After the successful launch event in 2017, Plastics Recycling Technology returns in 2019 and examines the latest technologies for increasing the volume of plastics being recycled. It also explores ways to improve the quality of reclaimed materials so that they can be used in higher value applications. This two-day event takes place on 18 – 19 June 2019 in Düsseldorf.
Leading experts gather at Plastics Recycling Technology 2019 to explore the future of plastics recycling and to look at new ways of boosting productivity, quality and profitability. Speakers will provide an analysis of the European recycling market, innovations driving the recyclability of packaging and discuss strategies to optimise your plastics recycling lines. In addition, the conference covers the circular economy and relevant regulations, the growing importance of additives and delves into developments in chemical recycling, including case studies of exciting new applications across these various topics.
Updates to the plastics recycling market in Europe
The opening session of Plastics Recycling Technology 2019 kicks-off with Ms Lizzy Carroll, Research Analyst from plastics consultancy AMI in the UK who analyses trends in the European plastics recycling market with a closer look at the key findings of her new AMI study. Mr Mike Baxter, External Affairs Director at RPC-BPI Group in the UK then discusses the impact new EU Regulations on plastic packaging will have on the European plastic recycling industry. A study on the use of recyclates by European plastics converting companies is presented Mr Alexandre Dangis, Managing Director of the European Plastics Converters (EUPC) in Belgium.
Innovations driving the recyclability of packaging
The next session takes a closer look at what is happening with regards to packaging andMr Gian De Belder, Packaging Technologist from P&G in Belgium showcases the standardisation of tracer/watermark-based sorting technologies for plastic packaging. This is followed by a talk focusing on recycling technology for plastics in packaging material given by Dr Mikael Hamskog, Recycling Specialist at Tetra Pak in Sweden. The third paper of the session is presented by Mrs Dana Mosora, Founder of Dana Mosora Consulting and a consultant for the European CEFLEX consortium, based in Switzerland. Dana’s paper covers the recycling of flexible packaging in the Circular Economy with insights and learnings from CEFLEX.
Optimising plastics recycling lines
The conference’s third session opens with Dr Gerold Breuer, Head of Marketing & Business Development from Erema Group in Austria who discusses the next level of plastics recycling and its contribution to the circular economy. A technology presentation on innovative granulator designs to maximize profits in scrap recovery is given by Mr Marco Bellotti, Sales & Marketing at C.M.G. in Italy. Mr Jürgen Morosz, Sales Manager at M-A-S Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Schulz in Austria then explores recycling and compounding in one step and delves into tailor-made plastic compounds.
After the refreshment break Mr Carl P. Pöpel, Head of Product Management Compounding at Kraussmaffei Berstorff in Germany closes the session with a paper on innovative extrusion and injection moulding applications for compounding and recycling to develop the circular economy along the plastics supply chain.
Advances in sorting technologies
The fourth and final session of the day features Mr Bernhard Gabauer, Head of Segment Plastics, Business Area Digital Technologies from Bühler in the UK talking about the crucial role of optical sorting in the plastic recycling industry. The final paper of the day is given by Professor Dr Jürgen I. Schoenherr, CEO of the Zittau Institute for Technology Development, Peat and Natural Material Processing Research (ITN)in Germany who focuses on developments in “thermo-sensitive sorting” of mixed plastics.
To round off the day’s proceedings, a networking drinks reception is held in the exhibition room, where delegates and speakers debate the conference so far and attendees have the opportunity to network with industry peers.
Driving the circular economy through plastics recycling
Day two of Plastics Recycling Technology 2019 is opened by Professor Dr Kim Ragaertfrom Ghent University in Belgium and Mr Mark-Olof Dirksen, Project Leader Technology & Function Creation at Philips in the Netherlands who give a joint presentation on their work in turning WEEE plastics into high-quality EEE products. A paper on a new innovative process for recycling end-of-life PMMA wastes is then given by Dr Jean-Luc Dubois, Scientific Director, Catalysis, Processes, Renewables and Recycling atArkema in France. Professor Dr Henning Albers, Director of Institute for theHochschule Bremen (HSB) – City University of Applied Sciences in Germany discusses a new conceptual approach to implement recycling options in reinforced plastics life cycle management of “rotor blade” product systems.
Exploring the important role of additives
Mr Tarquin Crouch, Technical Services and Market Development Manager at Imerplastin the UK begins the second session of the day with a look at creating a value proposition through compatibilization of mixed polyolefins. This is followed by Professor Dr Rudolf Pfaendner, Division Director, Plastics at Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Germany investigating a new generation of stabilizers for high quality recyclates. Enabling polymer modification with polar and no polar polyolefin chemistry is then explored by Ms Isabel Arroyo, Senior Research Scientist at Dow Chemical in Spain.
After the lunch break, the session is continued by Mr Stefan Viering, R&D Engineer, Project Leader UFGM / Metal Tracer at LKAB Minerals in Germany who discusses how ultra-fine ground magnetite is the natural dopant for plastics recycling.
New developments in chemical recycling
The final session of the conference looks at advances in chemical recycling and starts withMs Outi Teräs, R&D Program Manager, Recycled Feeds at Neste Corporation in Finland discussing their ideas in building a circular value chain for chemical recycling of plastics. Closing the conference is Ms Isabelle Ydens, Technical & Marketing Manager, Business Development Renewable Feedstock Polymers Europe at Total Refining & Chemicals in Belgium presenting a new path for polystyrene recycling.
