The PE film plastic washing squeezer pellet machine uses a powerful screw squeezing mechanism to dewater and compact washed PE films and PP woven bags, transforming light and wet materials into dry, dense, semi-plasticized pellets.
A PE film plastic washing squeezer pellet machine (sometimes also called a film squeezing dryer, squeezing pelletizer, or screw compactor) addresses a key problem in plastic recycling: wet plastic film is bulky, difficult to store, and with high moisture content it is not suitable to be fed directly into an extruder for final pelletizing.
In fact, this machine performs two functions at the same time:
The PE film squeezer pellet machine effectively integrates and simplifies drying and agglomeration processes into one continuous operation. This saves energy and labor — mechanical squeezing is more energy-efficient than evaporating water with heat.
This machine operates in a fully automatic continuous process. Below is a step-by-step overview:
Washed plastic film flakes are fed into the hopper. The feeding system usually includes compressing devices to ensure lightweight film enters smoothly into the screw without bridging or tangling.
The screw acts like a giant spiral press. As it turns, the barrel narrows, squeezing the material strongly. Moisture is forced out through drainage slots. This mechanical action is highly energy-efficient compared to hot air drying.
Intense friction and controlled heating soften the plastic enough to bond together. Fluffy film flakes fuse into denser, semi-molten masses. The target final moisture content drops to below 5%.
The hot, dense plastic exits through a die. It forms irregular pellets or chunks that are much denser than the original film, ready for easy feeding into the final extruder.
Integration: Output can be fed directly into a pelletizing extruder. Throughput often increases by up to 20% compared to feeding fluffy film.
Automation: Controlled by PLC. Sensors monitor torque and temperature to prevent overload.
Made from wear-resistant alloy steel (38CrMoAl). Optimized L/D ratio (8:1 to 12:1) for squeezing. The barrel features slotted screens for efficient water drainage.
Auxiliary electric heating bands stabilize temperature to ensure plastic softens and fuses properly without degradation.
Gravity-based free-fall drainage through barrel ports. Simple design reduces maintenance and effectively removes squeezed water.
Motor: High-torque motors (75kW - 250kW) with robust gearboxes.
PLC: Fully automated with overload protection and temperature control.
Frame: Heavy-duty steel frame to withstand vibration.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) films are common waste streams and are well-suited for this machine. Examples include agricultural films (greenhouse covers, mulch films), packaging films, pallet stretch wraps, plastic shopping bags, and general film waste. These materials are typically thin, flexible, and often heavily contaminated (especially agricultural films that collect soil). After washing, LDPE/LLDPE flakes still retain moisture—this squeezer machine is designed to handle exactly this condition.
Slightly stiffer HDPE films, such as food bags, HDPE trash bags, or thicker plastic sheets, can also be processed effectively. Washed HDPE behaves similarly to LDPE, though it has a slightly higher melting point. Machine settings can be adjusted (e.g., slightly higher heating) to accommodate this. If mixed PE film waste is fed (LDPE, LLDPE, and HDPE together), the squeezer can handle the blend since all are polyethylene with comparable densities.
The machine is not limited to polyethylene. It is also commonly used for polypropylene (PP) woven bags, such as grain sacks, feed bags, jumbo bags (FIBC), and raffia materials. After cutting and washing, these bags turn into flat PP fibers or strips. The squeezer removes water and consolidates them into pellets. Since PP has a higher melting point (~160°C vs. ~110°C for LDPE), friction often generates sufficient heat, though operators may adjust barrel heating or screw speed for proper softening.
While materials should be washed before reaching the squeezer, small amounts of residual contamination (such as sand, paper labels, or water with detergent) are acceptable. The screw structure is robust and can handle moderate abrasiveness (wear-resistant alloys tolerate some sand). However, large metal fragments or stones should be removed in earlier steps to prevent damage. If contamination levels are high, pre-filtration or additional cleaning is advised, as heavy impurities can accelerate screw wear over time.
In most recycling operations, these granules serve as intermediate feedstock for pelletizing extruders (single-screw, double-stage, or similar). The extruder melts and filters the material, producing uniform, high-quality pellets. These final pellets are cylindrical or spherical, consistent in size, fully melted, and filtered to remove residual impurities (e.g., paper or metal). They are suitable for sale or direct manufacturing use. The dry, dense granules are an ideal feedstock—unlike wet, fluffy films that cause steam, feeding issues, and low efficiency.
In some cases, the agglomerated granules can be directly used in production without re-pelletizing. For example, some companies may feed them into compounding extruders or injection molding machines to produce products that do not require uniform pellets. Applications include plastic lumber, profiles, or basic molded products where minor melt inconsistencies are acceptable. While less common, this approach can be feasible if output is stable and the final product tolerates mixed melt flow.
Another significant application is densification for easier storage and transport. The output granules are much denser than loose films, allowing recyclers to transport up to five times more material in the same container volume. Many facilities use the squeezer primarily as a densifier—compacting washed films into granules, bagging them, and shipping them to another plant for final processing. Granules are the “language” of plastic trade—clean, compact pellets are far easier to sell or export than baled or wet film flakes.
If the input feedstock is clean and well-sorted, the process yields high-quality granules (once fully pelletized). Recycled PE/PP from films and woven bags can be reused in diverse applications:
Garbage bags, construction sheets, or even relatively high-quality packaging films (with sufficiently clean industrial film input). Food-grade packaging requires very clean, post-industrial film, but recycled film suffices for many non-food uses.
Items like benches, flowerpots, storage bins, or containers. Recycled PE and PP are widely used in non-critical injection molded products, often with additives to enhance performance.
Irrigation tubing, plastic lumber, park benches, or fencing posts—durable substitutes for wood.
Recycled PP from woven bags can be reprocessed into short fibers or nonwovens for low-cost fabrics or insulation materials. Many recycled PP granules are reused to produce new woven sacks or injection products such as buckets.
* Note: Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Higher capacity models are available upon request.
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