PIR stands for „Post-Industrial-Recycled“. In this process, production residues such as shavings, waste parts or clean material surpluses are recycled. Since these raw materials are often of a pure variety and better known, it is in many cases easier to assess their properties. However, when it comes to PIR, it must also be checked how often the material has already been subjected to thermal processing and for what application it is suitable.

Films made from recycled material or secondary raw materials

Q: What does PCR mean?

PCR stands for „Post-Consumer-Recycled“. PCR material comes from plastic products that have already been used by consumers. After collection, sorting, and processing, a new raw material is obtained from it for further products. Depending on the starting material, color, odor, flow behavior, and mechanical properties can vary more than in pure production residues.

Q: Can recycled material achieve the same quality as new goods?

This depends on the material, recycling process, and the requirements for the component. High-quality recycled raw materials can be a reliable solution for many applications. At the same time, differences in color, odor, surface finish, flow behavior, toughness, or long-term stability can occur. Therefore, recycling material is a conscious decision where the requirements of the component and possible trade-offs must be openly evaluated.

Q: Can almost all plastics be recycled?

There are recycling methods for many types of plastic. However, whether a particular plastic can be reused depends on its composition, purity, contamination, age, and previous thermal exposure. Additives, composite structures, and material blends can also make reprocessing more difficult. Therefore, we not only check whether a material is fundamentally recyclable, but also whether it can be reused meaningfully for your specific application.

Q: What must be considered when injection molding recycled material?

Recycled material can exhibit more fluctuating properties than new material. Therefore, a defined material quality, suitable drying, stable process parameters, and a traceable batch evaluation are important. Depending on the material, injection profile, post-pressure, temperature control, venting, and tool design must be adjusted. A sample inspection shows whether filling, surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and component function are achieved safely.

Where new components are to be created from used products, production residues and recycled plastics, the search for a suitable material solution begins. Recycled material further uses existing valuable materials and gives them a new purpose. – at best not as a compromise, but as a conscious component of a functioning plastic system.

Key data in focus

mechanically or chemically

Recycling path

PCR – Post-Consumer Recycling or PIR – Post-Industrial Recycling

Origin

ISO 9001

Made in Austria

Special solution

Material properties

What recycling material is made from secondary raw materials unique makes

Recycling is not simply the exchange of new material for recycled material. What matters is the raw material available, how it was processed and what requirements the component must meet. Therefore, we always consider the material in relation to its design, tools, processing, and later use.

A new task for existing raw materials

A plastic product does not automatically end with its first use. By sorting, processing, compounding, and re-processing, many materials can be further used in new applications. This way, a used product or a production residue becomes a new raw material for a new component.

Using valuable materials in the cycle

Secondary raw materials keep valuable materials in the economic cycle longer. They can reduce the use of primary raw materials and are an important component of plastic solutions that go beyond the first life cycle. This corresponds to our understanding of Filzwieser Neuland: not just looking at individual products but understanding systems, connections, and cycles.

Suitable for many types of raw materials

There are recycling solutions for numerous standard and technical plastics. Depending on their origin, purity and processing method, for example PP, PE, ABS, PS, PA, PBT or PC can be used as recycling material. However, not every raw material is suitable for every application. We assess which material base, which recycling ratio and which processing method are technically feasible.

Mechanical recycling

In mechanical recycling, the plastic is sorted, cleaned, crushed, and prepared for new processing, for example by regranulation or compounding. The polymer structure remains essentially unchanged. The quality depends heavily on how clean the starting material is and what stresses the material has already been subjected to.

Chemical recycling

In chemical recycling, the plastic is returned to its chemical components or into usable raw material building blocks. This can then be used to create new plastic raw materials. This process can be interesting where mechanical processing encounters limitations due to material mixtures, contamination, or altered properties. Which path is appropriate depends on the starting material and the requirements for its subsequent use.

PCR and PIR

PCR stands for post-consumer recycling. These raw materials come from plastic products that have already been used by consumers and are then collected, sorted, and processed.

