Frequently Asked Questions

Material type and form, contamination level, required capacity, target output and your site conditions (space, water, power, labour). With those five points our engineers can propose a process route rather than a standard machine list.

Material testing is part of the normal process for many projects. Send a material sample, photos or a short video first; test requirements and scope are then agreed with the engineering team.

Washing is required when the material carries soil, labels, adhesives or moisture. Pelletizing is used to turn clean flakes, regrind or film into pellets. An integrated line combines both when your input is contaminated and your required output is pellets.

Yes. For plant-level projects the scope can cover process design, equipment selection, layout and utility planning, manufacturing, factory testing, installation, commissioning and operator training.

Submit your material, contamination level, capacity and target output through the Get a Recycling Plan form. The engineering team reviews the information and responds with a preliminary route and configuration suggestion.

PET, HDPE, PP, LDPE, LLDPE, ABS, PS and other engineering plastics, in bottle, container, film, woven bag, rigid regrind, fibre and foam forms. See Solutions by Material for the ten material groups we cover.

Yes. Agricultural film is treated with pre-treatment and multi-stage washing so that soil, sand and organic residue are removed progressively rather than in a single pass.

Labels and caps need density separation because they are different polymers. Sand and grit increase wear and washing load. Oil and adhesives require heated washing. Moisture determines the drying and dewatering configuration before extrusion.

Often yes, but the practical range is defined during configuration. Some lines run a single material for consistent output quality, while others are designed for a defined group of compatible polymers.

Photos or a short video are usually enough for a first assessment. A physical sample helps confirm contamination level, bulk density and moisture before the configuration is finalised.

Typically feeding and conveying, size reduction, pre-washing, friction washing, density separation, dewatering and drying, plus water treatment and electrical control. See Plastic Washing Systems.

Cold washing removes loose dirt and sand with ambient water. Hot washing uses heated water and often detergent to release labels, adhesives and oily residue, and is common for PET and heavily soiled streams.

Most separation uses density: float-sink tanks separate PE and PP from PET, label removers clear remaining light fractions, and screens and magnetic separators handle metal and oversized material.

Mechanical dewatering comes first (squeezer or centrifuge), followed by thermal drying where the downstream process requires it. The target moisture level determines which combination is used.

Water treatment and recirculation can be included as part of the line. The treatment concept depends on your local discharge rules and how much water the line recirculates.

It depends mainly on bulk density and contamination. Low bulk density film and fibre usually need compaction before extrusion, while flakes and regrind can often be fed directly.

Strand pelletizing cuts cooled strands and suits lower output and easy visual inspection. Water-ring pelletizing cuts at the die face with water cooling and suits most recycled polymers. Underwater pelletizing is used where tighter pellet shape control is required.

When the feed has very low bulk density — film, bags, fibre or nonwoven — so that it must be compacted and densified before it can be fed into the extruder at a stable rate.

Single-stage suits cleaner material and simpler requirements. Two-stage is used when the material carries more contamination or moisture, or when the filtration and degassing demand is higher.

Filtration is sized around the contamination type and the allowed pressure drop; degassing is added when moisture or volatiles have to be removed before the die. Both are reviewed against your actual material condition.

A machine performs one function, such as crushing or pelletizing. A system is the coordinated set of machines, transfer equipment and controls engineered to work together for a defined input and output.

At minimum: feeding, size reduction, washing and separation, dewatering and drying for a washing line; or feeding, compaction, extrusion, filtration and pelletizing for a pelletizing line. An integrated line contains both groups.

Yes. The number of washing stages, the use of hot washing, the degree of filtration and the drying configuration are all selected around your contamination profile.

Yes. See Integrated Washing-to-Pelletizing Systems. The two sections are matched in capacity and material transfer, which removes the interface risk of running them separately.

The control concept is agreed with the project scope: which parameters are monitored, what alarms are required, and how much automation suits your labour and maintenance situation.

Capacity is stated as input throughput per hour and is assessed against the specific material, its bulk density and its contamination level. The same line can have different real throughput on different feedstocks.

Material bulk density, contamination level, moisture content, feed consistency, how much manual sorting is involved, and the required output quality all influence real throughput.

Clean flakes, densified or compacted material, or recycled pellets, depending on how far the process route extends. See the material solutions for the typical output per material.

Washing stages and separation efficiency affect cleanliness; dewatering and drying configuration affect moisture; feeding stability, filtration and die-face control affect pellet consistency.

Output requirements are agreed as part of the project scope and verified during factory testing where applicable. Specific figures are confirmed per project rather than published as a general guarantee.

Line cost is driven by the process route, capacity, equipment scope and site conditions, so it is quoted per project rather than from a public price list. Share your material and target output and the engineering team will prepare a project-specific proposal.

Material and contamination level, required capacity, how many process stages are needed, the degree of filtration and automation, layout and utility works, and the delivery and installation scope.

Because capacity is only one variable. Two lines rated at the same throughput can differ in washing stages, drying method, extruder configuration, filtration, control level and the amount of site work included.

Material type and form, contamination level, required capacity, target output, site conditions (space, water, power, labour) and your intended project stage and scope.

Typical additional items include civil works and foundations, utility connections, water treatment and discharge, spare parts, shipping and insurance, site installation and commissioning labour, and operator training time.

An estimate is normally built from input material cost and availability, achievable throughput, output product value in your local market, and operating cost including labour, power and water. These figures come from your market, so they are reviewed together with your team.

Specified equipment and line functions are inspected and tested before shipment according to the agreed project scope.

The test scope is defined in the project agreement. It normally covers mechanical and electrical checks plus a running test, and material trials where the customer's material is available. Results are documented.

Lead time depends on the equipment scope and the project schedule. It is confirmed in the project agreement.

Documentation typically covers layout and foundation drawings, utility requirements, operation and maintenance manuals, electrical diagrams and inspection records. Operation and maintenance documents are also available in the Download Center.

Factory visits and witnessing of tests can be arranged as part of the project. Arrangements are confirmed with the project team in advance.

Project support can cover installation guidance and supervision, commissioning and operator training, depending on the agreed scope.

Foundations and civil works, utility supply to the required points, water and drainage, lifting equipment and access, and the site labour agreed in the project scope.

Yes. Layout and utility planning is part of the engineering scope, using your site dimensions and the available water, power and drainage capacity.

It depends on the line size, the site readiness and the project phasing. The schedule is agreed per project.

Operator training is normally included in the installation and commissioning scope so that the line can be run and maintained by your team.

Support can cover installation guidance, commissioning, operator training, spare parts and long-term technical assistance. The exact scope is agreed in the project contract.

Spare parts are ordered through the Retech service contact. Provide the machine model, part description and serial information. Vulnerable parts such as blades are usually recommended as stocked items.

Typically crusher and shredder blades, screens and filters, conveyor and screw components, washing tank internals, seals, and drive and electrical components. Your maintenance manual lists the intervals.

Technical questions are handled directly by the Retech engineering team, with phone, email and online support, and video guidance for common maintenance tasks.

Line upgrades and expansions can be reviewed — for example adding a washing stage, changing filtration, or extending capacity. The starting point is an assessment of your existing equipment and the new target output.