Plastic film recycling is fundamentally different from rigid plastic crushing. Films are soft, often under 0.1mm thick, and prone to melting when crushed-the heat of friction can weld films into solid clumps that wrap around the rotor, stalling the machine and destroying blades. The ZL-PC300 Plastic Film Crusher solves these challenges with anti-agglomeration blade geometry, controlled rotor RPM to limit heat buildup, and a low-friction blade coating that prevents film from sticking.
For agricultural film recyclers, LDPE film producers, and post-consumer film recovery operations, the ZL-PC300 delivers 220-300 kg/h of film flake ready for wash lines, agglomerators, or direct extrusion. The 4-6mm screen (smaller than rigid plastic) optimizes film output for downstream re-compounding.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | ZL-PC300 |
| Motor Power | 5.5 kW (3-phase, custom voltage available) |
| Capacity | 220-300 kg/h sustained (PET bottle flakes, <5% moisture) |
| Rotating Blades | 9 pcs SKD-11 (HRC 60-62) |
| Fixed Blades | 2 pcs SKD-11 (matched set) |
| Feed Opening | 310 x 220 mm (accommodates whole 2L bottles, larger rigid items) |
| Screen Mesh | 8mm default (6/10/12/14/16/18/20mm interchangeable) |
| Rotor Speed | 500 RPM (low-speed high-torque for clean cuts) |
| Noise Level | Max 85 dB at 1m |
| Net Weight | 300 kg |
| Machine Size | 1100 x 730 x 1200 mm |
| Power Supply | 3-phase 380V/50Hz (220V/415V/440V/480V custom available) |
| Compliance | CE, ISO 9001, IEC 60204-1 |
Plastic film and rigid plastic have fundamentally different mechanical properties, requiring different crushing strategies. The ZL-PC300 Plastic Film Crusher's design addresses these differences:
| Property | Rigid Plastic (PET, HDPE) | Film (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE film) | Implication for Crusher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.5-5mm (typical bottles, containers) | 0.01-0.3mm (typical film) | Film is 10-100x thinner |
| Tensile Strength | High (50-80 MPa) | Very high (20-30 MPa, but per mm) | Film stretches before breaking |
| Heat Sensitivity | Moderate (softens 70-90degC) | High (softens 60-80degC, sticky at 100degC) | Film melts easily during cutting |
| Cutting Behavior | Breaks cleanly with shear force | Stretches, wraps around rotor | Anti-agglomeration design critical |
| Recommended Screen | 6-12mm | 4-6mm (finer) | Smaller screen for film |
| Throughput vs Rigid | Baseline (220-300 kg/h) | Same or higher (300-350 kg/h) | Film is lighter per piece, easier to cut |
Key design differences for film crushing:
Agglomeration (film melting and clumping into solid masses) is the #1 failure mode for film crushers. The ZL-PC300 Plastic Film Crusher's anti-agglomeration design prevents this, but operators should follow these practices:
If agglomeration occurs:
The ZL-PC300 with standard 8mm screen handles film, but smaller screens (4-6mm) optimize output for film-specific applications. Screen selection depends on downstream use:
| Screen Size | Best For | Throughput vs 8mm | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm | Fine film for extrusion re-feed | -30% throughput (210-240 kg/h) | More fines, higher heat |
| 6mm (recommended for film) | Most film applications | -10% throughput (200-270 kg/h) | Optimal balance |
| 8mm (default) | Mixed film + rigid plastic | Baseline (220-300 kg/h) | Works for both |
| 10mm+ | Film for agglomeration (pre-process) | +10-15% throughput | Coarser output, less agglomeration risk |
Best practice: Most film recycling operations use 6mm screen as standard. Buy 4mm and 8mm as spares for application-specific changes. Screen change time: 90 seconds.
Agricultural film (mulch film, greenhouse film, silage wrap) is the largest film recycling vertical by volume globally. China alone uses 1.4 million tons/year of agricultural film, with similar volumes in Europe, North America, and increasingly Africa and South Asia. The ZL-PC300 Plastic Film Crusher is well-suited for agricultural film recycling operations:
Agricultural film recycling economics:
For a 100 t/month agricultural film recycling operation, net annual revenue from recovered flake: USD 240,000-720,000/year. PC300 investment payback: 1-3 months.
Q1: What types of plastic film can the ZL-PC300 process?
LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE film (0.01-0.30mm thickness), including mulch film, greenhouse film, silage wrap, stretch wrap, shrink film, and post-consumer film waste. Also processes PP film (less common but possible) and thin-walled containers.
Q2: Can the ZL-PC300 process stretch wrap and cling film?
Yes, but with caveats. Stretch wrap is very thin (0.015-0.025mm) and highly elastic. Pre-shred to 50x50mm pieces before feeding. Use 6mm screen. Throughput may be 20-30% lower than rigid plastic due to stretch behavior.
Q3: How do I prevent film from melting and sticking during crushing?
The PC300's anti-agglomeration design handles most cases. Key practices: maintain steady feed rate, don't exceed 500 RPM, keep blades sharp (rotate every 200-300h), use 4-6mm screen, clean chamber daily. If agglomeration occurs, reverse rotor briefly and manually remove mass.
