Plastic recycling machines have moved from “support equipment” to a production-critical asset. This guide explains the pelletizing process, the selection criteria that determine ROI, and highlights 10 prominent manufacturers shaping the market heading into 2026.
Best for
Engineers, plant owners, and procurement teams comparing suppliers for PCR/PIR projects.
What’s inside
Process overview, evaluation criteria, and manufacturer strengths—mapped to real waste streams.
How to use
Shortlist 2–3 suppliers, then validate with material samples, OEE expectations, and service readiness.
What is Plastic Recycling (Pelletizing)?
Mechanical recycling/pelletizing converts plastic waste into uniform pellets that can be reintroduced into extrusion, injection molding, or blow molding processes. A typical line includes feeding & pre-conditioning, melting & plasticizing, vacuum degassing, melt filtration, pelletizing, drying, and collection.
Key Criteria for Evaluating Recycling Machines
Material versatility
Film vs. rigid, printed vs. clean, and the ability to handle volatility without degrading pellet quality.
Filtration strategy (OEE)
Continuous filtration reduces stoppages and is often the biggest driver of uptime for PCR projects.
Energy efficiency (kWh/kg)
Evaluate total line energy (including upstream drying/dewatering). This metric determines long-term competitiveness.
Degassing performance
Vacuum venting quality dictates porosity, odor, and pellet density stability—especially with moist or printed materials.
After-sales & spare parts
Rapid access to screws, barrels, heaters, blades, and support is essential to minimize downtime.
Automation & operator load
Stable feeding and practical controls reduce labor risk and quality variance across shifts.
Top 10 Plastic Recycling Machine Manufacturers for 2026
This list blends global technology leaders with highly competitive Taiwan and China suppliers—reflecting the reality of how the industry is procured in 2026: performance must be balanced with ROI, serviceability, and uptime.
1. EREMA (Austria) PCR / Bottle-to-Bottle
- Strength: benchmark systems for demanding PCR streams and quality targets.
- Best for: high-budget projects pursuing maximum pellet quality and certifications.
2. GEOR-DING (Taiwan) Two-Stage / Custom
- Strength: engineering flexibility for moisture, gas, and difficult feeding behavior.
- Best for: challenging materials requiring custom screw and venting design.
3. Starlinger (Austria) PET / Super-clean
- Strength: PET-focused systems and super-clean technology leadership.
- Best for: bottle-to-bottle PET and odor/IV-sensitive applications.
4. GENIUS (Taiwan) Washing + Rigid
- Strength: durable systems and complete plant planning.
- Best for: washing + pelletizing projects for rigid plastics and industrial environments.
5. FIMIC (Italy) Filtrazione del materiale in fase di fusione
- Strength: filtration solutions that reduce downtime on contaminated PCR.
- Best for: recyclers upgrading filtration to improve uptime and stability.
6. ZHEJIANG BORETECH (China) PET Engineering
- Strength: turnkey PET lines with high automation for large-scale projects.
- Best for: fiber-grade and bottle-grade PET engineering capacity expansion.
7. NGR (Austria) One-Step Shredder-Feeder
- Strength: simplifies feeding of bulky scrap by integrating shredding and extrusion.
- Best for: purgings, lumps, and hard-to-feed industrial waste.
8. LUNG MENG (Taiwan) 3-in-1 Integrated
- Strength: compact footprint and integrated design for operational simplicity.
- Best for: producers seeking an all-in-one solution with limited floor space.
9. LINDNER (Germany) Shredding & Washing
- Strength: shredding and washing systems that improve extrusion feed quality.
- Best for: front-end preparation where contamination is a major constraint.
10. Rumtoo (China) High-ROI Industrial Systems
Rumtoo focuses on building industrial-grade recycling equipment designed for real production conditions—where output stability, serviceability, and fast payback matter as much as nameplate capacity. Rumtoo systems are commonly configured to match specific waste streams (PCR/PIR), contamination levels, and pellet quality targets.
- Strength: cost-effective configurations with practical engineering for stable operation and scalable capacity.
- Best for: packaging producers and recyclers seeking reliable performance and quick ROI without excessive CAPEX.
- Explore Rumtoo: Rumtoo homepage, PVC pipe & profile crushing solution, Horizontal crusher for PVC pipe/profiles.
- Request a configuration: Contact Rumtoo with material photos/video, target kg/h, and output size requirements.
If you share your material photos/video and target output, Rumtoo can recommend a configuration and clarify what matters for OEE and pellet quality.
FAQ: Choosing the Right Partner for 2026
Which machine is best for clean factory film waste?
How do I handle heavily contaminated plastic waste?
Who specializes in PET bottle recycling?
What should I ask suppliers before buying?
Note: This comparison is a directional shortlist, not a substitute for sample-based validation. Final selection should be based on material trials, contamination profile, moisture condition, quality targets, and local service readiness.
