Abstract: A screw machine includes an inductive heating device for the processing of material to be processed. The inductive heating device is used to heat the material in a heating zone. In the heating zone, at least one housing portion is made of an electromagnetically transparent material at least partly, the material being non-magnetic and electrically non-conductive, whereas at least one treatment element shaft is made of an electrically conductive material at least partly. During the processing of the material, the inductive heating device generates an alternating magnetic field that produces eddy current losses in the at least one treatment element shaft, the eddy current losses leading to a temperature increase of the at least one treatment element shaft. The material is heated on the at least one heated treatment element shaft, in particular until it melts.

Abstract: In a processing plant for producing plastics material granulate, the start-up takes place in such a way that a screw machine is firstly driven by means of a drive device and then plastics material to be processed is fed by means of a metering device into the screw machine. At least one conveying position of the plastics material in the screw machine is determined by means of a control device by evaluating at least one measuring signal. Depending on the conveying position determined, a granulating device is activated and put into operation. The method according to the invention allows a direct start-up of the processing plant without the use of a start-up valve. This ensures an easy and safe start-up of the processing plant.