MAAG Group will participate in the Plastindia trade fair in New Delhi, India, which will take place from 5 to 10 February 2026. The company will present product solutions for the polymer, pipe and hose industries in Hall 06, Booth H6-B2A. For the first time since the acquisition of Sikora in June 2025, MAAG Group and Sikora, manufacturers of measurement, control, inspection and sorting technology, will appear at a joint booth. As emphasized by Uwe Kellner, VP Sales EMEIA MAAG Group, the joint presence is in line with the strategy of offering customers integrated systems for polymer processing and quality control. The presentation will focus on systems for melt pumping and filtration, pelletizing, recycling and measuring equipment for pipe and hose extrusion, as well as for inspection and sorting of plastic pellets.
Melt filtration and pelletizing in recycling processes
Among MAAG Group exhibits will be the high-performance ERF 350 melt filter and the Baoli-3 dry-cut strand pelletizer. These solutions are intended primarily for recycling and compounding applications where stable quality of the processed material and efficient removal of contaminants are crucial.
For recycling applications, MAAG offers continuous melt filters such as the ERF 350, designed to operate at high contamination levels. The ERF 350 allows processing of throughputs up to 3,800 kg/h with a contamination level of up to 16 percent by weight. The polymer melt flows from the outside to the inside through a continuously rotating drum with thousands of filtration holes. Contaminants such as paper, wood, rubber or metals remain on the outside of the drum, are continuously scraped off and discharged from the system, which supports stable operation and reduces downtime.
The ERF series comprises four models covering throughput ranges from 150 to 10,000 kg/h. For PET applications with lower contamination levels, for example in the processing of production waste, four models from the ECO series are additionally available. These solutions are aimed at applications requiring stable filtration of relatively clean material streams.
High-performance MAAG Ettlinger ERF 350 melt filter
The Baoli-3 is a dry-cut strand pelletizer designed for compounding and recycling applications. The machine uses key components, including cutting tools and strand feeders, manufactured by MAAG Germany. Depending on the application and polymer type, three models in this series cover throughput capacities from 20 to 3,450 kg/h.
Key features of the Baoli-3 include high pellet quality, long service life of wear parts, low noise level, easy operation and flexible integration into various production setups. The design of the unit enables configuration to be adapted to specific installation conditions and processing line requirements.
Offline quality control of pellets and flakes
At Plastindia, Sikora will present, among other systems, the Purity Concept V, designed for offline random sampling and analysis of pellets, flakes and test plates. The device is intended for fast detection of contaminants and color deviations in processed plastic materials.
As explained by Holger Lieder, Managing Director Sikora, the system uses an optical camera to detect contaminants such as black or colored specks and discolorations from a size of 50 µm. Sample analysis takes less than one minute and also includes generation of a test certificate and an HSV color chart showing the recorded color deviations. This enables ongoing quality control of raw material and documentation of quality parameters for pellet batches.
Purity Concept V laboratory system for inspection and analysis of pellets, flakes and test plates
Pipe and hose measurement in extrusion processes
In the field of measuring technology for pipe and hose extrusion, Sikora will present the Centerwave 6000 system. The device enables non-contact measurement of pipes with diameters from 32 mm to 1,600 mm directly after the first vacuum tank. The system is based on millimeter wave technology, which ensures accurate measurement of diameter and wall thickness around the entire circumference of the product.
The measuring system uses a continuously rotating transceiver and a high-performance data processing unit. Measurement is performed over the full 360 degrees of the product circumference, which facilitates centering of extrusion tools and enables continuous adjustment of process parameters. Use of the Centerwave 6000 system allows material consumption to be reduced by maintaining the specified wall thickness more precisely, thereby lowering production costs.
Centerwave 6000 system for measuring pipes with diameters from 32 to 1,600 mm
Wall thickness measurement of pipes and hoses using X-rays
Complementing Sikora portfolio in dimensional control is the X-RAY 6000 Pure system. This solution is designed for continuous measurement of total wall thickness, eccentricity and inner and outer diameter of single-layer hoses and pipes. The system can be flexibly installed at various positions along the extrusion line depending on process requirements.
From the very first day of operation, the system enables the wall thickness to be reduced to the minimum permissible value while monitoring dimensional deviations. This results in significant material savings and lower production costs, while maintaining the specified quality parameters of the product.
Joint presentation of capabilities across the value chain
With their joint appearance at Plastindia 2026, MAAG Group and Sikora will present combined expertise covering the entire plastics processing value chain, from melt filtration and pelletizing through recycling to precise measuring and inspection systems. Uwe Kellner emphasizes that the group aims to support customers in the long term not only by supplying machines and systems, but also by providing process know-how intended to facilitate optimization of existing and new production lines.
The combination of solutions for melt processing, recycling and pelletizing systems with measuring, control, inspection and sorting technologies is intended to enable users to apply a comprehensive approach to product quality and process efficiency. The joint booth at Plastindia 2026 will be used to present specific solutions for manufacturers of pipes, hoses and pellets, as well as for companies involved in plastics recycling.
