Emerson reported June 23 that it's agreed with PureCycle Technologies Inc. to provide advanced digital technologies and automation for a network of global facilities, enabling large-scale recycling of common polypropylene, which is a high-volume, versatile plastic that's rarely recycled. PureCycle will implement Emerson’s Plantweb digital ecosystem, including intelligent sensors and control valves, advanced operations software and systems, cloud data management and analytics.
“PureCycle’s technology purifies waste plastic to remove color, odor and other contaminants to create a near-virgin, ultra-pure, recycled polypropylene suitable for nearly any application,” says Dustin Olson, chief manufacturing officer at PureCycle. “This provides a pathway to reverse low rates of global polypropylene recycling, and opens new opportunities for the plastics supply into all polypropylene applications. Unlike traditional manufacturing facilities coping with transforming legacy platforms to digital, PureCycle’s progressive approach will enable all future facilities to be born digital. With Emerson’s help, each PureCycle facility is expected to start up with the most advanced digital automation available, allowing for faster project completion, fully integrated systems, and world-class operating performance.”
Mike Train, chief sustainability officer at Emerson, adds: “Sustainability is driving incredible innovation across the industry. New policies and long-range goals for de-carbonization give us vision and direction that are important to the industry and to society. Emerson’s digital automation software and technologies are helping companies like PureCycle make practical and measurable progress toward these goals today.”
