Herbold Meckesheim, a specialist in machinery and system solutions for plastics recycling, has been commissioned by Turkish recycling company Doğa PET to deliver a second PET bottle washing line. The order follows the successful operation of the first washing line, which has been in continuous operation since the first quarter of 2024. With the new installation, Doğa PET will double its existing washing capacity at its recycling site in Kırklareli, Türkiye to produce a daily output of 200 metric tons of rPET flakes. The project underlines the confidence placed in Herbold Meckesheim as a system supplier and long-term technology partner for complex recycling applications.
Credit: Herbold Meckesheim
The two SMS forced feeding granulators installed in the first line ensure uniform flake size and stable material intake, creating ideal conditions for downstream washing and density separation processes.
Proven Performance Drives Expansion Decision
The first washing line supplied by Herbold Meckesheim has been producing high-quality rPET flakes for two years. According to the customer, stable operation and consistent output quality were the decisive factors behind the decision to invest in a second, technically identical system. The new line is designed with the same core process layout and throughput parameters as the existing line, ensuring reliable scalability and operational consistency and features key technologies such as forced feeding granulators, hot wash system in batch design, and hydrocyclone density separation. However, while the overall configuration of the new washing line corresponds with the proven design of the first plant, selected process modules have been optimized based on operational experience and variations in input material composition. A further improvement is the increase in pre-sorting capacity to 8.0 t/h. To achieve this, Herbold is supplying a debaler and a washing drum that integrates both wet and dry sections into a single machine. These adjustments aim to further stabilize throughput and efficiency.
Preparations for the delivery of the second washing line are currently underway. The first shipments are scheduled for early March 2026. Installation and commissioning at the customer’s site are expected to start shortly thereafter. Herbold Meckesheim will support the project through all phases, from logistics coordination and on-site installation to system start-up and operator training.
“The first washing line has been running reliably since its commissioning and consistently delivers the product quality we require,” said Ömer Ayvacı, Chairman of the Board of the Doğa Group. “Based on this positive experience, it was a logical step for us to expand capacity with a second line from Herbold Meckesheim.”
“Repeat orders like this confirm that our customers value not only our technology, but also our role as a dependable project partner,” said Stefan Lachenmayer, Global Commercial Director Recycling and Managing Director Herbold Meckesheim. “The second washing line for Doğa PET demonstrates how scalable system concepts can support long-term growth in plastics recycling.”