Through an innovative technological process, developed following research that lasted over a decade, recycled PET flakes are processed in the new factory in Targu Mures into food-grade PET granules – a raw material highly demanded by the industry, in view of the objective European “rPET 2025”.
The first extrusion line for the production of high-quality rPET granules from PET flakes of PET Recycling Team Targu Mures has already been put into operation, and the food-grade rPET granules obtained through this process serve as raw material for new preforms and bottles. PET Recycling Team, built following an investment of EUR7.5 million, will deliver 18,000 tons of recycled plastic per year to bottlers of soft drinks, dairy products, mineral water, beer and oil in Romania and in the region.
“For over a decade, my team and I have been developing a continuous research project in the field of PET recycling. Thus, in 2020 we completed the project of the first technological line that currently produces PET flakes whose quality has been assessed as being among the best in the European Union. It was a project started from scratch”, said Mihai Moloiu, General Director of PET Recycling Team and one of the three associates of the new factory.
The PRT Targu Mures joint venture was established in the fall of 2021 and combines the skill sets of the three companies involved: ALPLA – has experience as a global specialist in recycling and packaging manufacturer, United Polymer Trading (UPT) – has a extensive distribution network of plastic materials and recycled materials, and the local company Ecohelp SRL provides PET flakes recycled from PETs collected from household waste, following an innovation of its own.
“Both Romania and the macro-region needed such a producer, as it is natural to process at home what you collect and recycle at home. It’s not by chance that our location is right in the center of Romania – at equal distances from all our existing and potential customers”, added Mihai Moloiu.
ALPLA Group annually produces approximately 203,000 tons of rPET and 74,000 tons of rHDPE and is set to invest EUR50 million per year until 2025 to continuously expand recycling activities.