ITA: Pellet press enables thermomechanical textile recycling

Since the end of 2025, the technical centre of the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University has been equipped with a pellet press from the manufacturer Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co. KG, Reinbek, Germany. This press can efficiently compact shredded synthetic textiles at a throughput of up to 25 kg/h and process them into pellets with a diameter of 4 mm.

The produced pellets are characterised by a homogeneous geometry, defined bulk density and suitable flowability. This enables reliable dosing and continuous feeding into an extruder. In this way, the process-related prerequisite for thermomechanical textile recycling on a pilot scale at the ITA is established.

Current research at the institute includes the thermomechanical recycling of cleaning textiles made from polylactide (PLA). The pellet press was procured as part of the RePLAy research project. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space is funding the project as part of the BIOTEXFUTURE innovation space.