January, 26, 2025 - Since plastics are so diverse due to their properties and applications and each market has its own requirements, the sorting requirements are also very individual. The requirements in the XLPE market differ significantly from standard plastics. It is not just a matter of identifying different materials, cross-contamination or coarse impurities.

In addition to the targeted detection and sorting out of the smallest black specks and yellowing, the seamless detection and sorting out of the smallest metal particles is also indispensable. Furthermore, it is essential that the material transport and the type of sorting itself do not introduce any additional external contamination into the material flow.

Another criterion is the space in the production environment. The material flow of XLPE runs by gravity directly from the dust removal on one floor to the sorting on the next floor. Space is limited and a cost factor here. Accordingly, the sorting of optical and metallic impurities should be carried out directly on one floor.

Furthermore, the sorting should be carried out in a way that as little as possible of the good, i.e. clean material, is sorted out. Sikora says these requirements were brought to its development team by XLPE experts from the industry more than ten years ago. Meanwhile, the fourth generation of the Purity Scanner Advanced is used by numerous customers worldwide.

According to Sikora, its scanner precisely sorts the smallest impurities in the range of 25 µm as well as metal particles of 50 µm in size in a single material pass. Additionally, the Purity Scanner Advanced's material transport system has a stainless-steel channel which does not bring any impurities with it. Furthermore, Sikora claims, a targeted blowing out with cleaned compressed air causes the least possible ejection of clean material.

Sikora says that all these features together optimize production processes, ensure the quality of the XLPE material and, thanks to reduced ejection, contribute to cost-efficient and sustainable production.

Source: Sikora