PIR stands for post-industrial recycling. This refers to production residues, rejects, by-products, or other plastic streams from industrial processes that have not yet reached the consumer market. PIR materials are often of higher purity and therefore easier to assess. PCR materials, on the other hand, bring the idea of reuse into the cycle more clearly after the use phase.

Recycling is a conscious decision

Recycled material may differ from new products in terms of color, odor, surface texture, flow behavior, mechanical properties, or long-term stability. These differences are not surprising; they are part of a conscious material selection decision. Those who choose recycled materials choose to continue using existing valuable materials – and, depending on the application, accept certain trade-offs when this makes a circular solution possible.

Not every component must be entirely made from recycled materials. A defined proportion of secondary raw materials, a mixture of recycled material and new material, or a specially developed compound can be the appropriate solution. What is crucial is the balance between technical function, cost-effectiveness, appearance, and the desired recycling ratio.

Product variants

What recycling materials Do they suit you?

Not all recycled materials are equalh. We consider the application from a practical perspective and together determine which raw material, recycling process, and material proportion is suitable for your component.

PP – Polypropylene made from secondary raw materials

Recycled PP is suitable for many robust and economical applications. The material is lightweight, versatile, and available in various qualities. Depending on its origin and processing, it can be interesting for housings, containers, covers, load carriers, and technical functional parts.

PE – Polyethylene made from recycled material

Recycled PE can be derived from various industrial or usage-related plastic streams. The material selection is based on density, stiffness, toughness, media contact, and subsequent load. For containers, transport solutions, technical covers, and other robust components, secondary raw materials made from PE can be a useful alternative.

ABS and PS – recycled material for housing and functional parts

Recycled ABS and PS can be used where stiffness, form stability, and economical processing are required. Color and surface finish can be more influenced by the original material than with new products. For technical interior components or applications with lower optical requirements, this may be a more sensible approach.

PA – Polyamide from secondary raw materials

Recycled polyamide is produced from industrial waste streams or recycled technical components. The material’s history is particularly important for PA, because moisture, thermal stress and repeated processing can affect its properties. Proper processing and compounding can further develop the material for robust technical applications.

PBT and PC – technical recycling materials

Recycling solutions can also be interesting for technical plastics such as PBT or PC. For example, they can be used for housings, mounts, connectors, covers or functional components. In this case, electrical properties, impact resistance, dimensional stability, temperature resistance and surface requirements must be considered together.

Fields of application

Where recycled materials their strengths play out

Intralogistics and transport

Load carriers, trays, containers, transport reels, conveyor technology, and reusable transport systems often benefit from robust recycled materials. Functionality, repeatability, and cost-effectiveness are important factors here – visible color differences can be tolerated depending on the application.

Equipment and housing technology

Enclosures, covers, mounts and technical internal components can be made from recycled materials if requirements regarding surface finish, color, impact resistance and dimensional accuracy are appropriately defined.

Machine and plant construction

For covers, protective parts, guide elements, mounts and other technical functional parts, secondary raw materials can be a sensible option. The crucial factors are the load, temperature, media contact and lifespan in the specific application.

Electrical and System Engineering

Recycled materials can also be used for components in electrical and system engineering. Components with requirements for electrical insulation, flame retardance, creep resistance, or temperature resistance require particularly thorough testing of the material quality.

Packaging and container solutions

In containers, covers and technical packaging solutions, recycled materials can extend the material cycle. Whether PCR or PIR is appropriate for mechanical or chemical recycling depends on product requirements, material flow and the desired reuse.

Sustainable product concepts

Recycled material is particularly effective when it is considered during product development. Pure design, detachable connections, appropriate material marking, and material-appropriate design improve the chances that a component can later be recycled back into the cycle.

Why Filzwieser for Films made from secondary raw material extrusion?

Recycled materials require more than just choosing another type of granulate. The Variations in material properties, different batches, moisture, color, odor, and flow behavior These must be taken into account in the process. Tooling, cutting, venting, tempering, and post-pressure can also have an impact on component quality.

