Ancillary Equipment

Vibrating Screen for Plastic Pellet, Flake and Post-Crushing Regrind Classification

A vibrating screen separates plastic particles by size using a vibrating mesh deck. Rumtoo designs and manufactures two configurations under one product line — rotary vibratory separator for precise pellet grading and powder/fines removal (10–500 mesh), and linear multi-deck vibrating screen for coarse post-shredder and post-crusher regrind (5–80 mm). Every machine ships CE-marked, ISO 9001 quality-controlled, with an 18-month warranty and on-site commissioning included.

Request Vibrating Screen ProposalView Specifications
Scroll
Rotary vibrating screen separating plastic pellets by size (placeholder)

How to Select a Vibrating Screen

The choice between rotary and linear — and the mesh pattern, amplitude and frequency — is driven by the material spec sheet. These are the five inputs Rumtoo engineering works through before quoting.

1

Decide: fine classification or coarse sieving?

For grading pellets, removing dust or streamers, or splitting powder from granulate (particles under ~10 mm), use a rotary vibratory separator. For screening post-shredder or post-crusher regrind (5–80 mm) to remove oversize before the next stage, use a linear vibrating screen. Combining both duties on a single machine typically compromises both; a two-machine train is the better solution when the feed spans both ranges.

2

Match the mesh to the particle size distribution

Pull the PSD from the upstream crusher, granulator or pelletizer. For PE/PP/PET pellets the cut-point is typically 2–5 mm (4–10 mesh) for scalping and 0.5–1 mm (18–35 mesh) for fines removal. For regrind the cut-points are set per downstream line (e.g. 6 mm for washing, 12 mm for pelletizing). Oversized pellets, angel hair and film scrap need the top deck cut-point set deliberately wider to avoid blinding.

3

Tune amplitude, frequency and deck angle for the polymer

Amplitude 2–8 mm and frequency 700–3000 rpm are adjusted so flakes travel at the right speed — too fast and they bridge the mesh without being classified, too slow and they re-agglomerate. Sticky polymers (soft PE film, rubberised PP) need more amplitude and a bouncing-ball cleaner; hard brittle polymers (PS, PET) tolerate higher frequency and plain mesh.

4

Plan for moisture, static and dust

Recycled plastic is dustier and more variable than virgin. Wet feed clogs the mesh almost immediately; the screen should sit after the dryer, not before. Static build-up causes fines to adhere to the enclosure — anti-static mesh, grounding straps and an optional ionising bar address it. Dust loads above 50 mg/m³ require an enclosure with a cyclone and bag filter.

5

Integrate with the rest of the line

A vibrating screen rarely runs standalone. After a shredder → linear screen → crusher or granulator. After a pelletizer → rotary separator → silo or bagger. Before a sink-float tank the screen removes oversize that would jam the paddle; before a zig-zag air classifier the screen removes large flake that would not suspend in the air column. The full line layout is drawn as part of the quotation so chute heights, discharge rates and control interfaces are agreed before fabrication begins.

What Buyers Need From a Vibrating Screen

The value of a vibrating screen comes from holding classification accuracy under real recycled feedstock — variable particle shape, residual moisture, static, and sticky contaminants — over long production runs, backed by full compliance documentation and regional service support.

Two Configurations Under One Product Line

Rotary vibratory separator for fine pellet and powder classification; linear multi-deck screen for coarse post-shredder sieving. Both are built in-house so the selection is driven by the feed characteristics rather than by what a stockist happens to carry.

Anti-Clogging Built for Recycled Plastic

Bouncing-ball cleaning on rotary decks, ultrasonic transducer option for near-mesh fines, anti-static mesh and grounding straps for PE/PP — the measures that keep recycled feed from blinding the screen during long runs.

Material-Specific Mesh and Frequency Selection

A material-specific recommendation — mesh count, amplitude, frequency, deck angle — is issued for PET flake, HDPE regrind, PP pellets, PS powder and mixed rigid plastic. The screen leaves the factory pre-configured for the specified feed rather than a generic default.

Integrated with Upstream and Downstream Equipment

Interfaces to upstream shredder, crusher, granulator, pelletizer or dryer and downstream silo, bagger, extruder or sink-float tank are drawn as part of the proposal so chute heights, discharge rates and control signals are aligned before fabrication.

CE-Marked, ISO 9001, Full Documentation

Every screen ships CE-marked under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, LVD and EMC, with ISO 9001 quality control, safety interlocks, emergency stops and guarding built to EN safety standards. ATEX Zone 22 versions and UL/CSA electrical builds are available on request. The CE Declaration of Conformity, technical construction file, English-language operating manual and P&ID are issued before shipment.

