Page 47 - Plastics News August 2026
P. 47
FEATURE NEWS
ly where the group of companies strengths lie.
“The high decontamination performance of our
recycling plants ensures quality, while their ro-
bustness ensures consistent output. In addition,
energy-efficient solutions keep our customers'
operating expenses as low as possible," says
Hackle.
A circular economy is ultimately created when
material design, collection, sorting, washing
and extrusion fit together, and the recyclate is
later used in new, equivalent products. Through
lion – a 28 percent drop compared to the previ- the technological partnership between Ere-
ous year. Many customers are postponing their ma and Lindner Washtech, customers receive
investments. We are feeling this directly,“ said an integrated overall solution from secondary
Horst Wolfsgruber, CFO of the Erema Group. feedstock to the final recyclate. Through the
Nevertheless, the company was able to close close integration of the processes, the quality,
the financial year with a profitable annual result. throughput and economic efficiency of the en-
tire system are improved.
Challenges in the market
Since its founding in 1983, Erema has sold around New business areas are also increasingly com-
9,200 systems and components worldwide, ing into focus. In October 2025, the company
which are capable of recycling over 26 million acquired a stake in BlockTexx. The Australian
tonnes of plastic waste annually. This impressive pioneer has developed a process that separates
figure underlines the central role that the com- polyester and cellulose from blended fabrics –
pany plays in the global recycling market. an important step in the recycling of textiles. The
PET fibre industry is three times the size of the
The market for recycling technologies is facing PET bottle industry. The recycling rate for poly-
numerous challenges. Rising raw material prices, ester has so far been only around one per cent.
changing regulatory frameworks and the need to
improve the quality of recycled material are just Plastic recycling is part of the modern raw ma-
some of the hurdles that need to be overcome. terial strategy
Nevertheless, Erema also sees these challenges Important growth regions such as China and In-
as opportunities to further consolidate its mar- dia are also increasingly recognising the impor-
ket position and develop innovative solutions. tance of the circular economy for raw material
supply and competitiveness. Both countries are
Technological innovations
driving the development of their recycling in-
Highly fluctuating input materials demand robust dustries forward with their own regulatory re-
systems. Filtration, degassing and a deep pro- quirements and initiatives. Erema has been ac-
cess understanding are crucial. This is precise-
tive in these markets for around three decades,
August 2026 PLASTICS NEWS 51
