Washing Systems

Why is plastic washing important?

The quality of recycled plastic depends largely on how well it is washed. Label, oil, soil and adhesive residues affect the colour, odour and mechanical strength of the final granule. İnan Tech washing systems provide staged cleaning, from coarse pre-washing to hot and intensive washing.

How do the stages fit together?

A typical sequence is: pre-washing for coarse dirt → hot washing for oil and adhesive → friction washing for mechanical cleaning and dewatering → sink-float for density separation. The stages are selected according to the material.

How the washing stages work

Washing is not a single operation but a sequence of complementary stages. Each stage targets a different type of contamination; a single tank cannot remove every residue at once. The flow roughly follows this logic:

1. Prewash: Removes coarse dirt such as soil, stones, sand and loose paper at the very first step, easing the load on later stages.
2. Friction washer: Mechanically scrubs the thin film of surface dirt and loose layers as the particles rub against each other and the housing.
3. Hot wash: Dissolves stubborn residues such as oil, adhesive and label glue with hot water and, where needed, detergent.
4. Sink-float separation: Uses density difference to separate floating and sinking polymers, so the unwanted plastic type leaves the stream.

Multiple stages are needed because surface contamination is layered: coarse dirt, thin film and chemical residue each call for a different method. The colour, odour and processability of the resulting flake or granule depend directly on how well this washing chain is configured.

Choosing a washing system

The right washing configuration is shaped by your material and the output cleanliness you are aiming for. The same machine may not be ideal for every stream; several core criteria should be weighed together when making a choice:

• Type of contamination: Whether soil, oil or label-adhesive dominates determines which stages take priority.
• Material type: Thin film, rigid plastic and PET behave differently in washing, so aggressiveness and dwell time are adjusted accordingly.
• Temperature and detergent needs: Oily and sticky streams benefit from hot washing, while cleaner streams may be handled with cold washing.
• Water recovery and filtration: Filtering and recirculating the water reduces consumption and lowers operating load.
• Output cleanliness target: The application the final granule will serve defines the cleanliness level to be reached.
• Number of stages: Dirtier input generally calls for more washing steps.

If you would like to assess together which stages make sense for your material, you can share your project through the quote page.