Kreyenborg presents infrared technology with new control system, storage and feeding systems, recycling solutions, and retrofit solutions for energy-saving Plastics processors and recyclers place the highest demands on the quality of their plastics. At the same time, they’re always on the lookout for new technology to speed up their processes or to save energy. With Kreyenborg’s infrared technology, there is a cost-saving alternative to hot air-, vacuum- or other drying methods. Whether virgin PET material or recyclates, flakes or compounds, various plastics are heated quickly, gently, and efficiently in Kreyenborg’s infrared rotary drum (IRD). Drying and crystallization are likewise achieved in one step. Plastics expertise across the board Kreyenborg, the plastics specialist from Germany, will be demonstrating both a continuous system and a batch version of the infrared rotary drum (IRD) at the K trade fair. To demonstrate the IRD, a large monitor that provides a view into the interior, showing how the material in the rotating drum behaves under infrared light. With mixers, special silos and extruder feeding…

Success for Kreyenborg’s IR-Clean Technology: EFSA gives positive “Scientific Opinion” on decontamination of rPET flakes Process reduces contamination of recycled material to a level determined harmless to health The Germany-based mechanical engineering company Kreyenborg has achieved a significant success under the new regulation (EU) 2022/1616 of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). At the end of May 2025, the authority issued a so-called positive ”Scientific Opinion” for its infrared technology ”IR-Clean” to the manufacturer, which specializes in processing technology for bulk materials in the plastics and food sectors. This process decontaminates recycled PET flakes, which can then be processed again for food packaging that can come into contact with all types of food. With this approval of the process by EFSA, Kreyenborg’s IR-Clean system will be assigned a unique recycling authorization number (RAN) and listed in a public register. According to the machine manufacturer Kreyenborg, several IR-Clean processes have already been individually rated positively by customers in accordance with the old regulation (EC) 282/2008. According to Kreyenborg, the approval…

Brazilian recycler Global PET expands production with a 4th infrared dryer from KREYENBORG. Recycled food-grade PET is booming in Brazil. According to a recently published official study, the nominal capacity for PET recycling in the country is around 400,000 tons per year (t/year). From which, about 140,000 t/year are from the only recovered thermoplastic that is approved in the country for direct contact with food and beverages (except mineral water), according to Irineu Bueno Barbosa, Jr., partner and commercial director of recycler Global PET. With its production having increased 60% since 2017, Global PET shows how hungry the market is for recycled food-grade PET. An important reason for this growth within the last five years for the Sao Paulo-based company has been the introduction of infrared technology (such as the IRD from the German machine builder Kreyenborg) into their existing lines. With Kreyenborg’s system, PET flakes are heated, dried, and crystallized before extrusion. ”We intensively compared conventional heating and drying technologies…

IR-FRESH®: new developments for odor-minimization in granulates and regrinds. A large amount of plastic waste from consumer-market packaging is generated daily. In order to obtain high-quality plastic recyclates from these material streams, and to be able to make them reusable for high-quality applications, odorous substances that have migrated into the material during the course of the product-life must be removed. Up till now, these odorous substances could be removed only inadequately through recycling processes. But with the introduction of KREYENBORG’s new technology, IR-FRESH®, the scenario has changed. IR-FRESH®: new developments for odor-minimization in granulates and regrinds. KREYENBORG has developed sustained, high-level expertise in plastics recycling, with solutions for decontamination of PCR-PET, crystallization, drying, and heating of bulk materials, using infrared technology. Further development of this technology has brought to the fore its newest member among its products, the IR-FRESH® - a modular system for the safe…

PLA continues to enjoy increasing popularity. A particular challenge in processing is crystallization and drying. With its infrared rotary drum (IRD), KREYENBORG offers a fast, energy-saving and product-friendly solution. Polylactide (PLA) continues to enjoy increasing popularity. A particular challenge in processing is crystallization and drying. Because PLA is a hygroscopic thermoplastic, it readily absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. The presence of even small amounts of moisture hydrolyzes the biopolymer in the melt phase and reduces the molecular weight. As a result, the mechanical properties of PLA decrease and the quality of the final product is compromised. Therefore, PLA must be thoroughly dried directly before melt-processing. In many cases, recycled polymer must also be crystallized before drying. With its infrared rotary drum (IRD), KREYENBORG offers a fast, energy-saving and product-friendly solution. Feed material is first introduced into the rotary drum by a volumetric dosing system. High-level heat is then quickly and directly introduced into the core of the material by means of infrared light. This energy thus heats the material from the inside and drives the moisture…

EU funded project CIRCULAR FoodPack to develop a system for circularity of packaging for direct food contact applications. CIRCULAR FoodPack aims to facilitate the circular use of plastic packaging addressing the most sensitive product category: Food. The food packaging sector constitutes of 87% of all European flexible plastic multilayer-composites. Such composites are used to fulfil the high requirements for food preservation and safety. Since such material combinations are inseparable, the multi-layer composites cannot be recycled into high-quality materials by state of the art recycling technologies, which counteracts the intentions of a circular use. Instead, most multi-material composites go to landfill or energy recovery. Furthermore, the reuse of recyclates in food packaging applications is clearly restricted by EU legislation . The potential presence of undesired substances in the recyclates hence requires appropriate methods of decontaminations. Therefore, CIRCULAR FoodPack will further develop the Tracer-Based-Sorting systems to separate food from non-food packaging, enhance…