The SKZ Plastics Center is participating in a project to improve post-consumer recycling. The main objective of the project is to use sensor technology to improve material flow analysis, thereby improving the sorting of plastic waste and reducing quality fluctuations.
Schematic of the ReVise-Up project. (Photo: SKZ)
The BMBF-funded research project ReVise-UP ("Improving the process efficiency of mechanical recycling of post-consumer plastic packaging waste through intelligent material flow management - implementation phase") was launched in September 2023. The four-year implementation phase will increase the transparency and efficiency of mechanical plastics recycling by developing and demonstrating sensor-based material flow characterization methods on an industrial scale.
Sensor data creates data transparency
Based on the data transparency generated by sensor data, the current plastics recycling process will be improved through three effects: First, data transparency should create positive incentives for improved collection and product quality, resulting in increased recyclate volumes and qualities. Second, sensor-based material flow characteristics will be used to adapt sorting, treatment and plastics processing processes to fluctuating material flow characteristics. Thirdly, the improved data situation should enable a holistic ecological and economic assessment of the value chain.
SKZ has expertise in plastics and recycling
"We are proud to be able to contribute to this important topic with our expertise in the field of plastic materials and recycling," says Johannes Rudloff, Head of Materials, Compounding and Extrusion at SKZ Plastics Center.
A total of 18 project participants
A total of 18 research institutes, associations and industrial partners are involved in ReVise-UP. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding ReVise-UP with €3.92 million as part of the "Resource-efficient recycling management - plastics recycling technologies (KuRT)" funding guideline.
Learn more about ReVise-Up
Learn more about SKZ Material, Coumpounding and Extrusion development