On-Site Commissioning and Regional Spare Parts

Rumtoo commissioning engineers travel to the site for installation, amplitude and mesh tuning, operator training and handover. Regional spare-parts depots hold wear items — mesh, rubber balls, vibration motors, bearings, gaskets — for 48-hour courier despatch.

Common Vibrating Screen Problems in Plastic Recycling

Most field complaints trace back to a small number of root causes: wrong screen type, wrong mesh, residual moisture, static build-up, or cross-contamination between decks. Each is addressed at the design stage rather than left to commissioning.

Problem

Fines and angel hair blind the mesh within hours.

Rumtoo Solution

Bouncing-ball cleaners, ultrasonic transducers on fine-mesh decks and correct mesh tension are specified at design. For PE/PP pellet screens an anti-static mesh is added, because electrostatic adhesion is often the underlying cause rather than the hole size.

Problem

Pellets bridge the mesh or travel too fast without being classified.

Rumtoo Solution

Amplitude (2–8 mm) and frequency (700–3000 rpm) are tuned to the polymer and flake shape so particles make 3–7 contact bounces across the deck — the band in which reliable classification occurs.

Problem

Wet or damp regrind clogs the mesh and drips water onto the motor.

Rumtoo Solution

The screen is placed after the dryer, not between washer and dryer. If the line has no dryer, a dewatering screw or centrifugal dryer is added upstream. Feed moisture above ~1% is a hard stop for fine mesh.

Problem

Static build-up makes dust stick to the screen enclosure and motors.

Rumtoo Solution

Grounding straps on every metal section, anti-static mesh, and an optional ionising bar over the feed chute. The static field is measured during commissioning to verify grounding is adequate.

Problem

Fines from the lower deck leak back up into the clean fraction.

Rumtoo Solution

Sealed deck frames with rubber gaskets, separate discharge chutes for each size fraction, and — on rotary screens — positive-pressure purging between decks. Cross-contamination is a mechanical design issue rather than an operating one.

Problem

Noise exceeds the plant limit (>85 dB).

Rumtoo Solution

An acoustic enclosure and motor isolators bring the screen to 75–78 dB at 1 m, inside the 85 dB 8-hour TWA workplace limit so operators can work nearby without hearing protection.

Problem

Spare parts have long lead times and production stalls during a breakdown.

Rumtoo Solution

Wear parts — mesh, rubber balls, bearings, vibration motors, gaskets — are held in regional depots for 48-hour courier despatch. A pre-agreed spare-parts kit is quoted with every machine so part numbers and quantities are known before a failure occurs.

Problem

CE or UL paperwork is missing at customs or during a plant audit.

Rumtoo Solution

The full CE Declaration of Conformity (Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, LVD, EMC), technical construction file and EN-compliant English-language manual are issued before shipment. UL/CSA-listed electrical builds and ATEX Zone 22 versions are available on request for specific certification environments.

Two Machine References Under One Product Line

Rumtoo builds both a round rotary separator and a rectangular linear deck so the machine can be selected around the plastic — the feed polymer, particle size distribution and moisture — rather than the other way round.

Multi-deck rotary vibrating screen separating plastic pellets (placeholder)

Rotary Vibratory Separator — fine classification and powder/fines removal

A vertical motor with upper and lower eccentric weights induces a three-dimensional rotate-and-jump motion on a round multi-deck mesh. Particles spiral outward, fines drop through each deck, and bouncing balls keep sticky plastic from adhering to the mesh. Typical duty: PE/PP/PET pellet grading after the pelletizer, removal of dust, angel-hair and streamers, or separation of fine powder from granulate.

  • Up to 5 decks → 2–6 size grades in a single pass
  • Mesh from 10 mesh down to 500 mesh (about 28 µm)
  • Bouncing-ball or ultrasonic cleaning reduces near-mesh fines blinding

Linear Vibrating Screen — coarse post-shredder and post-crusher sieving

Twin unbalanced motors drive a rectangular deck in a straight-line motion. Material travels along the deck while oversize is discharged at the far end and undersize drops through. Typical duty: screening 5–80 mm regrind after a shredder or crusher, removing oversized chunks before the granulator, or dividing flake between different downstream lines.

  • 1–3 decks for 2–4 size fractions
  • Rectangular footprint suits post-shredder belt lines and bulk flows
  • Higher throughput per m² than round rotary screens for coarse material
Linear vibrating screen handling post-shredder plastic regrind (placeholder)

Typical Vibrating Screen Use Cases in Plastic Recycling

The same product line covers fine pellet grading and coarse regrind sieving. These are the duties most often seen in plastic recycling lines.

  • PE / PP / PET Pellet Grading After Pelletizer

    A rotary vibratory separator removes dust, angel hair, doubles and oversized pellets after strand or water-ring pelletizing. Typical cut-points: 5 mm top deck (oversize) and 1 mm bottom deck (fines).

