Last updated: May 6, 2026 | Reviewed by the Rumtoo technical team
A plastic recycling machine RFQ helps suppliers quote the right equipment instead of guessing from a few photos and a target price. If the RFQ misses feedstock details, output specs, utilities, or trial-run conditions, buyers often receive quotes that look cheaper but exclude key machines. This guide gives you a practical RFQ checklist for plastic shredders, crushers, washing lines, dryers, pelletizing lines, and complete recycling plants.
If you are still comparing equipment types, review our plastic recycling machines page first. It shows the main process modules used in sorting, shredding, washing, drying, and pelletizing systems.
Quick Answer: What Should a Plastic Recycling Machine RFQ Include?
A plastic recycling machine RFQ should include feedstock description, contamination level, target output, required kg/h, utilities, plant layout, automation level, acceptance test conditions, spare parts, warranty, delivery terms, and supplier service scope. A complete RFQ lets you compare technical scope, not just the lowest headline price.
| RFQ section | What to provide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Feedstock | Photos, videos, polymer mix, contamination, moisture, bale form | Controls machine route and wear risk |
| Output target | Regrind, washed flakes, dry flakes, pellets, moisture, color, quality limits | Sets washing, drying, filtration, and pelletizing scope |
| Capacity | kg/h, shifts per day, monthly tons, future expansion plan | Prevents quotes based on unrealistic peak output |
| Utilities | Voltage, power limit, water, wastewater, compressed air, floor space | Affects layout, dryer choice, and installation cost |
| Commercial scope | Machines, conveyors, platform, controls, freight, installation, training, spares | Makes supplier quotations comparable |
Why Most Equipment Quotes Become Hard to Compare
Plastic recycling equipment quotes become hard to compare when each supplier assumes a different process boundary. One quote may include conveyors, platforms, dryers, control cabinets, spare blades, and commissioning. Another quote may list only the core machine and leave out the parts that make the line run.
The current search results for recycling equipment RFQs are mostly general procurement templates, public RFP PDFs, and single-supplier product pages. Only a few pages explain machine-specific details such as sample testing, FAT/SAT acceptance criteria, washing scope, moisture targets, and spare parts. This article fills that gap with a buyer-ready RFQ structure for plastic recycling projects.
According to the U.S. EPA, plastics generation in U.S. municipal solid waste reached 35.7 million tons in 2018. That volume includes clean factory scrap, post-consumer bottles, film, rigid containers, and mixed packaging, so buyers must describe the actual material stream before suppliers can quote the right line. Source: EPA Plastics: Material-Specific Data.
1) Define the Feedstock Before You Name the Machine
The feedstock section is the most important part of a plastic recycling machine RFQ because material condition decides the process route. A request for “500 kg/h plastic waste recycling line” is not enough. Suppliers need to know what enters the line, how dirty it is, and what happens before the material reaches the machine.
- Polymer type: PET, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PP, PVC, PS, ABS, PA, PC, or mixed plastics.
- Feed form: loose bottles, compressed bales, film rolls, flakes, lumps, purgings, pipes, crates, drums, caps, woven bags, or agricultural film.
- Contamination: labels, glue, sand, soil, oil, food residue, water, paper, metal, glass, organics, and mixed colors.
- Current pretreatment: manual sorting, existing crusher, existing washer, drying step, or no pretreatment.
- Evidence: send 10 to 20 clear photos, short videos, and a representative sample for testing when possible.
For material routing, use our plastic recycling machine selection guide. If your project includes PET, HDPE, and PP/PE streams, compare the equipment differences in our PET vs HDPE vs PP/PE recycling lines guide.
2) State the Output Specification Clearly
The output specification tells the supplier where the recycling line should stop. A line for washed flakes is different from a line for pellets, and a line for internal reuse is different from a line built for outside buyers.
| Output target | RFQ details to include | Equipment impact |
|---|---|---|
| Shredded material | Target size, screen size, dust limit, downstream use | Shredder, crusher, granulator, metal removal |
| Washed flakes | Moisture, label residue, fines, color, PVC limit if PET | Washing, separation, drying, air classification |
| Pellets | Pellet size, melt flow target, filtration need, odor, color | Extruder, filter, degassing, pelletizer, cooling, silo |
| Complete plant | Input-to-output boundary, capacity, utilities, layout, installation | Full process design and scope coordination |
For PET projects, packaging design affects flake quality. The Association of Plastic Recyclers notes that labels, inks, adhesives, closures, and label coverage can affect PET recycling performance. Source: APR Design Guide for PET Rigid Packaging.
