Significantly higher degassing performance in post consumer recycling
VOLEX technology reduces VOCs by 40 percent
EREMA is launching VOLEX technology at K 2025 as a quantum leap in plastics extrusion.
This innovation sees water stripping technology installed on a single-screw extruder for the
first time without compromising throughput or output quality. Made possible by proven
INTAREMA® TVEplus® technology combined with a specially developed extruder screw and
cylinder geometry in the degassing zone. EcoGentle® plasticising technology is also new for
INTAREMA® systems, so it is now available for polyolefins as well.
Ansfelden/Düsseldorf, 9 October 2025 – The EREMA stand showcases an INTAREMA® 1108
TVEplus® equipped with the very latest technological innovations. Both of the new technologies are
aimed at further increasing the quality of recycled pellets and, at the same time, improving cost
effectiveness and process stability for recycling companies.
Degassing, but even better, with highly efficient water injection in the single screw extruder
The new VOLEX technology achieves impressive degassing performance with as much as
40 percent lower VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the final recycled pellets than with
INTAREMA® TVEplus® standard degassing, and up to 75 percent lower than the input material (in
accordance with VDA 277). Fogging effects, which can be an issue in injection moulding applications
for example, are significantly reduced. All this is achieved at a consistently high throughput without
compromising on the mechanical properties of the final product. To achieve this, water is added to
the plastic melt in precise doses and distributed evenly as an entraining agent. The prerequisite is
the use of proven INTAREMA® TVEplus® technology in combination with a specially developed
extruder screw and cylinder geometry in the degassing zone. “We didn’t invent water stripping – but
we have revolutionised it,” says Sophie Pachner, R&D Manager Process Engineering at EREMA.
“Only the INTAREMA® TVEplus® has the unique and proven Plus-Zone. This is located directly after
filtration, upstream of degassing, and it ensures extremely homogeneous mixing of the entrainer into
the plastic melt. The result is a really efficient stripping effect.”
An intelligent dosing and control concept injects the water into the Plus-Zone with precision. The
open-pored melt created by the evaporation of the water multiplies the exposed surface area of the melt a thousand-fold, shortening the diffusion paths to a minimum, and allowing VOCs and
condensable substances such as limonene to escape efficiently. Together with an increase in the surface renewal rate of up to 320 per cent and the high free volume, the optimum interplay that takes
place is a high-efficiency boost for degassing performance. VOLEX technology does not need any
additional melt lines, diverters or manifolds, significantly reducing the risk of black spots and
deposits. The result is a perfectly filtered and efficiently degassed melt, without compromising
throughput or quality.
EcoGentle® now also for polyolefins
Bringing EcoGentle® plasticising technology to the INTAREMA® series of recycling machines is
another update from EREMA. For VACUREMA® and VACUNITE® recycling systems that have been
in successful operation for years processing PET, EcoGentle® is now available for HDPE, LDPE, PP
and BOPET applications as well. Existing EREMA systems can be retrofitted with this technology.
In combination with proven Counter Current® technology, EcoGentle® ensures perfect interaction
between the intake section and the extruder screw. The material is melted particularly efficiently and
gently. At the same time, the temperature of the melt is much lower. Along with reduced energy
consumption and maximum flexibility in terms of the feed material, this process ensures particularly
gentle treatment of the plastic melt and produces recycled pellets with a higher quality.
In the post consumer segment, EcoGentle® enables the reliable processing of regrind material with
different bulk densities and viscosities. For multipurpose applications (HDPE and PP), the
plasticising technology lowers the temperature of the melt by up to 13 degrees Celsius and reduces
the power consumption of the extruder drive by up to six percent. In real life, this translates into
stable processes, less wear, longer component service life, and lower production costs. EcoGentle®
is also available starting immediately for inhouse recycling. With LDPE/LLDPE stretch film and with
BOPET film material, the temperature of the melt is as much as 20 degrees Celsius lower, while the
extruder drive consumes up to 15 percent less power.
The key components for EcoGentle® are made by 3S, a subsidiary of the EREMA Group. The
Austrian manufacturing specialist has many years of experience and extensive competence in the
production of extruder screws and cylinders, including for large plasticising units.
“EcoGentle® delivers particularly smooth and energy-efficient plasticising, and at K 2025 we are
pleased to bring the proven technology for PET bottle flakes to other material streams. The much
lower melt temperature has a positive effect on the quality of the melt and the quality of the final
recycled pellets,” says Huber-Lindinger. “EcoGentle® and VOLEX are two ground-breaking
technologies that open up more opportunities for high-value applications in recycling.
Edvanced Recycling powered by EREMA
The current campaign Edvanced Recycling – EREMA prime solutions for advanced recycling sees EREMA
present a wide range of advanced plastics recycling solutions. More than 40 years of experience
combined with practical application expertise are the basis for EREMA systems consistently delivering
high-quality recycled pellets to meet precise quality specifications, from food and cosmetic grade to
more straightforward applications. Edvanced Recycling shows how EREMA is working together with its
customers to sustainably increase the proportion of recycled materials used to make new plastic
products. All the information is available online at edvanced.erema.com
At K 2025 in Hall 9: Markus Huber-Lindinger, Managing Director at EREMA, and Sophie Pachner, R&D
Manager Process Engineering at EREMA, in front of the INTAREMA® 1108 TVEplus®. The machine is
equipped with the new VOLEX technology for high-efficiency degassing and EcoGentle® for particularly
smooth plasticising.