uniform pellets. This creates an easy-to-handle feedstock for manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes PET plastic?
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is prized for its strength, clarity, light weight, and excellent barrier properties against liquids and gases. It’s the plastic marked with the #1 recycling symbol, commonly used for beverage bottles and food packaging.
What quality standards does the recycled PET meet?
Our standard washing lines produce high-purity flakes suitable for applications like polyester fiber, strapping, sheet production, and non-food contact packaging. Specific configurations can be designed to meet higher purity requirements, potentially including food-grade standards with additional purification steps.
What processing capacities do you offer?
We provide scalable solutions, ranging from smaller lines (e.g., 300-500 kg/hour) to large industrial-scale plants (e.g., 1000 kg/hr, 2000 kg/hr, up to 6000 kg/hr). We tailor the capacity to match your input material availability and market demands.
Do you provide installation and training support?
Absolutely. We offer complete installation supervision, commissioning services, and comprehensive hands-on training for your operational and maintenance staff to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the equipment.
What factors influence the project’s ROI?
Key factors include the cost and quality of sourced PET bales, local utility costs (electricity, water), labor expenses, the final selling price of the recycled flakes/pellets (which varies by quality and market conditions), and the overall efficiency and uptime of the plant.
Elevate Your PET Recycling Operations
Partner with Rumtoo Machinery. Let’s discuss how our tailored PET bottle recycling lines can optimize your process, improve output quality, and enhance your contribution to the circular economy.
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