  • Powder and Fines Removal from Regrind

    Plastic fines and powder are generated during crushing and granulation. A rotary screen with a fine-mesh deck (35–80 mesh) removes them before packaging or extrusion so the downstream process sees a stable bulk density.

  • Post-Shredder Coarse Sieving

    A linear vibrating screen behind a single-shaft shredder removes oversized chunks (>60–80 mm) that would jam the next crusher or granulator, and returns them via a recirculation belt.

  • Pre-Washing Size Scalping

    Before a sink-float tank or friction washer, a linear screen removes oversize and fines so the washing stage operates at a uniform flake size and the paddle agitator is not jammed.

  • Pre-Extrusion Quality Gate

    A rotary separator on the extruder silo feed removes dust that would cause pressure variation at the screen changer and visible specks in the pellet. Typical cut: 30–50 mesh.

  • Splitting Regrind Between Lines

    A multi-deck linear screen can split a single regrind stream into two or three size fractions routed to different downstream lines — for example, 6–12 mm to the washing line and 12–25 mm to the pelletizing line.

Reference Configurations — Rotary and Linear

Planning references only. Final configuration — mesh count, amplitude, motor power, enclosure — is set after the material data sheet and line layout are reviewed.

ModelTypeDeck Size / DiameterThroughput RangeKey Features
RT-RVS-600Rotary600 mm (Ø)100–500 kg/h1–3 decks, bouncing-ball cleaner, anti-static mesh
RT-RVS-1000Rotary1000 mm (Ø)500–1500 kg/h2–4 decks, ultrasonic option, 10–500 mesh range
RT-RVS-1500Rotary1500 mm (Ø)1500–3000 kg/h3–5 decks, sealed enclosure, dust collection port
RT-LVS-1020Linear1000 × 2000 mm2–5 t/h1–2 decks, twin vibration motor, 5–60 mm cut range
RT-LVS-1230Linear1200 × 3000 mm5–10 t/h2–3 decks, rubber deck option, heavy-duty bearings
RT-LVS-1540Linear1500 × 4000 mm10–20 t/h2–3 decks, acoustic enclosure, PLC-controlled amplitude

Throughput depends on bulk density, particle size, flake shape and mesh count. Model, mesh and motor sizing are confirmed after reviewing the upstream equipment and material samples. All models ship CE-marked as standard (Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, LVD, EMC); UL/CSA electrical builds and ATEX Zone 22 versions are available on request. ISO 9001 quality system, 18-month warranty, metric units and English-language manual and P&ID included with every machine.

Vibrating Screen Checklist Before RFQ

Seven inputs are needed to quote a screen sized correctly for the duty. Providing them at the RFQ stage avoids configuration changes during commissioning.

Polymer and Form

PET/HDPE/PP/PS/PVC/mixed, and whether the feed is pellet, regrind flake, powder, or a mix. Sticky or rubberised polymers need different cleaning systems than hard brittle ones.

Particle Size Distribution (PSD)

A curve or at least a percentage breakdown (e.g. 10% >12 mm, 70% 3–12 mm, 20% <3 mm) from the upstream crusher, granulator or pelletizer.

Target Cut-Points

List the size boundaries needed — oversize removal, dust removal, two-grade split. Each cut-point maps to one deck.

Throughput and Peak Factor

Nominal kg/h or t/h plus any peak-hour factor. The motor and mesh tension are sized for peak, not average.

Moisture and Upstream Drying

Feed moisture % and whether a centrifugal or thermal dryer sits upstream. Anything above ~1% moisture on fine mesh is a clogging risk.

Static and Dust Environment

Plants handling virgin PE pellets need more anti-static measures than those handling PET flake. State whether an ATEX or fully enclosed design is required.

Line Position and Interfaces

What sits upstream (shredder, crusher, granulator, pelletizer, dryer) and downstream (silo, bagger, extruder, sink-float tank, washing line). Chute heights and discharge rates are matched at design stage.

Rotary vs Linear vs Trommel — Decision Matrix

Decision CriteriaRotary Vibratory SeparatorLinear Vibrating ScreenTrommel / Drum Screen
Best forPellet grading, powder and fines removal (<10 mm)Post-shredder / post-crusher regrind (5–80 mm)Bulky mixed waste with film and wrap
Typical mesh range10–500 mesh (2 mm – 28 µm)5–60 mm hole size10–200 mm hole size
Grades per pass2–6 (up to 5 decks)2–4 (1–3 decks)2–3 sections
FootprintCompact round — small plant footprintRectangular — belt-line friendlyLong horizontal drum
Handles sticky / damp feedGood, with bouncing ball + ultrasonicFair, needs dry feedBest of the three
ThroughputLow–medium (up to ~3 t/h)Medium–high (up to ~20 t/h)High (up to 50 t/h)
Classification sharpnessHigh — ±2% at fine meshMedium — good for coarse cutsLow — rough sorting only
Typical plastic use caseFine pellet/powder cleaningBulk regrind scalpingMSW pre-sort, bulky scrap

Frequently Asked Questions

Rotary vibratory separator or linear vibrating screen — which do I need?

