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With EREMA’s VOLEX technology, high levels of decontamination and deodorisation can be achieved directly during the extrusion process. For many medium‑sensitive applications, this eliminates the need for additional thermal post‑treatment of the pellets |
Rising requirements for recyclates used in sensitive applications are accelerating the further development of advanced plastics recycling solutions. At Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam, recycling machinery manufacturer and systems provider EREMA demonstrated how advanced technologies and coordinated process chains enable the production of high-quality regranulates for demanding end use applications.
Against the backdrop of regulatory requirements such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), recycling technologies that focus on degassing performance, odour optimisation and process stability are gaining importance in Europe. Recyclates are required for sensitive applications, both for food and cosmetic grades as well as for other premium quality levels. At PRSE 2026, EREMA demonstrated how these requirements can be implemented in industrial operations.
VOLEX further developed: more options with increased degassing performance
With its VOLEX technology, EREMA set a new benchmark for degassing post consumer streams at K 2025. Based on experience gained since market introduction, the technology has since been further developed under practical operating conditions. Targeted optimisation of the screw geometry enables degassing performance levels that previously required a larger machine size. The latest technology update allows VOLEX to be used both with and without water stripping, with the optional water injection opening up additional potential for sensitive applications.
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The joint project by EREMA, Lindner Washtech and Polymer Matters, focusing on the recycling of HDPE milk bottles, has reached the next stage in the European Commission’s Novel Technology approval process. From right to left: Clemens Kitzberger (EREMA Group) and Michael Cunningham (Polymer Matters) (Photos Credits: EREMA GmbH) |
“Decontamination and deodorisation effects that, compared with standard systems on the market, can only be achieved through several hours of thermal post treatment of the pellets can already be realised directly during the extrusion process thanks to VOLEX. This reduces energy consumption and operating costs for recycling companies,” explains Markus Huber Lindinger, Managing Director at EREMA. “The strong increase in melt surface area, combined with TVEplus® technology, results in an optimal balance between degassing performance and thermomechanical stress on the input material,” he continues.
Together with customers and partners, EREMA is working to optimise the process specifically for defined application areas. Of particular relevance are applications with high quality requirements where odour plays a role, but which do not require food or cosmetic grade standards. These include, for example, components for automotive interiors such as cable ducts, or packaging for household chemicals, such as bottles for household cleaners. The latter are expected to gain importance in view of the EU Packaging Regulation, emphasises Clemens Kitzberger, Business Development Manager at the EREMA Group: “Many companies have so far only addressed the question of which products will fall under the PPWR requirements in the future to a limited extent. At EREMA, we are prepared to economically provide the high degassing performance required for applications in the medium sensitive range.”
Food grade polyolefins: next level achieved in the Novel Technology process
Alongside technological development, EREMA, together with joint venture partner Lindner Washtech and Irish recycling company Polymer Matters, presented significant progress in food grade recycling of polyolefins at PRSE. In the European Commission’s Novel Technology authorisation process, the joint project – which returns PCR from HDPE milk bottles to the same loop – has reached the next stage.
“In order to produce food grade rHDPE in Europe, the recycling process must be authorised in accordance with EU Regulation 2022/1616. Achieving Advanced Novel Technology status marks an important milestone and demonstrates that mechanical recycling can also enable food grade recyclates for polyolefins economically and on an industrial scale,” says Kitzberger. “Importantly, this is not a closed loop system, but input material from mixed household collections.”
A deep understanding of the entire process chain – from the selection and preparation of the input material through to extrusion and decontamination – is crucial for such progress. A specialised food grade team of market experts and experienced chemists translates the respective requirements into suitable concepts. Validated challenge tests as well as internal and external laboratory analyses form the basis for robust material assessments. Experience gained from numerous projects also feeds into the structured support of authorisation procedures, where reproducible results and clear documentation are essential prerequisites.
High regranulate quality through coordinated processes
High-quality regranulate and consistent process efficiency in post-consumer recycling require that every stage of the entire plant is coordinated from the outset. This is precisely where the close collaboration between EREMA and Lindner Washtech comes into play: material preparation, washing and extrusion are designed not as individual process stages, but as a seamless, integrated process.
Developments cover several key aspects, ranging from process stability and energy efficiency to system connectivity. A central lever is data exchange across the entire process chain. Using a jointly developed HMI, relevant process data from material preparation, washing line, extruder and downstream process steps are consolidated in a structured overview. This transparency enables targeted process optimisation and throughput oriented plant design.
