Smith Sink Swim Tank | Plastic Film & Rigid Plastics | Stainless Steel | Australian Made

Achieve precise, low-cost separation of plastics by density with the Telford Smith Sink Swim Tank — a robust 6-metre density separation system engineered for automatic removal of stones, soil, metal and non-buoyant contaminants from floating plastic streams. Ideal for PET, HDPE, PP and PVC recycling operations targeting high-purity output.

???? Key Specifications:
Tank Dimensions & Construction
• Tank Length: 6,000 mm
• Tank Width: 1,500 mm
• Tank Material: Stainless Steel 304 (all wetted contact parts)
• Support Structure: Carbon steel, powder-coated for corrosion resistance
• Water Level Control: Integrated device for consistent separation performance

Drive & Control System
• Agitator Paddles: 5 x 1.1 kW motors, independently variable speed
• Final Lifting Paddle: 1.1 kW variable speed motor
• Horizontal Auger (bottom discharge): 3.0 kW fixed speed motor
• Inclined Auger (contaminant removal): 1.5 kW fixed speed motor
• Independent paddle speed control: Optimise separation for different material densities and feed rates

Safety & Access
• Full safety guarding around moving components
• Operator access platform with steps and handrails
• Emergency stop and isolation points integrated

Optional Configuration
• Auger-style Sink Swim Tank: Increases residence time for enhanced soaking and contaminant release

???? How It Works:
• Shredded or granulated material enters at the front of the tank
• Motorised paddles agitate and submerge material below the water surface
• Buoyant plastics (HDPE, LDPE, PP) float and are retained for downstream processing
• Non-buoyant contaminants (stones, soil, metal, PET, PVC) sink to the tank base
• Horizontal auger transports sunk material to one end; inclined auger discharges into receptacle
• Floating material overflows or is skimmed for further washing or drying

???? Two Configurations Available:
? Buoyant-Focused SST — Target floating plastics (HDPE, PP, LDPE) as primary product; remove sinking contaminants
? Non-Buoyant-Focused SST — Target sinking materials (PET, PVC, metals) as primary product; remove floating contaminants

???? Material Separation Guide by Density:
• HDPE (0.94–0.96 g/cm³): Floats in water — milk bottles, detergent containers
• PP (0.90–0.92 g/cm³): Floats — bottle caps, yogurt tubs, food containers
• PET (~1.38 g/cm³): Sinks — beverage bottles, food packaging
• PVC Rigid (1.3–1.45 g/cm³): Sinks — pipes, window frames, cordial bottles
• PVC Flexible: Generally sinks — cable insulation, flooring, inflatable products
• Metals, stones, soil: Always sink — removed via bottom auger discharge

???? Core Benefits:
? Precise Density-Based Separation — Isolate target plastics from contaminants using simple water buoyancy principles
? Independent Paddle Speed Control — Fine-tune agitation and residence time for different feedstocks and purity targets
? Enhanced Washing via Soaking — Extended water contact loosens labels, adhesives and fines before downstream friction washing
? Low Operating Cost — No chemicals or complex media required; water-only separation with minimal energy use
? SS304 Stainless Steel Contact Parts — Corrosion-resistant construction for long life in wet, abrasive recycling environments
? Safe, Ergonomic Access — Mezzanine platform, steps and guarding enable easy inspection and maintenance

???? Optimised For:
• PET Recycling Plants — Remove HDPE caps, collars and PP labels from bottle flake streams
• HDPE/PP Recycling — Separate stones, metals and heavy contaminants from floating plastic fractions
• Mixed Rigid Streams — Fractionate post-consumer bottles by density for higher-value output
• E-Waste Processing — Use saltwater solutions to separate plastics and metals by adjusted density
• Film Recycling Lines — Pre-clean flake before friction washing to improve downstream efficiency

???? Ideal For:
• MRFs adding density separation to increase recyclate purity and value
• Bottle recyclers targeting food-grade or export-specification output
• Facilities upgrading from manual sorting to automated, continuous separation
• Operations requiring flexible configuration for mixed or variable feedstocks
• Export-focused producers needing consistent, specification-grade separated fractions

???? Optional Upgrades:
• Auger-style tank configuration for extended residence time and improved soaking
• Saltwater dosing system for enhanced density separation of similar-density plastics
• Integration with Telford Smith friction washers, mechanical dryers or bagging stations
• Automated level control and flow monitoring for unattended operation

? Australian Made & Supplied | ? Telford Smith Genuine Parts & Service | ? SS304 Stainless Steel Wetted Parts | ? Local Support — Melbourne-Based Technicians | ? Independent Variable Speed Paddle Control | ? Compatible with Complete Wash Plant Systems

???? Ready to separate plastics by density with precision and low operating cost? Contact us to configure your Telford Smith Sink Swim Tank with the right paddle setup, auger options or wash plant integration. Get a quote today.