Flottweg Sorticanter®

Businesses with an increasing focus on environmental protection and recycling demand new, innovative solutions. This prompted Flottweg to develop the Sorticanter® for the processing of plastics.

Naturally occurring raw materials such as plants, coal, natural gas and crude oil are the basic materials for the production of plastics. These raw materials cannot be recovered through processing in chemical steps. The recycling of plastics is therefore an issue for every environmentally conscious person. The Sorticanter® makes it possible to make a contribution to environmental protection in accordance with the principles of ecology and economy.

How does the Sorticanter® function?

When processing plastics (waste, plastic fibers and light packaging), it is important that the individual plastics are of a single material type. Many plastics differ in their density. For this reason, the so-called swim-sink separation process has proven to be efficient. In this separation process, a separation liquid is used (usually water), whereby the specific weight of the liquid lies between the weight of the two types of plastic to be separated.
In a container, the "heavy" plastic with the higher density sinks to the bottom, while the lighter plastic with the lower density floats on the liquid.

Due to the high g-forces in the Sorticanter® and the unique scroll design, the discharged plastic particles are considerably drier than with other processes. The plastics can therefore be separated more efficiently and more homogeneously. This increases the product quality and thus also the value of the end product. In addition, the Sorticanter® can separate particles with a diameter of less than 1 mm as well as mixtures of fabric fibers that are unsuitable for static separation. Compared to other processes, it ensures a higher degree of selectivity. 

Thanks to the high selectivity and dehumidification of the plastics, a subsequent dewatering is not required. This reduces the necessary expenditure.  Since the Sorticanter® requires a minimal amount of personnel, operating costs can be saved. The low consumption of fresh water and thermal energy also has a positive effect on operating costs. Since the plastics are already mechanically dewatered, this saves costs in thermal dehumidification.

Flottweg Sorticanter® are usually 8000 hours per year in operation. This and Flottweg's many years of experience guarantee high process reliability and machine availability. In addition, our Sorticanter® is developed and manufactured exclusively in Germany. This means that we can maintain the high quality of our machines and components and ensure a long service life. For example, by adding a separating liquid, dust is washed off the surface of the plastics. Air bubbles and surface effects have no influence on the separation, which in turn ensures a high availability.

The high-quality materials of our Sorticanter® reduce the expenditure for servicing and maintenance measures. The machine is easy to control and maintain; worn parts are easy to replace. This reduces the workload on the operating personnel. The operating parameters can be clearly controlled via a user interface. As the Sorticanter® - like other decanter centrifuges - forms a closed system, the operating personnel's exposure to unpleasant odors is minimal.