Extrusion International 3-2026

47 Extrusion International 3/2026 Producing High-Quality Regranulate Efficiently R ising requirements for recyclates used in sensitive applications are accelerating the further develop- ment of advanced plastics recycling solutions. At Plastics Recycling ShowEurope in Amsterdam, recyclingmachin- ery manufacturer and systems provider EREMA demon- strated 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 re- quired for sensitive applications, both for food and cos- metic grades as well as for other premium quality levels. At PRSE 2026, EREMA demonstrated how these require- ments can be implemented in industrial operations. VOLEX further developed: more options with increased degassing performance With its VOLEX technology, EREMA set a new bench- mark 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 option- al water injection opening up additional potential for sensitive applications. “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 re- duces energy consumption and operating costs for re- cycling companies,” explains Markus Huber Lindinger, Managing Director at EREMA. “The strong increase in melt surface area, combined with TVEplus® technol- ogy, 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 speci cally for de ned application areas. Of particular relevance are applica- tions 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 Clem- ens Kitzberger, Business Development Manager at the EREMA Group: “Many companies have so far only ad- dressed 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 applica- tions in the medium sensitive range.” Food grade polyole ns: next level achieved in the Novel Technology process Alongside technological development, EREMA, to- gether with joint venture partner Lindner Washtech and Irish recycling company Polymer Matters, presented signi cant progress in food grade recycling of polyole - 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