3) Give a Real Capacity Target, Not a Wish Number
Capacity should describe stable production under real plant conditions. A quote based on a short peak test may not match an eight-hour shift with wet film, filter changes, blade wear, and cleaning stops.
- Target hourly output in kg/h.
- Expected operating hours per shift and shifts per day.
- Monthly tonnage target.
- Minimum acceptable stable output during trial runs.
- Future expansion target for the next 12 to 24 months.
In our project reviews, capacity mismatch often starts with wet or bulky material. PP/PE film may feed unevenly unless the line includes proper shredding, squeezing, densifying, and cutter-compactor feeding. Rigid plastics may need stronger torque and larger cutting chambers than the same kg/h of clean flakes.
4) List the Required Machine Scope
The machine scope section prevents quotation gaps. Ask each supplier to separate core equipment, auxiliary equipment, electrical controls, platforms, installation, and optional items.
| Line type | Common scope items to confirm |
|---|---|
| PET bottle washing line | Debaler, belt conveyors, label remover, manual sorting table, metal detector, crusher, friction washer, hot washer, sink-float tank, dryer, zig-zag separator, silo |
| PP/PE film recycling line | Shredder, wet crusher, friction washer, float tank, screw press or squeezer, thermal dryer, cutter-compactor, extruder, filter, pelletizer |
| Rigid HDPE/PP line | Shredder or granulator, friction washer, sink-float tank, dryer, pelletizing system, conveyors, metal removal, storage |
| Pelletizing line | Feeder, extruder, vacuum degassing, melt filter, pelletizer, cooling, vibrating screen, blower, silo, control cabinet |
If you need a full plant layout, include the building drawing and material flow direction. Our plastic recycling plant layout guide explains how equipment spacing, utilities, cleaning access, and maintenance routes affect production.
5) Ask for Trial-Run and Acceptance Criteria
Trial-run criteria turn a sales quote into a measurable technical proposal. Ask suppliers to test your material or a close representative sample, then report the conditions and results.
- Sample weight, material source, moisture, and contamination notes.
- Stable output in kg/h during the trial.
- Motor load, melt pressure, filter changes, downtime, and operator actions.
- Moisture after drying and pellet or flake appearance.
- Photos, videos, test report, and sample output sent back to the buyer.
For large projects, ask for both FAT and SAT terms. FAT checks the equipment before shipment. SAT checks installation, utilities, controls, safety devices, and production performance after the line reaches your plant.
6) Include Utilities, Space, and Installation Conditions
Utilities and layout details can change the equipment selection and final cost. A supplier needs the site constraints before promising a line arrangement or delivery schedule.
- Power: voltage, phase, frequency, available kW, electrical cabinet preference, and local standards.
- Water: supply pressure, recycling plan, wastewater treatment, discharge limits, and water temperature.
- Air: compressed air pressure and flow if pneumatic valves or instruments are included.
- Space: building length, width, height, door size, crane access, forklift routes, and floor loading.
- Installation: who handles foundation, wiring, piping, lifting, local labor, and operator training.
7) Request Safety Documents and Compliance Details
Safety requirements should appear inside the RFQ because recycling machinery includes rotating blades, conveyors, hot barrels, high voltage, hydraulic pressure, and cleaning hazards. Ask suppliers to document guards, interlocks, emergency stops, lockout points, manuals, and operator training.
OSHA explains that plastics machinery can expose workers to nip points, moving parts, high voltage, and hot surfaces, and it points employers toward machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and personal protective equipment. Source: OSHA Machine Guarding: Plastics Machinery.
The Plastics Industry Association also lists ANSI/PLASTICS machinery safety standards for equipment such as extrusion machinery. Source: PLASTICS Machinery Safety Standards.
8) Compare Commercial Terms and Delivery Scope
Commercial terms decide which cost belongs to the buyer and which cost belongs to the supplier. Ask each supplier to state the trade term, loading port, delivery time, payment milestones, packing method, insurance scope, and installation terms.
The International Chamber of Commerce publishes Incoterms rules that define responsibilities for costs, risk, and delivery between sellers and buyers. If your supplier quotes EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF, DAP, or another term, make sure your team understands what that term includes. Source: ICC Incoterms rules.
