VECOPLAN opens world’s largest R&D facility for mechanical recycling technologies

It’s also the world’s largest and most advanced development center in the field of environmental technology.

In Germany, Vecoplan opened a new 17,000 square-foot Technology Center in Bad Marienberg, Germany.

The first-of-its-kind facility is equipped with more than 25 machines representing a comprehensive range of mechanical technologies for the processing, recycling or repurposing of waste and biomass. Processors can conduct comprehensive tests on their specific materials across customized systems that incorporate all necessary technologies.

With the opening of the Center, VECOPLAN now covers the entire value chain of complex processes in-house, thus accelerating research and development time, and allowing for efficient test times.

Machines operating in the Technology Center include: Size Reduction, shredders, chippers and granulators; Conveying, belt, screw, drag-chain, and diverting; Screening, waste, oscillating and vibratory; Magnetic separation, over-belt, drum and neodymium (rare earth); Non-Ferrous separation, eddy current; Air separation; Optical sorting; Plastics washing line; Dust collection and a super sack filling station. A significant investment of capital, time, space, and resources, the facility is yet another indication of VECOPLAN’S continued commitment to innovation and leadership in all areas of the environmental industry.

Reactions from stakeholders

“I’m impressed by Vecoplan’s new Technology Center, and the ability to do real-world testing on my material is what interests me the most,” stated Enrico Siewert, President of Re-Poly, a plastics recycling company located in Saint Louis, MO. “I’ve already scheduled a test at the facility.”

“Vecoplan continues to make significant advances in process engineering, material classification, sorting innovations and washing technologies, to once again raise the bar in our industry,” said Werner Berens, CEO – VECOPLAN AG. The Minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, Eveline Lemke, agreed, adding, “This Technology Center proves that Vecoplan is one of the most innovative companies in its industry.”

“Working with our customers and evaluating tests conducted in our Technology Center, Vecoplan can customize individual machines and tailor entire systems to meet or exceed the needs of specific processors”, said Stefan Kaiser, Head of the Recycling Business Unit, Vecoplan AG. “Many customers have scheduled tests during our grand opening”, added Mr. Kaiser.

Green Technology Network to debut in 2015

Also dedicated to leadership in the environmental market, the Ministry of Economy announced the establishment of a Green Technology Network in the spring of 2015. The network will link leading green technology companies in the Rhineland-Palatine with regional, national and international economic and scientific players. Ms. Lemke stated, “The purpose of the Network is to encourage innovation, align the industry internationally, and ensure that the Rhineland-Palatinate will continue to be the leading location for Green Technology.”

A cornerstone in this Green Technology Network, VECOPLAN’S Technology Center, also incorporates two laboratories and a conference room adjacent to the machinery systems’ processing area. The labs allow for pertinent physical and chemical properties of material to be evaluated, both prior to and after processing through the facility’s equipment. This enables customers to immediately determine the success of a particular test.

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