Q4: What is the recommended screen mesh for agricultural film recycling?
6mm screen is recommended for most agricultural film applications. For very thin mulch film (under 0.02mm), use 4mm screen with pre-shredding. For greenhouse film (0.08-0.20mm), 6-8mm screen works well.
Q5: Can the PC300 handle wet or contaminated film?
Wet film is acceptable (drain excess water before feeding). Contaminated film (with soil, grass, food residue) is OK but accelerates blade wear 30-50%. Pre-wash recommended for heavily contaminated film. The PC300 is not designed for liquid slurry applications.
Q6: What's the throughput difference between film and rigid plastic?
Film throughput is typically 250-350 kg/h on the PC300 (slightly higher than rigid plastic) due to lower density per piece. However, processing thinner film with smaller screen (4-6mm) reduces throughput 10-30%.
Q7: Does the PC300 produce dust or fines from film crushing?
Yes, film produces 3-7% fines (vs 1-3% for rigid plastic). Fines are valuable for film applications (can be directly extruded). For worker safety and cleanliness, dust collection is recommended.
Q8: Can the ZL-PC300 process bi-oriented film (BOPP, BOPET)?
BOPP and BOPET (oriented polypropylene and polyester films used in food packaging) are tougher than LDPE/LLDPE. They process well with the PC300 but generate more heat. Recommend 6mm screen, slightly reduced throughput (180-250 kg/h), and pre-shredding for larger pieces.
Q9: What is the FOB price and lead time for the ZL-PC300 Plastic Film Crusher?
FOB price: USD 1050/set. MOQ: 1 set. Lead time: 15 working days. For film-specific configuration (with anti-agglomeration coating and 6mm screen), add USD 200-300.
Q10: Can the PC300 handle multi-layer film (e.g., food packaging with aluminum foil layer)?
Multi-layer film with aluminum foil is challenging. The aluminum foil can damage blades. Recommend pre-processing to remove aluminum (via density separation) before crushing. Pure plastic multi-layer film (PE/PP/EVOH) processes without issue.
Plastic film recycling is fundamentally different from rigid plastic crushing because film is flexible, often contaminated with moisture and food residue, and tends to wrap around rotating shafts. The ZL-PC300 plastic film crusher is engineered with three design features specifically for film duty: (1) Shear-cut rotor geometry rather than impact-cut, which slices film rather than tearing it, preventing wrap-around on the 9 SKD-11 rotor blades. (2) Forced-feed compression chamber with horizontal hydraulic ram that pre-compacts loose film into a dense plug before presentation to the cutting rotor, increasing bulk density from approximately 30 kg/m3 (loose film) to 200 kg/m3 (compressed plug), effectively multiplying throughput 6x. (3) Anti-bridging hopper walls at 75 degree angle with polished stainless steel surface preventing film accumulation. The ZL-PC300 handles three film formats: dry film (post-consumer or post-industrial clean film at 2-5% moisture), wet film (wash-line output at 15-25% moisture requiring dewatering press preceding crusher), and baled film (compressed bales at 400-600 kg/m3 density). For baled film duty, throughput increases to 280-300 kg/h versus 220 kg/h for loose film because of higher feed density.
The ZL-PC300 plastic film crusher produces 6-12mm film flakes depending on screen selection, which is the optimal size range for downstream washing and extrusion. Smaller flakes (4-6mm) wash faster but generate more fines that become wash water contamination. Larger flakes (15-20mm) wash slower and may entangle in the friction washer. The 8-10mm range is the industry sweet spot for LDPE and LLDPE film recycling, matching ZL-PC300 standard 10mm screen aperture. For PE/PP multi-layer films (food packaging), screen selection should bias toward 12mm to maintain layer separation during washing. Fines generation is a critical quality metric: ZL-PC300 produces less than 3% fines (below 1mm) at rated throughput, versus 8-12% fines from competitor film crushers using impact-cut rotor designs. Lower fines means cleaner wash water, less material loss, and higher overall yield from the same input tonnage.
The ZL-PC300 plastic film crusher is designed for integration into a complete film recycling line consisting of: (1) Belt conveyor feeding baled or loose film into ZL-PC300 hopper at controlled rate, (2) ZL-PC300 primary crushing reducing volume 8:1, (3) Air classifier removing fines and light contaminants, (4) Friction washer (Zillion ZL-FW500 or equivalent) at 1500 RPM with hot water for label and adhesive removal, (5) Centrifugal dryer reducing moisture to below 2%, (6) ZL-AGG200 agglomerator converting washed film flakes to densified agglomerates for extrusion feed, (7) Extruder with degassing for final pellet production. This 7-station line processes approximately 300 kg/h of post-consumer LDPE film at 60 kW total installed power, producing 280 kg/h of clean recycled LDPE pellets at 1.5% print contamination. Standalone ZL-PC300 is suitable for operations washing and pelletizing elsewhere; for integrated turnkey lines, Zillion supplies the complete wash-crush-agglomerate-extrude configuration.