Exclusive: Erema Group targets food-grade PCR for India at Interpack

The recycling specialist utilised Interpack to showcase its full portfolio, including the Erema and PureLoop brands. Haderer identified a significant shift in the plastic packaging industry toward increased recycled content, driven by evolving legal regulations and brand-owner commitments. To support these requirements, Erema highlighted its Pureloop I-SEC machine, a compact system that integrates a shredder and extruder for the efficient recycling of clean production waste.

“The machine includes DynaShape technology. It responds to changes in feed material shape and bulk density by automatically adjusting the machine to get the best possible results from the polymer,” Haderer said. During exhaustive test runs that simulated different stages of production, including changes in the input material, Pureloop clocked an increase in productivity of up to 10%.

A significant development in the company’s PCR segment is the ability to produce food-grade secondary polyolefin raw materials. Haderer noted that while requirements are growing more stringent under regulations like the EU's PPWR, Erema’s technology is designed to exceed current standards.

For odour-sensitive applications, the company offers a refresher module that can be added to its Intarema machines to remove smells from post-consumer regrind. This process allows under certain preconditions 100% PCR material to be utilised for high-end applications, such as cosmetic-grade shower gel bottles.

Erema’s strategy for the Indian market involves being closer to the market through its new subsidiary. The presence includes an experienced local team and a machine available for testing, allowing Indian converters to validate their recycling processes locally.

The company also showcased its partnership with Austrian washing specialist Lindner WashTech. The two systems now communicate digitally to optimise the recycling loop. “The extrusion line can detect if the material from the washing line is more humid and adjust its parameters accordingly,” Haderer said. He continued that this communication ensures energy savings, such as using heat from the pellets for the washing process, resulting in better recrystallisation and higher pellet quality.

Haderer explained that while regulatory pressure provides a "push," many of Erema's long-standing customers have prioritised sustainability for decades. With the Indian market showing a strong appetite for high-quality recycled pellets, the company expects its modular solutions which can scale from several hundred to several thousand kilograms per hour.