A plastic horizontal dryer is an important piece of equipment in plastic recycling and washing lines. It uses high-speed centrifugal force to remove water from washed plastic flakes, helping improve the dryness of recycled materials before further processing.
Shuliy Inc. provides plastic horizontal dewatering machines for PET flakes and other crushed plastic materials, such as PP, PE, HDPE, etc. The machine features automatic feeding and discharging, a durable stainless steel structure, and efficient continuous operation.
Dewatering efficiency can reach over 97%. For PET recycling projects with higher finished-product drying requirements, a drying pipe can also be added after the horizontal dewatering machine to achieve a drying rate of over 99.5%.
1. What Is a Plastic Horizontal Dewatering Machine?
A plastic horizontal dewatering machine, also called a plastic horizontal dryer or plastic centrifugal dewatering machine, is designed to remove water from washed and crushed plastic materials.
It is commonly installed after the washing process in a plastic recycling line. The machine uses a rotating shaft equipped with blades or paddles to move plastic flakes forward while centrifugal force separates water from the materials.
The separated water passes through small holes in the stainless steel screen and is collected for discharge. Meanwhile, the partially dried plastic flakes move toward the outlet and enter the next processing stage.
Compared with natural drying, mechanical dewatering is faster and takes up less space. It is particularly useful for continuous plastic recycling production.
2. Working Principle of the Plastic Horizontal Dryer
The plastic horizontal dryer works through centrifugal separation and mechanical conveying.
First, washed plastic flakes enter the machine through the feeding inlet. A high-speed rotating shaft with specially designed blades continuously moves the material forward and throws water outward.
Under centrifugal force, water passes through the small openings in the surrounding screen. The plastic flakes remain inside the screen tunnel and continue moving toward the discharge outlet.
The separated water is collected and discharged from the machine, while the partially dried plastic flakes are transported to the next process.
The main working steps are:
- Feeding: Washed plastic flakes enter the machine automatically.
- Centrifugal dewatering: The rotating shaft separates water from the plastic materials.
- Water discharge: Water passes through the screen and is collected.
- Material conveying: The rotor blades move the plastic flakes toward the outlet.
- Discharging: Partially dried materials enter the next production process.
This continuous process helps reduce surface moisture and prepares plastic flakes for further drying or processing.
3. Applications of the Plastic Chips Dryer Machine
The horizontal dewatering machine is suitable for removing water from different types of washed plastic materials, including:
- PET bottle flakes
- Plastic flakes and crushed plastic
- Plastic sheets
- Cable insulation materials
- Wire and pipe recycling materials
It is especially useful in PET bottle washing and recycling lines.
After PET bottles are labeled, crushed, washed, and rinsed, the wet PET flakes enter the horizontal dewatering machine. Removing most of the surface water at this stage helps reduce the drying load in subsequent processes.
The machine can also remove some fine impurities, such as sand particles, through the separation process.
4. Main Features of the Plastic Horizontal Dewatering Machine
Recycling Equipment Inc.’s horizontal dewatering machine is designed for stable operation and continuous plastic recycling production.
1. Stainless steel construction
The screen, rotor, and machine body are made of stainless steel, offering good resistance to corrosion and supporting long-term operation in wet working environments.
2. Balanced rotor and stable operation
The main shaft undergoes dynamic and static balancing. Combined with a specially designed suspension structure, damping springs, and shock absorbers, the machine helps reduce vibration and operating noise.
3. Efficient water removal
High-speed centrifugal separation removes water from plastic flakes efficiently, reducing the moisture entering the next processing stage.
4. Automatic feeding and discharging
The machine supports continuous feeding, conveying, dewatering, and discharging, reducing manual handling and labor requirements.
5. Easy cleaning and maintenance
The machine body can be opened for convenient access to the internal screen. Operators can remove accumulated impurities and clean the equipment more easily.
6. Compact installation
Its compact structure helps save factory space. The specially designed suspension structure also reduces the need for a dedicated heavy foundation under suitable installation conditions.
5. Plastic Horizontal Dryer Technical Parameters
The following are the reference specifications of the SL-550 horizontal dewatering machine.
| Parameter | Specification |
|—|—|
| Model | SL-550 |
| Outer Diameter | 550 mm |
| Length | 1,000 mm |
| Filter Hole Diameter | 4 mm |
| Capacity | 1,000 kg/h |
The actual processing capacity may vary depending on the type, size, moisture content, and feeding conditions of the plastic materials.
For PET recycling projects, the final equipment configuration should also consider the capacity of the washing line and the required moisture level of the finished flakes. Please contact us to confirm the specifications for your material.
6. How Dry Can a Plastic Horizontal Dewatering Machine Make PET Flakes?
The moisture content of recycled PET flakes is an important factor affecting product quality and subsequent processing.
A horizontal dewatering machine mainly removes water by mechanical centrifugal force after washing. Under normal working conditions, its dewatering efficiency can reach over 97%.
For applications requiring drier PET flakes, a drying duct can be added downstream of the dryer to achieve a drying efficiency exceeding 99.5%.
Optional Drying Pipe for Higher PET Drying Requirements
If your PET recycling project requires a higher level of finished-product dryness, we can provide a drying pipe as an additional component after the horizontal dewatering machine.
The process works as follows:
PET washing → Horizontal dewatering machine → Drying pipe → Finished PET flakes
The horizontal dewatering machine removes most of the surface water through centrifugal force. The drying pipe provides an additional drying stage to further reduce residual moisture.
This combined solution is suitable for customers who have stricter requirements for PET flake dryness or need to prepare materials for subsequent processing.
The final moisture content depends on the complete drying configuration, material conditions, and operating parameters. We recommend confirming your target moisture level before selecting the equipment.
7. Application in a PET Bottle Washing and Recycling Line
A plastic horizontal dryer is commonly used as part of a complete PET bottle washing line.
A typical PET bottle recycling process includes:
- Label removal: Separates labels from waste PET bottles.
- Crushing: Breaks bottles into smaller PET flakes.
- Washing: Removes dirt, oil, and other contaminants.
- Rinsing: Removes remaining cleaning residues.
- Horizontal dewatering: Uses centrifugal force to remove most of the water.
- Additional drying: A drying pipe or other suitable drying equipment can be added when lower moisture is required.
- Storage and packaging: Collects the finished PET flakes for further use.
The exact equipment configuration depends on the incoming bottle condition, required output, and finished-product quality standards.
By matching the dewatering and drying sections properly, manufacturers can improve production continuity and reduce unnecessary drying energy consumption.
8. Why Choose Shuliy Machinery?
Choosing a plastic dewatering machine involves more than comparing its rated capacity. The equipment should match your raw materials, washing process, and final product requirements.
Recycling Equipment Inc. can help customers evaluate:
- Suitable dewatering machine capacity
- Plastic material type and feeding conditions
- Connection with existing washing equipment
- Additional drying requirements for PET flakes
- Complete plastic recycling line configuration
Whether you need a standalone horizontal dewatering machine or a combined dewatering and drying solution, we can help you select suitable equipment for your project.
9. Get a Quote for a Plastic Horizontal Dryer
Are you looking for a reliable plastic horizontal dewatering machine for your PET recycling line?
Contact Recycling Equipment Inc. and tell us about your materials, required processing capacity, and finished-product moisture requirements.
Our team can recommend a suitable horizontal dryer configuration and discuss whether an additional drying pipe is needed for your PET flakes.
Contact us today to get equipment details and a customized quotation.
