New Brazilian PET supplier almost ready to start production

Eight strand pelletizing systems are on their way to Brazilian plastics supplier PetroquimicaSuape, which plans to use the systems in a new 450,000-tonne/yr polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant it hopes to have in operation by year's end.

The supplier, a venture led by the Petrobras Química S.A. (Petroquisa), intends to be Latin America's leading integrated supplier of polyester products. By the end of this year, it will have three integrated units: one each for PET as well as one to supply polyester for filaments and yarn, and one for its own terephthalic acid (PTA) supply.

German engineering company Lurgi (Frankfurt) was tasked with planning and building the continuous polymerization system for the new PET plant, with Switzerland's Bühler AG contracted for its SSP (solid state polymerization) technology.

The eight pelletizing lines all are supplied by Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH (Grossostheim, Germany). According to a release provided by Automatik, this project marks the culmination of several major orders for pelletizing systems placed during 2009.

The order consists of eight complete M-USG 900 H underwater strand pelletizing systems in a horizontal line orientation, including fluid-heated die heads, the pelletizers and Centro 1600 centrifugal dryers. Each of these pelletizing lines can attain an operating throughput of 9500 kg/hr.

A follow-on order for two additional M-USG 300 H underwater pelletizing systems is scheduled for delivery later in 2010. Automatik Plastics Machinery claims a leading position in PET pelletizing applications with more than 1800 customers currently using its equipment. —