TUESDAY September 10
Tech tHEATER
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Material identification, separation and selection technologies for plastic recycling: a tailor-made suit
Alejandro Andrade will explore advanced technologies in material identification, separation and sorting, crucial for plastics recycling. He will detail how these solutions are customized to maximize efficiency and sustainability in recycling processes, highlighting practical applications and success stories in the global industry.
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Alejandro Andrade
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Innovateck
Alejandro Andrade, founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Innovateck, has 26 years of experience in the plastics and recycling industry. With a degree in chemical engineering specializing in polymers from Universidad de la Salle and training in global marketing from Silicon Valley Business School, Alejandro leads Innovateck, a leading Mexican company in technology and technical support for the plastics and recycling industry that is about to celebrate its twentieth anniversary. Thanks to his experience in the sector, Alejandro has consolidated his reputation as an expert in consulting for new businesses in the plastics industry, particularly in areas related to recycling, in Texas, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia. Innovateck has been a strategic partner of several of the largest recyclers on the continent and recently its success has earned it participation in the first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Hawaii. It also participated with technical advice in the first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Mexico and the first in Central America. Innovateck represents advanced technologies in plastics manufacturing, recycling, packaging, molding and additives with recognized brands such as Ettlinger, Hamos, Herbold Meckesheim, Moretto, Otto Hofstetter, Sesotec (S+S) and Starlinger Recycling Technology.
12:00 - 12:30 pm
How to Increase Pelletizing Line Capacity with Automatic Filters
This session will focus on the increasing need to enhance the capacity and performance of pelletizing lines. It will discuss how innovative automatic filters, such as the GEM Filter, are revolutionizing the industry by enabling high levels of capacity with reduced operational costs. Discover the practical solutions that are transforming the landscape of plastic recycling and how you can benefit from these advanced technologies.
María Teresa Márquez
Regional Sales Director for Latin America, for FIMIC
With over 20 years of experience across various markets in plastic extrusion and recycling, Efraín Preciado serves as the Regional Sales Manager for FIMIC in Latin America. In this role, he oversees market research, promotion, and sales throughout the Latin American territory, spanning from Mexico to Chile. Efraín supports and guides both potential and existing clients, provides assistance to local agents, and plays a key role in organizing industry events and trade shows.
12:30 - 1:00 pm
New technologies in PET filtration
The session will cover advances in PET filtration technologies, highlighting developments that improve the quality and efficiency in the production of recycled compounds, under the BritAs leadership.
Julián Martínez
Sales Representative for BritAs in Mexico and Texas
Chemical Engineer specializing in plastics and industrial management, with thirteen years of experience in the recycling industry. Currently, he is the director of IPYROS, an agency representing premium recycling technologies. He also leads Poltrade Recycling SA de CV, a plant focused on recycled compounds and advancements in the recycling industry.
1:00 - 1:30 pm
New challenges for melt filtration in packaging applications
Melt filtration, especially in blown film lines, presents unique challenges. Traditionally fed with virgin material, these lines must now adapt to processing recycled content without compromising continuous production at high extrusion pressures, maintaining a stable bubble and meeting strict tolerances. Current filtration systems, such as manual or hydraulic discontinuous screen changers, face significant limitations due to short filter lifespan and frequent production interruptions. This conference introduces a fully continuous filter changer with backflushing, ideal for processing up to 100% recycled material. Equipped with a high-performance purging system, this automated system stabilizes the process, preventing pressure fluctuations that could affect the quality of the final product.
Damon Patton
NORDSON / Bernal Industrial
Damon Patton joined the Nordson team in August 2016 as an Application Engineer for Underwater Pelletizing systems in the Americas. Since then, he has held roles of increasing responsibility and was recently promoted to Business Development Manager in September 2023.
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Damon has been in the Plastics Industry since 2000 when he graduated from Virginia Tech with his BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering. Before Nordson, he worked at Gala Industries in various roles, which included Mechanical Engineer and Process Engineer.
Tech tHEATER: SOLUCIONES INNOVADORAS
3:00 - 3:30 pm
Innovative post-consumer recycling solutions for PET and POs: new super-cleaning and odour reduction processes
Discover the latest post-consumer recycling solutions for PET and polyolefins. This session will explore innovative super-cleaning processes that are revolutionizing the industry by enhancing the quality of recycled material. The session will discuss how these processes not only ensure deep cleaning of the material but also significantly reduce unwanted odors, thereby improving the quality and acceptance of the final product in demanding applications. See how these technologies are ushering in a new era in sustainable recycling and how they can benefit your operation.
Armin Villa
Senior Sales Manager of the recycling unit
Starlinger Viscotec
Since 2010, Armin Villa has served as Senior Sales Manager of Starlinger's Recycling Technology business unit. He holds a degree in Business from the Executive Academy IBCC-Vienna and has over 18 years of experience in capital goods negotiations and the plastics recycling industry.
3:30 - 4:00 pm
Finest recycled pellet quality in the energy-saving way
This conference will address the innovative INTAREMA® TVEplus® DuaFil® Compact technology, a dual filtration system that handles melting exceptionally smoothly throughout the machine. This solution combines the proven and patented TVEplus® technology with the new patented DuaFil® Compact design. Thanks to this technology, the extruder screw is 10 L/D shorter compared to previous dual filtration solutions from EREMA, eliminating the discharge dosing zone. A smooth and short conveying screw with minimal shear stress is sufficient, as pressure buildup for the second filtration unit is achieved through a custom melt pump. This significantly reduces residence time, melt temperature, and energy consumption. Additionally, it provides effective and reliable degassing.
Ederson Sotini
Sales Manager for Latin America, EREMA
Sales Manager for Latin America at EREMA Austria. He is a Plastics Technician from SENAI Mario Amato, graduated in Polymer Engineering from FATEC São Paulo, and Commercial Management from SENAC São Paulo. He is currently pursuing an MBA in International Business from FMU São Paulo. He has over 18 years of experience in the plastic industry, with 9 of those years dedicated to the recycling business.
4:00 - 4:30 pm
Challenges in the Use of Post-Consumer Materials in High-Performance Applications
The trend towards the circular economy has led us to consider the use of post-consumer resins in different applications, some of which have their own technical challenges during the extrusion process, as well as in meeting specifications to ensure their optimal performance. However, by making an appropriate selection of post-consumer resins and working together with the technical teams involved, it is possible to incorporate them in high-performance applications, ensuring that the processes remain a sustainable and economically viable option.
Erika Andrea Rivera Paz
Technical Service Leader, Braskem Idesa
Technical service specialist in the plastics market. She has contributed to business growth through team management and the implementation of strategies such as lean manufacturing and six sigma. She has worked with clients in plastics and automotive manufacturing, optimizing processes to improve productivity and reduce costs. She has collaborated on innovation projects with educational institutions and CONAHCYT, culminating in the publication of scientific articles. She is a chemical engineer with master's degrees in Business Development and Advanced Manufacturing. In addition, she has a certification in NLP from the Tecnológico de Monterrey and experience in product development, sales strategies and new businesses. She has been a speaker and advisor on technical issues in the plastics industry.