recoSTAR PET for food-contact

Starlinger recycling equipment has proven its high decontamination capability in a series of challenges tests. The rPET produced on Starlinger recycling machinery can be used at a rate of up to 100 % for direct food-contact packaging.
Due to a variety of input qualities and requirements in terms of reapplication, Starlinger recycling technology has designed four approaches to achieve food-contact rPET.

food contact FDA, EFSA Decontamination, VOC Brand Owner approved Low AA level IV increase
PET FGXX●○○○optionally●○○ *
PET FG+XX●●○○●○●●○ **
PET iV+XX●●●○X●●●●● **
PET iV+ SuperiorXX●●●●X●●●●● **

* with reduced output, ** with full output

Although all four systems have achieved various food-contact approvals, they differ in rate of decontamination, brand-owner approval, AA level and IV increase. Preferred solution for bottle-to-bottle is the well proven recoSTAR PET iV+ line.

recoSTAR PET with Starlinger iV+ technology features the following advantages:

  • FIFO principle for flakes and pellets ensures defined residence times
  • Modular design ensures flexibility and adaptability to different input material and the changing requirements of rPET users.
  • Careful treatment of flakes, avoiding dust, high IV loss and degradation.
  • The high-vacuum degassing extruder reduces viscosity loss during extrusion and purifies the melt from volatile contamination.
  • The optional inline crystallisation after underwater pelletising ensures optimised foot-print, energy saving and high crystallinity.
  • Inline colour measurement guarantees first-class colour value.
  • IV increase is adjustable and consistent (variation rate similar to virgin resin)
  • The SSP units have a small footprint, convenient height and can be quickly installed on standard industrial floors
  • The modular system allows simply adding another SSP unit in case higher IV is needed or the IV of the input material decreases over time
  • Flake treatment, extrusion and solid-stating can be used both stand-alone or inline
  • And the most important point: rPET produced using Starlinger recycling technology enables preform producers to replace virgin material without having to change the production process or materials handling.

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Additional information

recoSTAR PET FG: preferred solution for sheet application and maintained IV

Once installed, the unit can be equipped with an SSP reactor (iV+) to increase viscosity and decontamination levels to produce rPET pellets for bottle-to-bottle.

recoSTAR PET FG+: IV increase for sheet and non-CSD preforms

Predrying unit under vacuum can be used stand-alone to produce food-grade flakes for direct food-contact applications such as sheet.

1. Conveyor screw
2. Hot air drying unit
3a. Pre-drying unit
3b. Pre-drying unit under vacuum
4. Extruder
5. High-vacuum degassing extruder
6. Melt filter without backflushing
7. Melt filter with backflushing
8. Strand pelletiser
9. Automatic strand pelletiser
10. Underwater pelletiser
11. Underwater pelletiser with inline crystallisation

18. Storage silo

recoSTAR PET (HC) iV+: well proven solution for bottle-to-bottle

Special FIFO design ensures consistent reaction parameters, adjustable IV increase as well as highly effective decontamination levels for food-contact applications.

recoSTAR PET iV+ Superior: for highest decontamination level

The superior decontamination reduces AA and VOC to a minimum. Optionally, the two steps can be separated to double the capacity: food-contact flakes and / or food-contact pellets can be produced.

1. Conveyor screw
2. Hot air drying unit
3a. Pre-drying unit
3b. pre-drying unit under vacuum
4. Extruder
5. High-vacuum degassing extruder
6. Melt filter without backflushing
7. Melt filter with backflushing
8. Strand pelletiser
9. Automatic strand pelletiser
10. Underwater pelletiser
11. Underwater pelletiser with inline crystallisation
12. Crystalliser/post-crystallisation unit
13. Vacuum transport
14. Preheating unit
15. SSP reactor
16. Cooling unit/vacuum sluice
17. Energy recovery kit
18. Storage silo