- EXW: Buyer usually handles pickup, export steps, freight, and import steps.
- FOB: Supplier usually delivers goods onto the vessel at the named port.
- CIF/CFR: Supplier arranges ocean freight to the destination port, with insurance depending on the term.
- DAP: Supplier arranges delivery to the named destination, but import duties and unloading still need confirmation.
9) Use a Supplier Comparison Scorecard
A supplier scorecard helps buyers compare more than price. Use the same scorecard for every quote and ask clarifying questions before choosing a supplier.
| Evaluation item | Questions to ask | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Technical fit | Does the line match the feedstock, contamination, output target, and kg/h? | 1-5 |
| Scope completeness | Are conveyors, controls, dryers, platforms, spares, and installation included? | 1-5 |
| Trial evidence | Did the supplier test real material and share useful data? | 1-5 |
| Service capability | Can the supplier support installation, training, spare parts, and remote troubleshooting? | 1-5 |
| Commercial clarity | Are payment, delivery, warranty, freight, and acceptance terms clear? | 1-5 |
Copy-and-Paste Plastic Recycling Machine RFQ Template
Use this RFQ template as a starting point. Replace each bracketed field with your project information before sending it to suppliers.
Project: [PET bottle washing line / PP PE film recycling line / rigid plastic washing line / pelletizing line / complete plant] Buyer location: [Country, city] Target start date: [Month, year] 1. Feedstock - Material type: [PET / HDPE / LDPE / LLDPE / PP / mixed] - Feed form: [bales / loose bottles / film rolls / flakes / lumps / crates / drums] - Current condition: [clean / dirty / wet / oily / mixed color / labels / sand / metal] - Estimated contamination: [describe] - Photos and videos: [attached] - Sample available for trial: [yes/no, sample weight] 2. Output target - Required output: [regrind / washed flakes / dry flakes / pellets] - Target moisture: [if known] - Target flake or pellet size: [if known] - Final application: [fiber / sheet / extrusion / injection / film blowing / resale] - Quality limits: [PVC, color, labels, fines, odor, melt flow, ash, etc.] 3. Capacity - Target stable output: [kg/h] - Operating schedule: [hours/shift, shifts/day] - Monthly target: [tons/month] - Future expansion: [12-24 month target] 4. Site and utilities - Voltage/phase/frequency: [example: 380 V, 3 phase, 50 Hz] - Available power: [kW] - Water supply and wastewater plan: [describe] - Compressed air: [available/not available] - Floor space and layout drawing: [attached] - Ceiling height, doors, crane/forklift access: [describe] 5. Required quotation scope - Machines and model list - Conveyors, platforms, electrical cabinets, piping, spare parts - Installation, commissioning, training - Warranty and service response - FAT/SAT conditions - Delivery term and port - Payment terms and lead time
FAQ About Plastic Recycling Machine RFQs
What is a plastic recycling machine RFQ?
A plastic recycling machine RFQ is a request for quotation that tells suppliers your material, output target, capacity, utilities, site limits, and commercial requirements. It helps suppliers quote a matching machine or complete line.
What is the biggest mistake in an RFQ?
The biggest mistake is asking for a machine price without describing the waste stream. Material type, dirt, moisture, labels, metal, and output quality decide the real equipment scope.
Should I send samples before buying?
Yes, send samples when the project size justifies testing. A sample trial can reveal feeding problems, washing limits, moisture issues, filter pressure, pellet quality, and wear risks before shipment.
How do I compare two supplier quotations?
Compare the process scope, included auxiliaries, capacity basis, trial data, electrical standards, safety documents, spare parts, installation, warranty, delivery term, and payment schedule. Do not compare only total price.
Should the RFQ include a budget?
A budget range can help suppliers avoid unsuitable configurations, but it should not replace technical details. Share the budget after defining material, output, capacity, and scope.
Next Step: Send a Complete RFQ
A plastic recycling machine RFQ should make your project clear enough for suppliers to quote the same technical boundary. Describe the material, define the output, state real capacity, list utilities, request trial-run criteria, and compare commercial terms before choosing a supplier.
To request a technical recommendation from Rumtoo, send your material photos, target kg/h, output goal, site utilities, and preferred line type. We can help you compare a PET bottle washing line, PP/PE film line, rigid plastic washing line, pelletizing line, or complete recycling plant.
