An industrial hot air pipe dryer, or thermal dryer, featuring stainless steel pipes on a green frame, used for drying plastic flakes in a recycling line.

Thermal Dryer for Plastic Recycling

Our thermal dryer is an outstanding method for extracting moisture through dehydration. Specifically engineered for our plastic film and PET washing lines, this continuous drying apparatus is strategically positioned after the dewatering machine. It serves as a crucial final step in reducing moisture levels to below 3% for high-quality recycled plastics.

See the Thermal Dryer in Action

Watch how our closed-loop thermal drying tunnel pairs controlled hot air with high-velocity conveying to deliver reliable, low-moisture flakes ready for extrusion.

Working Principle

Thermal dryers utilize hot air to dry the plastic material, much like a hair dryer. After dewatering, the material is vacuumed by a blower and combined with hot air traveling through an extended set of stainless steel tubing. As the plastic spirals within this transport tunnel, moisture is efficiently dehydrated.

Applications & Commercial Impact

Deliver premium, low-moisture flakes that command higher margins and unlock downstream process efficiency across diverse recycling operations.

  • Post-Consumer Film Regeneration

    Stabilize moisture-sensitive film extrusion by feeding ultra-dry LDPE/LLDPE flakes into pelletizing lines without steam bursts or gel formation.

  • Food-Grade PET Reprocessing

    Achieve the sub-3% moisture targets demanded by SSP and bottle-to-bottle facilities to preserve IV values and clarity.

  • Washed Flake Export Programs

    Meet strict overseas quality specs and reduce freight penalties by shipping clean, dry flakes with minimal dust content.

  • Integrated Recycling Parks

    Balance throughput between washing, drying, and pelletizing cells to eliminate bottlenecks and maintain continuous production.

Key Advantages

  • Achieve Low Moisture Levels

    The primary function is to reduce moisture to below 3%, making the final material ideal for high-quality pelletizing.

  • Improve Final Product Quality

    The integrated cyclone separator effectively removes dust and fines, resulting in a cleaner, purer end product.

  • Increase Production Efficiency

    By thoroughly drying the material, it ensures a stable and efficient process in the subsequent extrusion stage, boosting overall throughput.

  • Durable & Reliable Construction

    Built with high-quality Type 304 stainless steel, our thermal dryers are designed for longevity and continuous, reliable operation.

Technical Specifications

  • Model

    RSJ800 (Standard)

  • Blower Power

    5.5 KW

  • Heating Power

    36 KW

  • Pipe Diameter

    ⌀159mm

  • Pipe Material

    Type 304 Stainless Steel

  • Certification

    CE certification available

*Larger, more powerful models are available upon request to meet specific capacity and throughput requirements.

Why Choose Rumtoo Thermal Dryers

Our engineering team combines process know-how with responsive support so your dewatering line keeps running around the clock.

  • Process Engineering Included

    Receive tailored airflow, residence time, and cyclone sizing recommendations based on your exact material mix and throughput goals.

  • Rapid Installation Support

    Modular ductwork and pre-wired heaters arrive with 3D layout guidance, cutting onsite assembly time by up to 30%.

  • Global Spare Parts Network

    Critical wear components and heater elements ship from distributed service hubs to minimize unplanned downtime.

  • Energy Optimization Options

    Pair with heat recovery systems or VFD-controlled blowers to reduce kWh per kilogram without sacrificing dryness.

Frequently Asked Questions

A dewatering machine (like a centrifugal dryer) removes the bulk of surface water mechanically. However, to achieve the very low moisture content (under 3%) required for high-quality extrusion, a thermal dryer is essential to evaporate the remaining residual moisture using hot air.

A single thermal heater is generally sufficient to reduce moisture to below 3%. For operations that require ultra-low moisture levels (e.g., below 1%), we can configure a system with two or three thermal heaters positioned consecutively.

This system is specifically engineered and optimized for lightweight materials like plastic film and PET flakes. While it may be suitable for other similar materials, we recommend contacting our technical team to discuss your specific material and requirements to ensure optimal performance.

Schedule weekly inspections of blower filters, cyclone outlets, and duct unions. Keeping these components clean prevents pressure drops and preserves target air volume, ensuring consistent moisture removal.

Yes. We supply detailed interface drawings and adapter kits that let you connect to most centrifugal dryers and conveyance systems. Our engineers review your plant layout to match blower capacity and duct routing before shipment.

Inquire Now

To get the latest prices and lead times for our Thermal Dryer systems, please send us a message using the form below.

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Author: Rumtoo Plastic Recycling Machine

Rumtoo Plastic Recycling Machine, the leading manufacturer of high quality PET Bottle、PP / PE Film Recycling Machinery. Our PE film washing lines offer reliability, efficiency and maximum durability in recycling dirty and soiled PET bottle、PE film back into plastic granulate. With more than two decades of service to the plastics recycling industry, Rumtoo is proud to be responsible for recycling thousands of tonnes of plastic films such as plastic bags, PP non-woven supersacks and LDPE film every month at hundreds of recycling facilities worldwide.