Closed-circuit recycling

In Germany it will be the first system of its kind to go operational in August at the beverage producer Stute Nahrungsmittelwerke. We speak of the Krones PET recycling system: based on SuperClean-PET-Flake technology, that enables one to go straight from the recycled granule to the pressmoulding of preforms or containers.

The food company Stute Nahrungsmittelwerke in Paderborn, Germany, is rigorously pursuing its eco-friendly strategic thrust. After investing in three wind farms, a biogas system and several solar power installations that together cover more than 30 per cent of Stute’s own energy requirements, this privately owned company will in future also be able to completely recycle PET material. For this purpose, the beverage plant will in August 2012 be commissioning Germany’s first PET recycling line from Krones. The SuperClean-PET-flake process is able to produce flakes at a high degree of purity, which can be directly used for making new bottles. Conventional processes, by contrast, require additional steps for creating food-grade recyclate.

With this process, Stute plans to feed back into its bottle production operation both PET bottles and preforms. This also includes bottles that have already come into contact with product. The recycling process washes and decontaminates the rejected PET, thus guaranteeing its suitability for future food-grade applications.

From the recycling line into the injection-moulding machine. The PET materials waiting to be recycled are first comminuted and then fed to the washing system’s storage silo. The PET recycling line is made up of the following main components: washing module, decontamination module, plus the peripherals.
The line is installed on two different levels: the washing module and the decontamination module are spatially separated, with the latter located directly next to the existing injection-moulding machines for producing preforms.

Invest in self-sufficiency. The decision in favour of Krones was an easy one for Stute, since Krones is the only manufacturer able to offer a complete system, from container feed right through to the finished, decontaminated flakes from a single source, thus reliably eliminating any interfacing problems.
For Stute, the installation is a strategic investment. Instead of using the recyclate to meet in particular China’s huge demand for it (as is customary in the sector), Stute wanted to create a sustainable, closed-circuit process within its own production facility right from the start. And, of course, the sector is still living under the Damocles sword of a politically inspired additional deposit on non-returnable PET. This extra burden may be evaded only by a relatively high proportion of recyclate, as the PETCycle system goes to show.

Consolidated partnerships. The choice of investing in Krones’ SuperClean-PET-Flake is also motivated by other factors: the faith that derives from the relations between Stute and the German system builder, now substantiated with new contents. In response to market trends, Stute is shifting its container priorities, progressively away from carton packaging and towards PET containers. All in all, Stute has meanwhile been operating 13 PET lines in its Paderborn facility. Since 2009, Stute has rigorously opted for Krones’ technology when it comes to new investments: to start with, there was its first PET-Asept variant, which was followed by two lines with Contipure preform decontamination feature. Thanks to the innovative preform decontamination feature, consumption figures for both energy and media have been significantly reduced as compared to container treatment.

In mid-2012, what will then be the firm’s fourth Krones line will start operation – this one, too, a PET-Asept line. There are plans for further investments with Krones to replace some relatively old lines. So the firm’s alliance with Krones for PET recycling must likewise be seen as part of a long-term corporate strategy.