Plastic regrind enters the system at the feed opening, and a new product emerges at the end of the process. Built around an MPS extruder, the system brings together mixing, drying, material conveying and automated discharge. Take a closer look at how these stages connect, with photos and a full video tour of the equipment.
Take a tour of the MPS extrusion system
Our full video introduces the equipment, explains the role of each machine unit and explores the engineering challenges behind the project.
The video is in Hungarian, with English subtitles available in the YouTube player.
One extruder, several coordinated operations
In this project, plastic recycling involves a series of connected operations. The material needs to be loaded, conveyed and prepared before processing, while the finished product also requires handling at the end of the production cycle. These tasks take place in different parts of the equipment, making coordination between the units essential.
The MPS extrusion project illustrates the complexity of custom machine manufacturing. Mechanical design, material handling and control engineering all need to serve the same production task. The system’s layout follows the material’s journey, connecting each operation to the next.
The first stage: feeding, mixing and drying
The process begins with loading the plastic regrind. The material enters through the feed opening, and a controlled screw conveyor transfers it to the mixer. The video shows these units individually, making it easy to follow the material through the preparation stage.
Mixing also allows the material composition and colour to be adjusted to customer requirements. Preparation therefore needs to reflect the requirements of the product that will be manufactured. The video discusses the available colour options and the possibility of adjusting the material mixture.
Mixing is followed by drying, using two drying tanks. Together, feeding, mixing, drying and conveying form the preparation stage that supplies the extruder with material ready for processing.
From prepared material to a new product
Following preparation, the material passes through a further controlled conveying stage to reach the extruder’s feed hopper. This is where it enters the main processing section of the equipment.
The extruder is the central processing unit, supported by equipment that supplies the material and handles the product after production. The full video also shows the automated discharge stage, providing a complete view of the system from the preparation tanks to the finished product.
The project demonstrates why the equipment surrounding an extruder matters: material preparation, conveying and product handling all need to work together as part of the same production process.
Controls that connect the machine units
The control system plays an important role in coordinating the different operations. In developing the equipment, MPS focused on automated operation and the coordination of the system’s functions. The video also introduces the available adjustments and the structure of the controls.
Occupational safety was another consideration during the project. The photos show the operator interfaces, protective guarding and the arrangement of the machine units. Machine design requires usability, access and the relationship between individual operations to be considered together.
A tight deadline, technical challenges and teamwork
The completed system brings together the work of several specialist teams. The project involved resolving multiple technical challenges within a tight deadline. Colleagues working in laser cutting, sheet metal forming, metal fabrication and powder coating collaborated with the custom machinery and office teams to deliver the equipment.
Their contributions come together throughout the machine. Manufacturing structural elements and sheet metal components, applying surface finishes, assembling machine units and programming the controls were all parts of the same project. Services such as laser cutting and powder coating contributed directly to the complete machine manufacturing process.
The extrusion project connects design, manufacturing, programming and installation. Alongside the equipment itself, the video highlights how the different teams contributed to the finished system.
At the heart of the project was a shared engineering task: bringing material preparation, extrusion, controls and automated discharge together in one system for processing recycled plastic.
Looking for a partner for your custom machinery project?
Based in Balogunyom, Vas County, Hungary, MPS designs and manufactures custom machinery, industrial automation solutions and metalworking equipment.
For your own project, the starting point is understanding the material flow, the required operations, the handling tasks and the role of the control system. These requirements shape the equipment that needs to be built.