There are many things to consider when building your plastics recycling washing line.
Such as selecting the right plastics washing line (including Crusher, washing, and Pelletizing), determining an equipment floor plan to fit your facility, determining the suitable capacity, etc.
Determine the type of plastic to be recycled
Some common types of recyclable plastics include PET bottles, PP/PE film soft plastic types, and HDPE hard plastic types. Regardless of what kind of film, packaging, or bags you are processing, it is essential to determine how dirty the plastic is and what quality of output you are looking for.
Recycling PET bottles, for example, is a complex process. Post-consumer bottles are usually shipped in bundles, mixtures of various polymers that must be separated. In addition, PET bottles that are used are often heavily oxidized and contaminated with substances such as soil, stones, and metals. Since PET bottles usually contain labels, additional de-labelers, and sediment roller removers are required compared to other washing lines. Metal removers, magnetic separations, sorters, label suckers, etc., can be added to increase the quality of the bottle flakes.
Choose the right equipment for the plastic recycling washing line.
Some of the key equipment you will need includes (pulverizers, washing systems, drying systems, and granulator systems). You may also need other equipment, such as other optional equipment to automate your production line or improve the quality of your final product.
- Crusher or shredder
This is a machine that breaks down plastic into small pieces for cleaning. To meet different needs. - Washing systems
The separation of impurities from the material is ensured by the combination of different equipment. The correct selection and matching of cleaning equipment can significantly improve the quality of the finished product. - Drying Systems
There are many different options for drying systems. Cleaned plastics typically retain about 22% to 30% moisture. High moisture levels can negatively affect the efficiency of the pelletizing process and the finished product. Depending on the type of plastic, the choice is between centrifugal dewatering machines, extrusion dryers, or ducted air drying. The moisture content of the final product is reduced to 8-13%. - Pelletizing system
Using a pelletizing system, the cleaned plastics are made into pellets to further increase their commercial value, and the plasticized pellets can be used for direct sale or polyester fabrics for the textile industry, etc.
Plastic Recycling Washing Line
Determining capacity needs
Production goals are key quantities to consider when selecting a cleaning line. Capacity requirements will determine the appropriate capacity and capability of the wash line. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- What is your projected annual production volume?
- What type of plastics do you need to process?
- What is your desired line speed?
- What are your daily operating hours and weekly operating days?
- Do you need to process two types of plastics at the same time?
You can choose a line that meets your production goals by carefully evaluating your capacity needs. This will help ensure that your line is compatible and efficient.
Evaluating the Budget
We understand that a plastic cleaning line is a major investment. There are several factors to consider when evaluating the financial impact of a cleaning line:
- Machine Cost: The cost of a cleaning line varies by size, capacity, and features. Be sure to include the cost of the machine itself in your budget.
- Installation Costs: Installing a cleaning line requires labor, materials, and suitable plant space. Include installation costs as well as contingencies in your budget.
- Operating Costs: The operating costs of a cleaning line include water, electricity, and chemicals. Evaluating operating costs is critical to predicting the long-term financial impact.
- Maintenance Costs: As with any machinery, cleaning lines require regular maintenance to keep them in top condition. Incorporate maintenance costs into your budget to ensure the machine runs smoothly.
- Return on Investment: Compare the expected cost of the cleaning line with the potential benefits in plastic quality and productivity. The ROI can help you determine if the cleaning line is economically viable.
Evaluating the budgetary impact of a cleaning line requires careful planning and research. Considering all relevant factors, you can decide based on your needs and financial situation.
Identifying suppliers
When selecting equipment for a plastic washing line, it is important to consider whether you can purchase all the necessary equipment from the same supplier. There are several advantages to purchasing all equipment from the same supplier:
- Compatibility:
Purchasing all equipment from the same supplier ensures that components are compatible with each other, thus increasing the overall efficiency of the washing line. Combining equipment from multiple vendors can lead to a variety of contingencies such as mismatched feed and discharge rates between different machines, or an incident with a single machine that results in damage to the entire line. - Cost Savings:
Purchasing all equipment from the same supplier may also result in cost savings because you may be able to negotiate volume discounts or other favorable terms. There’s no need to negotiate volume with multiple suppliers, which can shut down a project if one supplier can’t offer a discount. - Careful layout:
Lines purchased from the same supplier can be customized to fit your plant’s construction drawings, reducing ineffective space through different layouts and matching types of equipment to each other, increasing raw material placement and temporary unused space for finished goods. - Service and support:
A single supplier can offer a more comprehensive service and support package because they are familiar with all the equipment in your cleaning line. This can be particularly useful if you run into any problems or need technical support.
If you choose to go it alone, you may need to ask 2-3 suppliers to troubleshoot the cause of the problem, or worse still you may need to invite engineers from multiple suppliers to solve the problem together, which can be a huge expense.
Options after the sale
Professional and reliable technical support is essential to ensure a smooth fit and optimization of the cleaning line. The following factors should be considered when selecting a supplier:
Rapid response time: When problems arise, it is critical to get support in a timely manner. Look for a supplier that can provide quick responses and solutions.
Experienced technicians: Ensure that the supplier has a pool of experienced and trained technicians who have in-depth knowledge of the cleaning line and associated equipment.
End-to-end support: End-to-end support allows you to get help whenever and wherever you need it.
Spare parts availability: Ensure that your supplier provides a timely supply of spare parts to minimize time.
Maintenance programs: Ask your supplier if they offer regular maintenance programs to prevent problems and extend the life of your clean lines.
By choosing a supplier that offers quality technical support, you can ensure that your cleaning lines continue to run efficiently and maximize your return on investment. They will be an invaluable partner in helping you resolve any issues and ensuring your line runs smoothly.
Installation and Debugging
When your plastic recycling equipment is almost finished, please contact your supplier to request basic installation and commissioning tasks to ensure that it is ready to be shipped to your country for normal operation.
Once the equipment has arrived at your facility you can either use your own engineers to install the line or hire your supplier’s engineers to come to your facility.
By following these steps you will be able to identify areas for improvement and make changes to the process as needed to ensure that the line is running efficiently and producing high quality cleaning materials.
