Krumbach saves by reducing energy during PET disposal processes

The mineral water company Krumbach produces mineral water and soft drinks. Every year, up to 150 million bottles are filled. Subsequently, these are distributed to beverage wholesalers and retailers. Strautmann Umwelttechnik reports on the successful of three Strautmann installations at Mineralbrunnen Krumbach.

Disposal earlier:
In a previous disposal model, full PET bottles were emptied through a perforator, then compacted in bales using a channel baler. In-house handling was labor-intensive due to bale storage requirements. Accordingly, the PET bales were picked up frequently. Due to increasing transport and logistics costs, bale handling and wear and tear on the perforator, Krumbach decided not to purchase a new channel baling press and a perforator.

Disposal now:
For Krumbach, it was important to find a reliable overall concept for the disposal of around 2.200t of PET per year. The installations needed to be integrated in the production line and continuously corn-press PET bottles on-site. “The Strautmann concept, with two redundant briquetting presses and a dewaterer, has persuaded us to go this route because of the logistical added value. The internal process is now much easier,” reports Alexander Diehm, Operations Manager at Mineralbrunnen Krumbach in Kißlegg, Germany.

Disposal of empty PET bottles:
Via a box ejector, empty disposable PET bottles are transferred to a conveyor belt, which leads the PET bottles directly into the briquetting presses. The high pressure BrikPress ensures tightly compacted briquettes. With a throughout of up to 45.000 0,5 l PET bottles per hour, the use of BrikPress is fast and reliable. Afterwards, the PET bottles are conveyed outwards via channels with no added energy consumption. Once outside, the briquettes fall over a “two-way distributor” into a two walking-floor semitrailers. Alexander Diehm says: “Thanks to high briquette density, we are now achieving full capacity utilization of 24t. Before that it was about 12t. That’s how we were able to reduce our CO2 emissions!”

The briquettes are then retrieved by disposal company and processed into preforms, which Krumbach uses to rebuild the PET bottles. The recycling rate is 97 percent and represents a closed recycling cycle.

Disposal of filled PET bottles:
Full bottles are collected in small wells and then placed in the LiquiDrainer by forklift. A feed rocker then conveys the material to a rotor, which punctures the beverage containers and empties them. At the same time the goods are pre-compacted and canceled to undermine potential abuse. Thanks to the special rotor technology, up to 10.000 1 l PET bottles per hour can be emptied. The liquids run through a filter box and are discharged separately. Residual emptying of the liquids up to 99 percent is achieved. After the bottles have been safely emptied and devalued, the pre-compacted bottles reach the conveyer belt of the BrikPress via a discharge and are automatically compacted into briquettes.

Mineralbrunnen Krumbach now has a fully automatic and reliable disposal system based up on the Strautmann press system. Handling has been reduced to a minimum and Krumbach has also greatly reduced its CO2 emissions.

Meet us at the Brau Beviale exhibition in Hall 8 stand 124.

Strautmann Umwelttecknik GmbH