Saperatec and SKLOPAN LIBEREC present a new recycling technology on glasstec 2014

High grade PVB-foil from used car glass - So far there was no chance of using Polyvinylbuteral (PVB) from used windshields as secondary raw material for the same application due to remaining contaminants.  The German recycling expert Saperatec and the Czech equipment manufacturer SKLOPAN LIBEREC present a new recycling technology to regain PVB from shredded flat glass with the purpose of reusing it as a secondary raw material for new front shield or other laminated safety glass.

PVB is a high-value specialty polymer with specific technical properties which is involved in almost every laminated safety glass. The market volume is immense due to the fact that laminated safety glass is used in passenger cars, trucks and busses. But it is not only the automobile sector which counts on this rather expensive polymer: Also the architectural sector needs the safety foil for more and more applications.

Today PVB-waste is a part of laminated safety scrap glass: although there are huge quantities of waste PVB worldwide available, it was – until now - not possible to prepare the highly demanded raw material for reuse in the same original application. Adherences of small glass particles and dust prohibited a high grade recycling.

For the very first time the German technology provider Saperatec presents in cooperation with the Czech equipment supplier SKLOPAN LIBEREC a new process to regain a homogeneous PVB which can be used as secondary raw material for laminated safety glass applications.

The integrated recycling process is divided into a dry part where the flat glass is removed from the PVB and a wet part where a specific micro-emulsion delaminates the surplus of glass from the PVB-foil.

During the upcoming worldwide leading glass exhibition called glasstec in Düsseldorf (21-24 October 2014) the two partners submit evidence by exhibiting a windshield which has been produced with recycled PVB-foil.

About Saperatec:

Saperatec GmbH was founded in Bielefeld, Germany in 2010 and since then is specialized in developing innovative recycling technologies based on the use of micro-emulsions. The technology is used for delaminating composite material like multi-layer packaging, used beverage cartons or laminated safety glass. In February 2014 the company commissioned an industrial pilot plant in Bielefeld to demonstrate the whole technological process. Since then they market the technology for commercial applications of composite materials.

About SKLOPAN LIBEREC:

SKLOPAN LIBEREC, a. s. was founded in 1991 as a 100% Czech company and since then is specialized in development and production of machines and plants for the glass sector, especially for flat glass processing. Further improvement became possible by focusing on industrial segments like development and production of turn-key installations for the glass sector as well as for the automotive industry.