Recycling bitumen backed carpet tiles using Pierret guillotines (January 2010)

Bitumen softens at low temperatures and specialist techniques are necessary to stop cutting blades and machine parts getting coated with bitumen. The use of guillotine and die cutting methods offer a solution to this problem but can be limited in particle size achieved.

Recent trials organized for Carpet Recycling UK by Border Technologies using Pierret guillotines have demonstrated high volume cutting of carpet tile wastes at more than 2 tonnes per hour down to a 10 mm size. The technique involves the use of two Pierret guillotines running in tandem at 90 degrees making two cuts. The first cut provides 10 mm strips as the tiles are presented accurately aligned to the cutting blade. These strips are then conveyed to the second cutting step and again presented accurately to be cut into 10 mm cubes or chips. For further information contact Rory Wilson a Border Technologies 01274 866201 or RoryW@bordertechnologies.co.uk

It is expected that the resultant 10 mm chips can be incorporated into mastic asphalt or roadstone coating processes in order to recover the bitumen, whilst the remaining fibres can add strength to the resultant products.

It is also possible to use this technique on tile carcasses after recovery of the valuable nylon pile fibres.

Econpro, part of the Durakerb Group, have a patented roadstone application which is expected to be able to utilize this type of material in order to provide a new recycling opportunity for bitumen backed tiles.

This will help the construction industry in meeting its ambitious target of reducing wastes to landfill by 50% in the next 2 years.

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