PET extrusion line
In recent years, the plastic extrusion line sector has seen a significant increase in demand for solutions capable of utilizing recycled PET, particularly waste derived from post-consumer bottles. The goal is not only environmental but also industrial: to transform PET flakes into thermoforming foil while maintaining high mechanical and rheological performance, with sustainable capital and operating costs.
With this goal in mind, various technologies have been evaluated, often united by the attempt to eliminate the preliminary drying phase of the flakes, which is notoriously costly in terms of energy and investment. BG Plast has successfully overcome this challenge by developing a PET extrusion line capable of combining efficiency, extruded foil quality and application flexibility, resulting in a reliable and competitive technical solution.
PET foil extrusion system applications
The BG Plast PET extrusion line is primarily designed for the production of PET foils intended for thermoforming, with a particular focus on the packaging sector. Applications include:
- Thermoformed food packaging
- Food trays and containers
- Transparent packaging for industrial and commercial use
- Applications requiring multilayer sheet with virgin material in contact with the product.
The ability to use recycled PET from bottles reduces environmental impact and raw material costs while meeting the growing demands of the circular economy without compromising the performance of the finished product.
Technical specifications of the BG Plast PET extrusion line
At the heart of the BG Plast solution is a single-screw extruder especially designed for processing PET, equipped with a multi-dosage unit capable of feeding recycled flakes, virgin material and masterbatch in a controlled manner. This configuration makes it possible to produce a sheet with high surface and structural quality, with minimal loss of intrinsic viscosity (I.V.) compared to the initial values of the fed PET.
As is well known, the presence of moisture in PET critically affects the material’s intrinsic viscosity, compromising the performance of the product intended for thermoforming. For this reason, the line incorporates a highly efficient degassing system based on a powerful vacuum generated by a special high-performance pump, capable of effectively removing residual moisture without resorting to traditional drying systems.
For applications in the food packaging sector, regulations require that the material in contact with food be virgin. BG Plast meets this requirement with a co-extrusion setup, in which the main extruder, fed with recycled PET flakes, is paired with a co-extruder dedicated to virgin material. The result is the production of an A-B-A multilayer foil, typically with a 5-90-5% composition, which combines food safety, sustainability and cost optimization.From a downstream perspective, the system differs from a PP or PS foil extrusion line primarily due to the presence of a silicone bath, an essential element for ensuring proper thermal and surface management of the PET during cooling and calendering.
Industrial competitiveness and flexibility through recycled PET extrusion
To offer a comprehensive and competitive solution across the board, BG Plast has also signed commercial agreements with a leading European manufacturer of co-rotating twin-screw extruders, thereby expanding the range of plant configurations available to meet specific production requirements.
Our PET B extrusion lines are a technologically advanced solution for those in the PET processing industry, combining recycling, product quality and process reliability. A system designed to meet current market demands, with a concrete focus on sustainability and industrial efficiency.
Take a step forward in sustainable PET efficiency with BG Plast.