Siemens’ SIMATIC PCS 7 and COMOS MRO technologies ensure the smooth running of control systems and overcome the challenge of a mix of material consistency

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Siemens collaborates with Plastic Energy to enhance plastic recycling. (Credit: PLASTIC ENERGY)

German industrial manufacturing company Siemens and chemical recycling firm Plastic Energy have partnered to divert plastic waste from landfills and incineration.

Plastic Energy has developed a recycling process that converts end-of-life plastics into recycled oils that can be utilised to create new plastic products like food-grade packaging.

The patented technology is being deployed at two facilities in Spain, along with Siemens’ automation and measurement technologies, such as SIMATIC PCS 7 and COMOS MRO.

Both technologies ensure the efficient operation of control systems and overcome the challenging mix of material consistency.

Currently, Plastic Energy is constructing several bigger plants around Europe, Asia, and the US, beginning with one in the Netherlands with partner SABIC, to meet the demand for plastic recycling.

The plants will be considerably upgraded and equipped with Siemens’ end-to-end technological solutions, such as SIVACON S8 low voltage switchgear, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and process instrumentation.

The long-term partnership will allow Plastic Energy to continuously expand its technology and process by making enhancements for higher efficiency and product quality and achieving flexibility and scalability for its plant designs.

Siemens and Plastic Energy are collaborating to use a digital twin to achieve even more potential.

With the help of this technology, a virtual model is created to improve process and plant performance through closed-loop optimisation.

Siemens Process Control Systems business manager Steve Leech said: “We have viewed working with Plastic Energy as a long-term partnership from the beginning of our relationship, which brings together the process and industry knowledge of Plastic Energy, with our innovative technology portfolio.

“The result is a process plant that is flexible and provides the opportunity for value-add use of the data provided, through using SIMATIC PCS 7 and our instrumentation platforms.

“It is great to be involved with a company so focused on sustainability and contributing to a positive impact on the environment through the recycling of plastic waste.”

Plastic Energy has set a target to recycle five million tonnes of plastic waste by 2030.

Plastic Energy CEO Carlos Monreal said: “Through our unique and patented technology and our long-proven process we achieve two important results: we prevent depletion of natural resources while simultaneously diverting plastics from incineration and landfill, thus protecting the environment from plastic pollution by decreasing the volume of end-of-life plastic waste that could end up as plastic pollution.

“Utilising Siemens automation and processing software is important to ensure that our recycling plants are operating to their full potential and that we are able to continue to recycle as much plastic waste as possible.”