Since the company was founded in 1983, Gneuss has positioned itself as the technology leader for machines and systems for the reprocessing of all kinds of polymer waste. The unique Rotary Filtration Systems enable constant production without quality variations or process disturbances even during screen changes. The MRS extruder is the only extruder developed explicitly for the direct processing of PET flakes without pre-drying. All processing conditions are monitored precisely with sensors from the Gneuss Measurement Technology range. Gneuss has been applying these key technologies worldwide for many years now and they are particularly well established in PET processing applications.

One of the most significant advantages offered by Gneuss´ MRS Extrusion Technology compared to conventional extrusion technologies is that the costly and time-consuming steps of pre-drying and crystallizing of the material are eliminated.

The MRS extruder processes undried PET bottle flake, regrind from edge trim, skeletal waste, inhouse-waste and masterbatch without any pre-treatment. The MRS extruder´s devolatilization step not only removes water in the melt phase, it also ensures efficient decontamination – for example successfully tested for food contact according to the FDA challenge test. With Gneuss’ Rotary Melt Filtration Systems also heavily contaminated material can be processed into clean melt.

Thanks to the FDA LNO this melt can be used to again make packaging, film, fiber or bottles for food contact applications, so that a closed loop in PET bottle recycling can be achieved.

Gneuss´ MRS Extrusion Technology ensures a polymer melt with maximum purity – permanently. Solid contaminants are removed by highly efficient Melt Filtration Systems and soluble contaminants such as oils, oligomers, pigments and solvents are efficiently removed from the polymer in the melt phase under vacuum in the MRS extruder.

The technical and economic advantages are obvious and are as follows:
• Reduced space and material requirements
• Major energy savings
• Reduced maintenance and personnel costs
• 100 % recycling of post consumer and/or industrial waste
• Direct processing to food contact products (FDA LNO)
• Decontamination of volatiles, oils and odors
• Continuous production without sacrificing quality in the end product
• High flexibility – for example with regard to material changes
• Simple operation thanks to fully automatic control system

Filtration is the key to ensuring quality and cost efficiency in recycling applications. Rotary Filtration Systems from Gneuss represent the ideal solution, thanks to their continuous and pressure-constant operation. They guarantee melt purity and quality with a short dwell time of the melt. Thanks to their compact size, high quality insulation and integrated high pressure back flushing Rotary Melt Filtration Systems operate particularly economical and energy efficient.

Also, the space-saving design of the MRS extruder and the robust vacuum technology based on the water ring technology reduce the complexity of the complete extrusion system and allow for maximum system availability with minimum maintenance.

The MRS can be combined with existing downstream equipment for the production of packaging, film, fiber and pellets. For PET thermoforming sheet and repelletizing processes, Gneuss offers turnkey concepts from A to Z.

With the MRS technology manufactured sheet from heavily contaminated post-consumer PET bottle flakes convinces through high clarity and gloss, low yellowness and the possibility of direct food contact, even with monolayer sheet. During production, the IV value is kept stable even with varying humidity levels.

In fiber manufacturing, e.g. when processing production wastes or bottle flakes different viscosities are used. With the MRS technology, the viscosity is kept constant and a trouble-free and uniform discharge enables the production of high-quality fibers.