Extrusion International 1-2026

45 Extrusion International 1/2026 New Filter Designed for Complete Scraper Cleaning F IMIC, a global reference in au- tomatic melt filters for plastic recycling, announces the launch of its latest innovation: FCS Filter, a breakthrough solution designed to solve one of the most common is- sues recyclers face in filtration – con - taminants stuck inside scrapers. In plastic recycling, new materials streams (previously being inciner - ated) now end up in the recycling world. New materials mean new and more contaminations, such as PET/PA fibers, aluminum foils, metal powders, sand, or fine par - ticles that often get trapped inside the scraper channels of melt filters, causing increased downtimes and requiring frequent screen changes (typically every 2 to 3 days) to clean the scraping elements. To over- come this issue, what the industry truly needed was a technology ca- pable of ensuring complete and reliable scraper cleaning together with an effective discharge of the filtered contaminants. FIMIC’s answer is the FCS - Forced Cleaning Scraper, a new filter de - sign equipped with a mechanical piston that performs a fast, effec- tive, and forced cleaning of the scraper channels. Unlike traditional solutions, thanks to this mechanical action, the scraper cleaning is inde- pendent from inlet pressure, guar- anteeing consistent performance under all working conditions. Key benefits of FCS Filter • Complete cleaning of scraper channels, extending machine work- ing time • Inlet pressure no longer crucial for effective cleaning • Efficient discharge of contami - nants even in highly contaminated streams • Specific solution for difficult contaminants such as plastic fibers, aluminum foil, fine sand, metal powders and small stones The FCS Filter is designed for the same filtrations, throughputs, and materials as RAS filters, with no par - ticular limitations, but is espe- cially suited for streams with high levels of fibers, aluminum, or fine particulate where stan - dard RAS scrapers struggle to discharge properly. The FCS filter is available in four different sizes – FCS 400, FCS 500, FCS 600, and FCS 700 – designed to meet the needs of different recycling plants. With this range, FIMIC provides a re- liable solution for complete scraper cleaning and effective contaminant discharge across various production scales. With the FCS Filter, FIMIC wants to go beyond conventional solutions and offer recyclers a way to finally over - come the issue of incomplete scraper cleaning. This innovation guarantees longer machine uptime and greater process reliability, even with the most challenging contaminants. FIMIC Srl. www.fimic.it New Research Project Launched With the “CloseT” research project, the SKZ Plastics Center is working with the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Re- search IFAM to develop an innovative process for recy- cling mixed waste textile fibers. The aim is to develop an industrially viable, continuous chemical recycling pro- cess using solvolysis.

 Until now, old textiles have mainly been recycled thermally, which irretrievably destroys valuable polymer resources and prevents the opportunity for sustainable reuse. The “CloseT” project focuses on chemical recycling using solvolysis. This involves chemically recycling mixed old textile fibers in a con- tinuous process using a twin-screw extruder. The re- action products obtained in the recycling process are to be used directly as raw materials in plastics process- ing. “We want to create a sustainable alternative that not only conserves resources but also opens up new