Therefore, we do not view recycled material in isolation, but as part of the entire plastic system. Together, we examine which recycling method is suitable, which requirements must remain unchanged, and at which point deliberate compromises are possible. In this way, we do not arrive at a standard answer, but rather a comprehensible solution that balances technical functionality, economic efficiency, and the circular economy.

From the initial idea to the serial production, we guide you through the selection of materials, pattern making, and the transition to a stable injection molding process.

What we are distinguishes

Especially when it comes to recycled materials, the quality often lies in the details. That is why we listen carefully, ask the right questions and together examine which solution is technically and economically feasible. For us, reliability does not mean promising every restriction – but rather showing openly what is possible and what matters.

Your
contact person

I am happy to meet you:

Rainer Wegscheider

+43 7353 265 63
r.wegscheider@filzwieser.eu

FAQ & Background information

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between recycled material and secondary raw material?

Secondary raw material is a raw material that has been recovered from materials already used or generated in a production process and prepared for a new application. Recycled material refers to the material produced from it that can be reused. In the plastics sector, it can be, for example, regranulate, recycled material, or a compound developed from it.

What is the difference between mechanical and chemical recycling?

In mechanical recycling, the plastic is sorted, cleaned, crushed, and prepared for further processing. The polymer structure remains basically unchanged. During chemical recycling, the plastic is converted into chemical components or usable raw material building blocks. These can then be used to create new plastic raw materials. Which method is suitable depends on the material, contamination, purity of the product, and later use.

What does PCR mean?

PCR stands for „Post-Consumer-Recycled“. PCR material originates from plastic products that have already been used by consumers. After collection, sorting, and processing, a new raw material is obtained from it for further products. Depending on the starting material, color, odor, flow behavior, and mechanical properties can vary more than in pure production residues.

What does PIR mean?

PIR stands for „Post-Industrial-Recycled“. In this process, production residues such as shavings, cut parts, or clean material surpluses are recycled. Since these raw materials are often of a uniform quality and are better known, their properties can in many cases be more easily assessed. However, when it comes to PIR, it must also be determined how often the material has already been subjected to thermal stress and for which application it is suitable.

Can recycled material achieve the same quality as new goods?

This depends on the material, the recycling process, and the requirements for the component. High-quality prepared secondary raw materials can be a reliable solution for many applications. At the same time, differences in color, odor, surface finish, flow behavior, toughness, or long-term stability can occur. Therefore, recycling material is a conscious decision in which the requirements of the component and possible trade-offs must be openly evaluated.

Does a component have to be entirely made from recycled material?

No. Depending on the application, a defined proportion of secondary raw materials can also be useful. Recycled material and new material can be combined in suitable compounds to meet technical requirements and achieve the desired recycling rate. The appropriate solution depends on the function, appearance, quantity, cost, and lifespan of the component.

Can almost all plastics be recycled?

For many types of plastic, there are recycling processes. However, whether a particular plastic can be reused depends on its composition. Composition, purity of varieties, contamination, aging and previous thermal exposure are eliminated. Adhesives, composite structures and material combinations can also make reprocessing more difficult. Therefore, we not only check whether a material is fundamentally recyclable, but also whether it can be reused in a meaningful way for your specific application.

What must be considered when injection molding recycled material?

Recycled material can have more fluctuating properties than new material. Therefore, a defined material quality, suitable drying, stable process parameters and a traceable batch evaluation are important. Depending on the material, the injection profile, post-pressure, temperature control, venting and tool design must be adapted. A trial run shows whether filling, surface quality, dimensional accuracy and component functionality are achieved safely.

Is recycling always the better solution?

Recycling is an important component of responsible handling of raw materials – but not every recycling solution is automatically technically or ecologically sound. What matters is thethe entire material cycle, including the energy and processing costs, the lifespan of the component, and the possibility of its later recycling. We view the solution as a system and work together to find the path that truly suits your application.