Page 60 - Plastcs News January 2019

produCt news

BASF uses chemically recycled Hotset introduces Z-System

plastics for the first time for partial-cyclical cavity
temperature control
ASF has for the first time produced products from
Bchemically recycled plastic waste and has become one otset manufacturer of heating elements for
of the global pioneers in the industry. BASF’s ChemCycling Hindustrial application has introduced Z-System for
project is a new innovative project for recycling plastic partial-cyclical cavity temperature control systems for
waste. Plastic waste such as mixed or uncleaned plastics injection molding technology.An increasing number
are not recycled. Such waste is usually sent to landfill or of injection molders and tool manufacturers are
burned with energy recovery. Chemical recycling is an preferring to use this high-speed method to optimize
innovative way to reutilize the plastic wastes, currently the surface and structural design of their products .Ralf
not recycled, by thermochemical processes to produce
Schwarzkopf, General Manager, Hotset, said, “Since
the initial introduction barely two years ago, a number
of well-known plastics processors have chosen to use
our high-speed method for process-integrated surface
optimization and wall-thickness reduction of injection
molded parts. Reputable big players from the consumer
industry and automobile manufacturing also expressed
their great interest”.

Schwarzkopf, added, “The conversations at the trade
syngas or oils. The resultant product can be used as raw fair weren’t only about the visual quality improvements
materials in BASF’s production in place of fossil resources. of injection molded parts, but also about the new
Collaborating with customers and partners, which include possibilities of
waste management companies, technology providers micro-structuring
and packaging producers, BASF aims to build a circular and miniaturization
value chain. BASF, collaborating with 10 customers, is that result from
already developing pilot products that include mozzarella application of
packaging, refrigerator components and insulation the Z-System’.
panels. Its products manufactured with the help of this The Z-System,
technology meet high quality and hygiene standards as are a technological
specifically required for food packaging. BASF’s products forerunner for a
have exactly the same properties as products made from new generation of
fossil resources. highly flexible and dynamic temperature control
systems, is a complete solution that is custom-
BASF is now planning to make the first products from tuned and ready for use, including matching control
the ChemCycling project on the commercial scale.“This technology with a color touchscreen. With various
new way of recycling offers opportunities for innovative hardware and software components, Z-System is
business models for us and our customers, who already integrated in the tool – comparable to a conventional
place great value on products and packaging made from hot runner system. The system, synchronized with
recycled materials but who cannot or do not want to make the injection molding process, enables the cavities
any compromises when it comes to quality”, commented, to be selectively or partially heated or cooled with a
Stefan Gräter, head of the ChemCycling project at BASF. near record-breaking heating rate of up to 60 Kelvin
BASF feeds oil is obtained from plastic waste by an oiling per second. Professor Dr. of Engineering Paul Thienel
process into the Production Verbund. Syngas made from speak of a “high-speed temperature control system”.
plastic waste can be used as an alternative to the normally Z-System provides very fast changes in temperature in
used feedstock for the pilot products.
very short cycles.

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