MAAG Group will participate in the Chinaplas trade fair in Shanghai from 21 to 24 April 2026. The company will present in Hall 2.1 at booth J61 its solutions for polymer processing and manufacturing as well as for pipe and hose production. This will be the first joint presentation of MAAG Group and Sikora in China following the acquisition completed in June 2025. Sikora is a supplier of measurement, control, inspection, and sorting systems used in the plastics industry.
As emphasized by Ueli Thürig, President of MAAG Group, the joint trade fair presence reflects the development direction of both companies. "Our joint participation in the trade fair clearly shows the strategic direction we are heading in. We offer our customers integrated systems for polymer processing and comprehensive quality control." Thürig points out that the portfolio includes pumps, filters, pelletizing systems, powder mills, recycling solutions, as well as measuring and control systems for pipe and hose production and technologies for inspecting and sorting plastic granules. "Our products provide customers with clear economic and quality benefits" he concludes.
New generation M² USG strand pelletizing system
MAAG is introducing the modernized M² USG series, a strand pelletizing system designed for higher process stability, increased throughput, and improved pellet quality. This has been achieved through design modifications and the implementation of additional sensor technology. The pelletizer is designed for maximum production line availability at a level of more than 99% OEE and stable operating conditions.
Reduced downtime and lower scrap rates translate into lower operating costs and higher profitability of the installation. The key element of the system is the new cutting head, which simplifies operation and maintenance and reduces the risk of operator errors during adjustment changes and servicing.
New underwater strand pelletizer M2-USG
ERF melt filters for plastics recycling
In the area of plastics recycling, MAAG offers continuous melt filters such as the ERF 350 model. This unit processes a polymer melt stream with a throughput of up to 3,800 kg/h and can handle contamination levels of up to 16%. The melt flows from the outside to the inside through a rotating drum with numerous holes. Contaminants such as paper, wood, rubber, or metal adhere to the external surface of the drum and are continuously removed mechanically by scraping.
The ERF filter family comprises four models that cover a throughput range from 150 to 10,000 kg/h, enabling the selection of a suitable solution for lines of different scales, from smaller recycling installations to large processing plants. In addition, four ECO models are available for PET applications with lower contamination levels, typical for example of production scrap.
High-performance MAAG Ettlinger ERF 350 melt filter
BAOLI 3 strand pelletizer for compounding and recycling
BAOLI 3 is a dry-cut strand pelletizer designed for compounding and plastics recycling processes. The machine design uses key components such as cutting tools and strand feeders manufactured in Germany. Three models in the BAOLI 3 family cover a throughput range from 20 to 3,450 kg/h, depending on the material type and specific application.
The main user-relevant features of the pelletizer include high pellet quality, long service life of components, low noise level, ease of operation, and flexible installation options in different production line configurations.
Dry-cut strand pelletizer BAOLI 3
Purity Concept V system for quality control of pellets and flakes
At Chinaplas, Sikora will present, among other systems, the Purity Concept V. It is an offline solution for random inspection and analysis of pellets, flakes, and test plates. "The system uses an optical camera to detect contaminants such as black or colored specks and discolorations from a size of 50 µm. The analysis takes less than one minute, including generation of a test report and an HSV color chart of the detected color deviations. The system makes a significant contribution to ensuring product quality and safety."
Purity Concept V laboratory system for inspecting and analyzing granules, flakes, and test plates
Purity Scanner Advanced for inspection and sorting of granules
Rising requirements regarding the purity of technical plastics are increasing the importance of reliable quality control systems. This applies both to high-performance plastics such as fluoropolymers, for example flame-retardant grades, and to standard materials including polypropylene. In all these applications, uniform and defect-free material quality is crucial. The presence of contaminants can lead not only to impaired product functionality but also to significant economic losses.
The Purity Scanner Advanced system is a configurable inspection and sorting solution that combines high operating precision with a modular design. Critical contaminants, even very small ones, are reliably detected and automatically removed from the main material stream. The detection and blow-out systems operate in a coordinated manner. Depending on the application, different camera types can be integrated. In addition to high-resolution optical cameras that detect black specks from 25 µm, an X-ray camera is also optionally available, designed for the detection of metallic particles in granules.
One of the key elements of the system is the hybrid blow-out unit. The user can define which types of contaminants are acceptable, for example small, light-colored black specks, and remove them by means of a smaller blow-out unit. For critical contaminants, such as metal particles, a larger-area blow-out is used. This control logic minimizes material losses, the so-called "bycatch", thus supporting cost-effective and more sustainable production.
Centerwave 6000 for measuring pipes from 32 to 1,600 mm in diameter
In the segment of measuring technology for pipe and hose extrusion, Sikora will present the Centerwave 6000 system. It enables non-contact measurement of pipes with diameters from 32 to 1,600 mm directly after the first vacuum tank. A continuously rotating transceiver and a powerful processor system use millimeter wave technology to accurately measure the diameter and wall thickness over the entire product circumference, across 360 degrees.
This measurement method facilitates centering of extrusion tools, reduces material consumption through precise process control, and contributes to lowering production costs for medium and large diameter pipes.
Centerwave 6000 system for measuring pipes from 32 to 1,600 mm in diameter
X-Ray 6000 Pro for measuring multilayer products
The X-Ray 6000 Pro system from Sikora is based on X-ray technology and provides continuous measurements of wall thickness, eccentricity, and inner and outer diameters of multilayer extruded pipes and tubes. The measurement results are displayed clearly on the screen of the Ecocontrol 6000 processor system.
X-Ray 6000 Pro can be installed at different points in the extrusion line, for example directly after the extruder, between two vacuum tanks or cooling sections, and at the end of the line as a cold measurement station. From the first day of operation, the system enables precise reduction of wall thickness to the minimum permissible value, resulting in significant material and cost savings.
"Our trade fair presentation convincingly shows how modern measuring technology drives automation and enables more sustainable production" says Holger Lieder, Managing Director at Sikora.
Combined offering along the plastics processing value chain
The joint participation of MAAG Group and Sikora at Chinaplas 2026 illustrates the combination of both companies' expertise along the entire plastics processing value chain, from melt preparation and filtration through pelletizing and recycling to quality control of granules and measurement of pipe and tube geometry. "Our aim is not only to supply customers with high-class machines and systems but also to support them in the long term with our process know-how" summarizes Ueli Thürig.
