Pellet press boosts pilot-scale textile recycling at ITA Aachen

New pellet press supports thermomechanical textile recycling research.

The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University has strengthened its research capabilities in textile recycling with the installation of a new pellet press, enabling thermomechanical recycling processes on a pilot scale.

Since late 2025, the institute’s technical centre has been equipped with a pellet press supplied by Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co. KG, based in Reinbek, Germany. The system is designed to efficiently compact shredded synthetic textiles, achieving a processing throughput of up to 25 kg per hour and producing pellets with a diameter of 4 mm.

The pellets generated through this process feature uniform geometry, defined bulk density and consistent flowability. These characteristics allow for reliable dosing and continuous feeding into an extruder, creating essential process conditions for thermomechanical textile recycling at a pilot scale. The installation marks a significant step in advancing practical recycling solutions for synthetic textile waste.

Current research at the institute is focused on the thermomechanical recycling of cleaning textiles made from polylactide (PLA), a bio-based polymer widely used in various applications. By converting shredded materials into standardised pellets, researchers aim to improve handling efficiency and optimise material processing for sustainable textile reuse.

The pellet press was acquired under the RePLAy research project, which supports innovation in textile recycling technologies. The initiative received funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of the BIOTEXFUTURE innovation space, a programme dedicated to advancing bio-based and circular textile solutions.

With this new infrastructure, ITA continues to expand its research into scalable recycling technologies, contributing to efforts aimed at reducing textile waste and promoting circular material use within the industry.