News Plastech
Tomra Recycling has released a free eBook that explains how deep learning is being applied in optical sorting, outlining practical use cases, regulatory drivers and a pathway toward more transparent, autonomous recycling plants.
At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Leonhard Kurz will present NFPP lightweight composites, Recosys rPET-based textiles and EcoLayer FX decoration for PP-based substrates, focusing on scalable approaches to circularity and resource efficiency in automotive interiors.
At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, FCS Group will showcase all-electric injection molding machines integrated with recycled materials, microcellular foaming and factory digitalization. Demonstrations will include two-component overmolding, eyewear from ocean-sourced PA6+GF and iMF 4.0 for energy and ESG reporting.
The European plastics recycling sector is sliding into one of its deepest crises to date. By the end of 2025, Europe will have lost nearly one million tonnes of recycling capacity since 2023.
GreenDot Group will exhibit at K 2025 in Düsseldorf, marking the 35th anniversary of Der Grüne Punkt and highlighting Systalen recyclates in PP and LDPE derived from household packaging waste.
At K 2025, Arburg will host a multi-day lecture program in the arburgGREENworld pavilion, complemented by contributions to the VDMA Power of Plastics Forum and the Women in Plastics event.
MAS introduced the iQonicTwin HyperPET, integrating a pre-extrusion SSP based on infrared radiation and vacuum for food-grade rPET with stable IV, color consistency and low AA at reduced energy use. The solution debuts at K Show 2025 in Düsseldorf.
Ineos Styrolution has received the first truckloads of recycled styrene monomer at its Antwerp site, supplied by Indaver from its newly inaugurated depolymerisation plant. The commercial-scale delivery, a first in Europe, will feed high-quality polystyrene and other styrenics, including food-grade uses.
Coveris received the Green Packaging Star Award 2025 in the Environmentally Friendly Production Process category for its SleeveFlexR Stretch solution, presented at the Fachpack trade fair in Nuremberg. The PE-based sleeves are recyclable through existing collection streams.
On 16–18 September in Budapest, the seventh Central European Plastics Meeting 2025 took place, combining a trade fair, conference and B2B meetings. The event gathered 450 participants, nearly 1,500 B2B talks were held, and the program covered, among others, recycling and the circular economy.
EREMA reports rising demand for its made-to-stock ReadyMac recycling machine, introduced at K 2022 and expanded with the ReadyMac 500 HD in 2025. The line comes in two 500 kg/h configurations at fixed prices and is shipping to Europe, South Africa and Latin America.
At K 2025, Coperion will present an expanded lineup of smart feeding and weighing technologies, bringing together Coperion K-Tron with former Schenck Process FPM AccuRate and MechaTron lines. Solutions will be shown in Hall 14, booth B19, and in the open area FG/CE07.
Stadler has completed and commissioned a highly automated lightweight packaging sorting plant for PreZero in Sollenau, Austria, designed for 104,500 t/y across two modules. The facility integrates AI-based safety, 35 NIR sorters from Steinert and extensive redundancy to support continuous, high-accuracy operation.
AMI has scheduled the Compounding & Recycling Expo for 23–24 September 2026 at Messe Frankfurt, Germany. The free-to-attend event will combine a tradeshow and conference focused on the convergence of plastics compounding and recycling.
Kisuma Chemicals is offering magnesium-based additive solutions to improve the performance and consistency of recycled plastics, with benefits such as odor reduction, melt flow and color retention, and gel reduction. The company will present the portfolio at K 2025, Hall 8B, booth H31.
At K 2025, Ekochem will present developments in TPE-S thermoplastic elastomers, combining rubber properties with the functionality of plastics.
Ecomondo will take place in Rimini on 4–7 November 2025. The conference program, prepared by the Scientific and Technical Committee chaired by Prof. Fabio Fava, will cover seven areas of the green transition, from Earth observation to the bioeconomy.
