The Trommel Separator is an essential screening and separation machine widely used in PET bottle recycling lines and municipal solid waste processing systems. It is specially designed to remove small contaminants such as glass fragments, metals, wood chips, paper, cardboard, dirt, and other unwanted materials before plastic bottles enter the granulation and washing stages.
At Chenxing Machinery, we manufacture industrial-grade trommel separator machines engineered for high screening efficiency, stable continuous operation, and long-term durability. Our rotary drum screening systems help recycling plants improve raw material cleanliness, protect downstream equipment, and enhance overall recycling efficiency.
A trommel separator, also called a rotary drum screen or trommel screen machine, is a cylindrical screening system used to separate materials according to particle size.
The machine consists of a slowly rotating mesh drum that allows smaller contaminants to pass through screen openings while larger materials continue moving forward through the drum.
In PET bottle recycling lines, the trommel separator removes:
Broken glass
Small metals
Dirt
Sand
Paper scraps
Wood fragments
Cardboard pieces
before bottles are crushed and washed.
This improves the efficiency of downstream recycling equipment and helps produce cleaner recycled plastic materials.
The trommel separator operates using a rotating cylindrical mesh screen installed at a slight incline.
The working process includes:
PET bottles or waste materials enter the rotating drum.
Internal lifting flaps continuously flip and guide materials forward.
Small contaminants fall through the mesh openings.
Larger recyclable materials continue through the drum and exit the machine.
Separated contaminants are collected for disposal or further processing.
Because the drum rotates slowly, materials are evenly distributed across the screening surface, improving separation accuracy and reducing blockages.
The screen openings are carefully designed to ensure PET bottles do not fall through while allowing smaller unwanted materials to pass.
Trommel separators are widely used before:
Bottle crushers
Granulators
Washing systems
Label removers
to improve raw material cleanliness and reduce contamination.
The equipment is also commonly used in:
Municipal waste processing plants
Construction waste sorting systems
Resource recovery facilities
Industrial waste recycling operations
for separating mixed waste streams.
Efficiently removes small contaminants before crushing and washing processes.
Heavy-duty drum structures ensure reliable industrial production performance.
Integrated automatic brush units continuously clean the mesh screen to prevent clogging and maintain stable screening efficiency.
Drum diameter, screen size, and machine length can be customized according to customer requirements.
The machine frame uses high-strength carbon steel for industrial durability and stability.
Optimized drum structure and drive system reduce maintenance frequency and operating costs.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Drum Diameter | Φ1000mm – Φ2500mm |
| Trommel Length | 4500mm – 10000mm |
| Material | Carbon Steel |
| Tilt Angle | 5° |
| Motor Power | 5.5KW – 15KW |
| Reduction Ratio | 1:17 |
Installing a trommel separator in a recycling system offers multiple advantages:
Improves material cleanliness before washing
Protects crushers and granulators from damage
Reduces downstream contamination
Improves PET flake quality
Increases recycling line efficiency
Reduces manual sorting requirements
Enhances automation levels
For large-scale recycling plants, pre-screening is one of the most effective methods for improving production efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Chenxing Machinery has more than 20 years of experience manufacturing plastic recycling and extrusion equipment for global customers.
We provide complete recycling line solutions tailored to:
Material type
Capacity requirements
Factory layouts
Automation needs
All machines undergo strict quality inspection and operational testing before shipment.
We provide:
Equipment consultation
Installation guidance
Technical training
After-sales service
The machine can process PET bottles, municipal waste, plastic waste, paper, cardboard, wood fragments, glass particles, and other recyclable materials.
Pre-screening removes contaminants before crushing, improving PET flake purity and protecting downstream equipment.
Yes. Drum diameter, length, and screen mesh size can be customized according to production requirements.
Yes. The trommel separator is equipped with automatic brush systems that keep mesh screens clean during operation.
Absolutely. The equipment is designed for long-term continuous operation in industrial recycling plants.
Looking for a reliable trommel separator manufacturer for your recycling project?
Chenxing Machinery provides high-performance rotary drum screening systems for PET bottle recycling and waste separation applications worldwide.
Visit Chenxing Machinery Official Website to learn more about our plastic recycling equipment and complete recycling line solutions.