Nordson's BKG Melt Delivery and Pelletizing Components Transform Purified Polyamide from APK AG Process into Resins Comparable to Virgin Technical Polymers

December 4, 2019: APK AG has deployed a complete downstream melt processing system from Nordson Corporation for use with its innovative Newcycling process, which carries out the dictates of the circular economy by transforming mixed and multi-layer waste into purified polymer with properties close to virgin resin.

The first Newcycling plant, located in Merseburg, Germany, began commercial operation in June with an annual capacity of 8,000 tons and is used for separating polyethylene and polyamide from multi-layer packaging films (post-industrial source). The Newcycling process produces the polymers in purified form by shredding the waste, using solvents to selectively dissolve the plastics, separating liquid and solid components, purifying the polymer, and removing the solvent for reuse in the process. An extruder delivers polyamide to BKG melt delivery and pelletizing components for production of APK's Mersamid polyamide resins.

The BKG equipment includes a BlueFlow gear pump, HiCon screen changer, polymer diverter valve, underwater pelletizer and Master-Line process water / pellet dryer system.

"Our Mersamid products are intended for demanding technical applications as alternatives to virgin plastics," said Florian Riedl, Director of Business Development for APK. "Nordson's BKG pelletizing and melt delivery equipment contributes to meeting our requirement for high-quality granulates with homogeneous properties. In addition, these systems help us achieve a level of production efficiency that is consistent with our sustainability approach."

Elsewhere in Europe, Mr. Riedl noted, APK will build a second Newcycling plant, with a capacity of 20,000 tons, for processing of mixed film waste of post-consumer origin.

Nordson Polymer Processing Systems provides customers with engineered components to melt, homogenize, filter, meter, and give shape to plastic and fluid coating materials. Nordson Corporation leverages the collective plastics industry experience from a series of strategic acquisitions to offer a uniquely broad portfolio of industry-leading technologies. Nordson delivers a full range of precision melt stream products — from screws and barrels for extrusion and injection molding — to filtration systems, pumps, and valves — to the extrusion dies and pelletizing systems to meet the constantly evolving needs of the polymer industry. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Nordson has operations and support offices in more than 30 countries.

APK develops recycling technologies and produces plastic granulates from plastic waste at its headquarters in Merseburg (Saale), Germany. The core technology of APK is the Newcycling technology, a solvent-based process that recovers from complex mixed plastic waste fractions (e.g. multi-layer packaging) again pure, sorted polymers that can be reused in demanding applications, such as flexible packaging.

Source: Nordson