Lower cost, entry level colour sorter for the plastics industry

For over twenty years S+S Separation and Sorting Technology GmbH of Schönberg, Bavaria has been one of the leading manufacturers of metal detection and contaminant separation systems for the plastics industry, supplying not only individual machines but also complete solutions. Whether you need a sorting system for PVC window frames or a highly sensitive PET-flake separator – S+S are specialists in sorting technology and offer a complete range of equipment for contaminant separation.

To further enhance their product range S+S is now launching a grey-scale version of their tried and tested SPEKTRUM colour separator as a lower cost option for sorting in light and dark bands. Light/dark or dark/light contrast sorting, both are possible. Differences in intensity are the decisive factor. For example, the SPEKTRUM BASIC is an ideal system for sorting PVC from recycled window frames, by separating the dark rubber seals from the lighter PVC frames after the milling process. The individual components of the system have been carefully selected for their robustness and durability. Instead of using expensive specialised lighting components the system is fitted with standard fluorescent tubes.


Performance Features

The SPEKTRUM BASIC grey-scale sorter identifies and removes dark or light contaminants from bulk plastic materials in a fully automated process. The bulk plastic material flows over a glass slide, which spreads it out resulting in the pieces being optimally singulated as they move into the inspection area of the camera. As soon as the detector identifies material that is too dark or too light its position is identified. Electronics evaluate this position and ejection nozzles are activated with pinpoint accuracy and at precisely the right time to blow out the contaminant. The ejection nozzles are so precise that the contaminants are removed with very little loss of good material and without any interruption to the material flow. Throughputs of up to 3 tonnes per hour are possible.


Easy to upgrade

S+S sorting systems are built to a well-proven modular design concept. By a simple process of exchanging the camera boxes on site the SPEKTRUM BASIC can be upgraded to a conventional colour sorter suitable for highly demanding sorting applications such as separating different coloured PET flakes. S+S has equipped the SPEKTRUM BASIC with VISUTEC ONLINE, a real-time management information and remote maintenance system. This means that the grey-scale sorter can be controlled and maintained remotely via WLAN from a central computer.

Peter Mayer, Recycling Manager for S+S Separation and Sorting Technology is delighted with the flexibility of the system: “The SPEKTRUM BASIC provides an entry level system which our customers can adapt in the future to take on more demanding sorting requirements. And with VISUTEC ONLINE the customer can monitor and save process data such as input, output and reject quantities, all of which are important for supplier assessment.”