NGR debuts C:GRAN Series at NPE 2024

Germany-based Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH (NGR) has debuted its C:GRAN series at NPE 2024 in Orlando, which it says is engineered to process a wide range of materials efficiently—from dry, clean postindustrial plastic to wet, heavily contaminated postconsumer plastic. Available in eight machine sizes with throughputs ranging from 300 to 3,000 kilograms per hour, or 661 to 6614 pounds per hour, the series is designed to meet the diverse challenges of recycling, according to the manufacturer.

“Our new C:GRAN series redefines the standards of plastic recycling, ensuring the effective transformation of various waste materials into high-quality granulate,” says Stefan Lehner, product manager of postconsumer recycling at NGR.

The machines can process everything from biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) films generated as production scrap to materials from washing plants and heavily printed films with stringent degassing requirements. This capability ensures the effective reintegration of diverse end-of-life plastic streams back into the production cycle as premium quality granulate, NGR says.

“The series features two independent extruder drives, allowing optimal speed settings for both the melting and degassing extruders,” Lehner says. “This configuration optimizes degassing and melting performance while maintaining lower melt temperatures due to the short process unit. Moreover, a clean separation between the extruder and cascade, with melt filtration in between, ensures that no contamination bypasses the melt filter, leading to a very stable process and preventing the production of off-spec granulate. 'Recycling and compounding' is also possible in a single step when combined with twin screw technology as part of the system.”

C:GRAN features a modular design that offers flexibility, accommodating custom solutions while adhering to standards for specific recycling needs, NGR says. It includes options such as retrofitting additional degassing zones or integrating a cascade with a second filtration stage—adjustments that can be made quickly to optimize operational efficiency.

The enlarged cutter-compactors of the C:GRAN series are designed to ensure high throughput and high process stability despite varying input qualities. For high input moisture levels, the cutter-compactor also can be equipped with a special DRY-Boost to enhance material drying performance, the manufacturer says.

A notable feature of the C:GRAN series is the cascade configuration equipped with the new Power Venting Section, designed for the most difficult degassing challenges, NGR says. This setup is crucial for processing materials with high contamination and moisture, effectively stripping deep volatile contaminants from the polymer melt.

"The cascade’s Power Venting Section, with three degassing openings and an innovative polymer flow path provides the ability to remove even the most challenging volatile contaminants, thus ensuring exceptional pellet quality,” Greg Wool, sales director of NGR Inc., based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, says. “The location of the vent, after filtration, ensures optimized throughput and therefore energy efficiency.”

The newly developed Auto-Pilot control system for the C:GRAN series automates the entire recycling process, adapting seamlessly to changes in material characteristics, such as density and moisture, according to the manufacturer. This system adjusts the intake slider, cutter-compactor, extruder and pelletizing speeds automatically, maintaining optimal processing conditions and consistent pellet quality without operator intervention.

Stefan Lehner, product manager for postconsumer recycling at NGR, adds, "The Auto-Pilot feature virtually eliminates operator error, reduces the likelihood of unscheduled downtime and especially prevents meltdowns. It ensures that our machines operate at peak efficiency, with minimized energy use and enhanced safety.