Use a rotary vibratory separator for precise classification of plastic pellets or regrind under ~10 mm — pellet grading, powder removal, fines extraction, angel-hair removal. Use a linear vibrating screen for coarse sieving of post-shredder or post-crusher regrind in the 5–80 mm range. Rumtoo builds both under the same product line so the selection is driven by the material rather than by what is on hand.

Can one vibrating screen handle both fine and coarse classification?

Not well. A rotary separator is poor at coarse (>10 mm) material because the circular motion does not convey large flakes. A linear screen cannot hold fine mesh tightly enough for reliable 35–80 mesh classification. If the line needs both duties, use two machines in series — linear for scalping, rotary for fines.

Where in the plastic recycling line does the vibrating screen sit?

Rotary separators usually sit after the pelletizer (pellet grading) or after a dryer before the silo (fines removal). Linear screens usually sit between shredder and crusher (scalping) or between crusher and washing (size control). Placing a fine-mesh screen before the dryer almost always leads to clogging.

What mesh size do I need for PE/PP pellets or regrind?

Typical ranges: 4–10 mesh for oversize scalping, 18–35 mesh for fines removal, 80–200 mesh for fine powder/dust, 200–500 mesh for near-powder streams (functional masterbatch, transparent materials). The exact mesh is recommended after reviewing the PSD curve.

How do I stop the mesh from blinding with plastic fines?

Bouncing-ball cleaners are the standard fix — rubber balls bounce under each deck and knock fines free. For near-mesh fines where balls are not enough, an ultrasonic transducer deblinds the mesh continuously. Anti-static mesh and grounding also reduce the electrostatic adhesion that makes fines cling in the first place.

Do I need a dust collection system with the screen?

If the feed contains more than ~50 mg/m³ of airborne dust, yes. An enclosed screen body with a cyclone on the exhaust and an optional bag filter captures the dust and returns the workshop air to ISO 14644-class or local permit levels.

What is the expected screen life?

Woven wire mesh on a rotary separator typically lasts 3–12 months depending on material abrasiveness; polyurethane mesh on a linear screen lasts 12–24 months. Replacement mesh is supplied ex-stock, and a mesh-change interlock can be added so the line stops automatically when tension drops.

How loud is a vibrating screen?

Open linear screens typically measure 82–88 dB at 1 m; enclosed rotary separators typically 75–80 dB at 1 m. An acoustic enclosure option brings both to the 73–78 dB range so operators can work without hearing protection at normal distances — inside the 85 dB 8-hour TWA workplace limit.

Is Rumtoo a manufacturer or a trading company?

Rumtoo designs and manufactures its own vibrating screens — rotary vibratory separators and linear multi-deck screens — in-house. Engineering, fabrication, quality control and after-sales service all sit under one roof. Factory audits, video tours and OEM/ODM enquiries are welcome.

Is the screen CE-certified? Are UL and ATEX versions available?

Every Rumtoo vibrating screen ships CE-marked as standard, covering the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Low Voltage Directive and EMC Directive. The CE Declaration of Conformity, technical construction file and EN-compliant English-language manual are provided before shipment. UL/CSA-listed electrical cabinets and ATEX Zone 22 builds are available on request. RoHS compliance and ISO 9001 quality control are standard.

What is the lead time and warranty?

Standard lead time is 6–8 weeks ex-works for rotary separators and 8–10 weeks for linear screens, depending on mesh and enclosure options. Warranty is 18 months from commissioning or 24 months from shipment, whichever comes first, covering parts and remote engineering support. Incoterms — FOB, CIF or DDP — are agreed at order.

Do you offer on-site commissioning and regional spare parts?

Yes. Rumtoo commissioning engineers travel to the site for installation, amplitude and mesh tuning, operator training and handover. Regional spare-parts depots hold wear items — mesh, rubber balls, vibration motors, bearings, gaskets — for 48-hour courier despatch. A pre-agreed spare-parts kit is quoted with every machine.

Request a Vibrating Screen Configuration for Your Line

Share the polymer, particle size distribution, target cut-points, throughput and upstream equipment. Rumtoo returns a rotary-or-linear recommendation with mesh count, motor sizing, enclosure and a line-integration drawing. CE documentation, ISO 9001 quality records, 18-month warranty and on-site commissioning are included.

Request Vibrating Screen Proposal
Expert response within 24 hours. No obligation quote.