Two quotations labelled “granulator” may describe different jobs: cutting solid scrap into regrind, or making pellets after melting plastic. Start with the output your next process can accept. Comparing the names, purchase prices or kg/h figures before defining that output can leave whole process stages outside the quotation.
What does a plastic granulator do?
In this article, a plastic granulator means a machine that mechanically cuts suitable solid plastic scrap into smaller pieces of regrind. That size-reduction step does not include washing, melt filtration or extrusion pelletizing. If your material needs any of those operations, they must be considered separately in the process scope.
The word “granulator” can have different meanings across processes and languages. Before comparing quotations, confirm the incoming material, the operation performed and the expected output. Keep that input–operation–output description with each offer.
What does a pelletizer do?
In this route, plastic suitable for remelting undergoes appropriate melt processing before pelletizing. Pelletizing equipment then cuts the melt or cooled strands into pellets. Strand pelletizing is one option within this route; it is not a description of every pelletizing method.
A pelletizer should therefore not be treated as a complete extrusion pelletizing line. The quotation needs to explain what happens before and after the cutting stage, which equipment is included and how the stages connect. Otherwise, the quoted machine may cover only part of the process you need.
Compare the required output
| Question | Mechanical granulation | Melt processing and pelletizing |
|---|---|---|
| What enters the relevant stage? | Suitable solid plastic scrap | Melt or cooled strands, depending on the pelletizing method |
| What is the intended output? | Mechanically cut regrind | Pellets following melt processing |
| What must the buyer clarify? | Scrap suitability and downstream acceptance of the regrind | The complete process scope and the interfaces around the pelletizer |
Pellets and regrind cannot be judged only by appearance. A regular pellet shape does not establish resin identity, show that contamination has been removed or prove that the finished part will meet its requirements. Remelting is not a guarantee of restored material properties. Evaluate both outputs against the actual material and the next manufacturing use.
Can production scrap be reused as regrind?
Controlled production scrap may be suitable for direct reuse after granulation. However, being generated inside the factory does not automatically make it suitable, and visual inspection alone is insufficient. Check the material identity and condition, possible mixing, the downstream process and the product acceptance requirements before choosing this route.
There is no universal reuse percentage to apply to every material or product. If regrind is acceptable, define that output clearly. If pellets are required, specify the necessary processing stages instead of assuming that a pelletizer alone will deliver them.
Prepare comparable equipment enquiries
Start each enquiry with the desired output and its intended use. Then list the process stages, equipment, upstream and downstream interfaces, inclusions and exclusions. Ask for performance figures to identify the material and measurement conditions behind them. Single-machine prices or kg/h figures are not a sufficient comparison when the quotations produce different outputs.
For a granulation enquiry, RHONG’s general-purpose granulator provides a starting point for discussing the actual scrap, its dimensions, the expected regrind and the feeding arrangement. Use the granulator selection guide for the wider machine comparison and the kg/h guide to check the measurement behind a capacity figure. Send RHONG your material, scrap dimensions and intended output to discuss the granulation stage.
Process references
The cutting and regrind descriptions can be compared with Cumberland’s size-reduction fundamentals. For one melt-processing route, Coperion’s strand-pelletizing brochure separates strand cooling, surface-water removal and cutting. These describe process principles, not the scope of a RHONG quotation.