Cleaning up the polluted edge of the world: Lindner and Comberplast recycle fishing nets

Presented at K 2019 in Düsseldorf and now used to clean up the edge of the world: Lindner Recyclingtech's Micromat 1500. Circular economy pioneer Comberplast has been using the machine to successfully shred old fishing nets and ropes collected from the coast of Patagonia.

In this K-MAG interview, Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth talks about the special features of the shredder, explains why the recycling of fishing nets is a big challenge, and describes how Lindner and Comberplast contribute to environmental protection.

You showcased the Micromat 1500 at K 2019 and highlighted its function by shredding fishing nets live onsite. How does the machine work? What makes it so unique?

Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth: We expanded and optimized our popular tried-and-tested Micromat series by adding the 1500 model in 2019; it was the right product at the right place at the right time to serve companies like Comberplast.

Shredding fishing nets is a major challenge because the material is very durable, dense, and tear resistant. The Micromat features an innovative cutting system that continuously cuts the nets and ropes. The output is ideal to continue the recycling process.

What makes it so special: Since the fishing nets are contaminated with abrasive sea salt residue, sand and organic matter, the machine and its cutting tools must be extremely robust.

Your company delivered the Micromat 1500 to Chilean plastics recycler and circular economy pioneer Comberplast at the beginning of 2020 – that's in South America! What prompted this collaboration?

Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth: We were able to win Comberplast as a new customer because we were able to demonstrate the high reliability of our machine. Comberplast is a company that is also very committed to a collaborative approach and circular economy. Our sales department in South America and our Chilean sales partner Ingeniería Delta Limitada, along with the Lindner team, are doing an excellent job in this setting.

What happens after the fishing nets have been shredded by the Micromat 1500?

Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth: The nets and ropes are subsequently cleaned and finely granulated. The extrusion and injection molding of new products also takes place on site at the Comberplast facility.

What are the challenges of this process or the project in general?

Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth: The abrasive material is the biggest challenge – the contamination with sand, sea salt, mussels, dirt, and organic matter places heavy demands on the shredder. The nets and ropes were originally developed not to break or tear, which makes the shredding process extremely difficult. Material processing must also be economically viable even in large quantities, making reliability, durability, and maintainability key aspects.

What successes have you had so far?

Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth: The machine was designed as a plug and play solution and was successfully installed and commissioned amid the pandemic with remote support from Lindner and Ingeniería Delta Limitada. Right from the start, the shredder met and even exceeded performance expectations.

How does Lindner contribute to environmental protection and sustainability? What are your future plans and goals in this setting?

Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth: Lindner's shredding technology and system solutions are the first step in the recycling process and hence the first undefined waste touchpoint. The right processing technology is vital to accelerate the transition to a circular economy – we are committed to making a pivotal contribution to boost circular economy and environmental protection and deliver the right technology to respond to future challenges.