EREMA will introduce Volex, a water-stripping solution integrated into a single-screw extruder, at K 2025. The system builds on the Intarema TVEplus platform and combines it with a specially developed extruder screw and cylinder geometry in the degassing zone. According to the company, Volex enables significantly higher degassing performance in post-consumer recycling while maintaining consistently high throughput and without compromising the mechanical properties of the recycled pellets. In comparative measurements, Volex achieves up to 40 percent lower VOCs in the final pellets than Intarema TVEplus standard degassing, and up to 75 percent lower VOCs than the input material, in accordance with VDA 277. The approach is reported to substantially reduce fogging effects that can occur in injection moulding applications. At the trade fair, the Erema stand will showcase an Intarema 1108 TVEplus equipped with the latest technological updates.
"We didn't invent water stripping, but we have revolutionised it. Only the Intarema TVEplus has the unique and proven Plus-Zone. This is located directly after filtration, upstream of degassing, and it ensures extremely homogeneous mixing of the entrainer into the plastic melt. The result is a really efficient stripping effect." said Sophie Pachner, R&D Manager Process Engineering at EREMA.
"Volex technology opens up completely new opportunities in post consumer recycling. Our customers are able to enter new applications where they can use higher proportions of recycled pellets in new products." said Markus Huber-Lindinger, Managing Director at EREMA.
How the water-stripping works
The process injects water as an entraining agent directly into the Intarema Plus-Zone, the section that is positioned immediately after melt filtration and before the degassing zone. An intelligent dosing and control concept meters the water precisely into the melt, which is then mixed homogeneously in the Plus-Zone. When the water evaporates, it creates an open-pored melt structure that multiplies the exposed surface area of the melt a thousand-fold, shortens diffusion paths to a minimum and enables VOCs and condensable substances such as limonene to escape effectively. Together with an increase in the surface renewal rate of up to 320 percent and high available free volume, this interaction boosts degassing performance. The design does not require additional melt lines, diverters or manifolds, which reduces the risk of black spots and deposits. The result is a melt that is both thoroughly filtered and efficiently degassed, while preserving throughput and product quality.
The new Volex technology achieves impressive degassing performance with as much as 40 percent lower VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the final recycled pellets than with Intarema TVEplus standard degassing.
Applications and market access
The technology targets demanding post-consumer film and regrind materials where particularly high degassing performance is required. The premium recycled pellets produced at this quality level can expand the scope for challenging end uses, including transport packaging film, lifestyle products, furniture, high-quality automotive interior components and robust transport solutions such as shopping baskets.
K 2025 showcase
Visitors can learn more about Volex at K 2025, where EREMA will present the system on an Intarema 1108 TVEplus. Location: Hall 9, stand C09.
