Colines, ExxonMobil and Gneuss develop stretch film production with recycled content
Colines, ExxonMobil Signature Polymers and Gneuss have collaborated in a development project to develop a viable film production process that incorporates recycled content.
Production line with Gneuss RSFgenius filtration system in Europe.
Gels and black dots, the disruptive factors in producing film with recycled materials, could be minimized with the appropriate materials from ExxonMobil Signature Polymers and a pressure-constant screen changer from Gneuss on a highly flexible cast film line from Colines.
Technical experts from ExxonMobil Signature Polymers have conducted trials using post-consumer (PCR) material derived from stretch film in combination with Exceed Tough m 3812 high performance polyethylene and observed a reduction in the size of the larger polymer gels.
The project has also demonstrated quality and process consistency. All tests’ results demonstrated the ability to consistently produce film that incorporated 30% PCR content for automatic use with a consistency of 180-200% without the need to stop the line, except for routine operations unrelated to recyclate use.
RSFgenius filtration system in operation at Colines’ technical center.
A key component in this process was the patented Gneuss RSFgenius self-cleaning screen changer. This fully automatic filtration system renewed the screen surface with no measurable pressure fluctuations and can be adapted to the material in question, with screen fineness typically ranging from 30-75μm, even during full operation.
Colines, Gneuss and ExxonMobil Signature Polymers have already led to the creation of several large-scale production lines specifically dedicated to recycled content.
In the early months of 2025, the project partners will invite interested professionals to simulate their own requirements for such a production line in individual demonstrations. A Colines line with a fully integrated RSFgenius 150 will be available to achieve film thicknesses of up to 10μm consistently without quality fluctuations.