MAS and Siempelkamp Size Reduction have formed a technology alliance to introduce the iQonicTwin PreDensifier, a solution aimed at stabilizing the recycling of lightweight films and other low‑bulk‑density materials.
Rapidly rising recycling rates, fluctuating input qualities and high demands on product purity pose major challenges for recyclers – especially in filtration. BB Engineering GmbH is responding to this with an innovative filter system: the Cobra filter.
Krones acquired 60% of GHS Separationstechnik and fully took over the Netherlands-based Can Systems Worldwide, adding decanter centrifuges and can-end handling equipment to its offering.
The US FDA has issued a No Objection Letter for Starlinger’s polypropylene cap-to-cap recycling process on the recoSTAR dynamic system, allowing beverage caps made from 100% post-consumer PP to be used under Conditions of Use C to H, including hot fill.
Rubber Street will return to Hall 6 at K 2025, jointly organised by wdk and Messe Düsseldorf. The 500 m2 special area is fully booked with a record 19 exhibitors covering the elastomer and TPE value chain, and will feature reusable flooring made from recycled tyre rubber.
RecyClass says its Recycling Process Certification now covers 60% of Europe’s installed plastics recycling capacity. Stream-level coverage in 2024 reached 58% for HDPE/PP, 62% for ELV-WEEE, 70% for LDPE and 75% for PET.
If someone tried to trace their everyday life without plastic today, it would quickly prove to be an almost impossible task. Plastics have become so ubiquitous that it is difficult to notice how quickly everyday items turn into waste.
Alpla marked its 70th anniversary with a review of key innovations and a focus on future investments in digitalisation, automation and circular economy models, while maintaining its system approach to plastic packaging and recycling. The family-owned company operates 200 sites in 46 countries and employs more than 24,000 people.
Celab Europe will showcase practical pathways for collecting and recycling release liner and matrix waste at Labelexpo Europe 2025 in Barcelona, supporting circularity in the self-adhesive label industry.
Röhm’s Europe-wide PMMA recycling alliance reports significantly higher recovery rates and delivers a taillight demonstrator with 30% mechanically recycled content, developed with Valeo and the Renault Group’s consortium The Future Is Neutral.
K 2025 will again host a Start-up Zone for young technology companies in Hall 7. Twenty exhibitors will present solutions spanning AI, data analytics, bioplastics, digitally supported production and the circular economy, with a Start-up Pitch scheduled for 13 October in Hall 6.
Plastic is Fantastic Association, initiated by the Alpla Group, will make its public debut at K 2025 in Düsseldorf, introducing a fact-based communications initiative for the plastics industry and launching a global campaign.
Duma Recycling outlines LDPE and LLDPE recyclate production using Intarema TVEplus lines with double, laser-assisted filtration. The company appears at K 2025, Hall 7, level 2, G11.
Vecoplan has acquired Pla.to GmbH, a specialist in dry cleaning and washing technology, expanding its plastics recycling solutions portfolio. The companies announce new system series and the presentation of the largest dry-cleaning line at K 2025.
Coveris has introduced the MonoFlexBP resealable monomaterial tray for refrigerated foods, paired with a PET- and PA-free lidding film for PP trays. The solution targets recyclability, shelf life and compatibility with existing lines.
Tomra Recycling has named Lars Enge as its new executive vice president. Enge joined Tomra in 2022 and has led group strategy, set up Tomra Horizon and managed the acquisition of c-trace GmbH.
At K 2025, Starlinger recycling technology presents the new recoSTAR dynamic art line for post-consumer plastics, alongside updates to recoSTAR PET art whose decontamination performance has received a positive EFSA opinion.
Circular Valley Convention will return on 11 and 12 March 2026 at Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf, co-hosted by BASF, Bayer, Evonik and Henkel. Exhibitor registration and ticket sales are open, with a super early bird offer valid until 30 September 2025.
Südpack and Sn Maschinenbau will demonstrate production of mono-PE stand-up pouches with an integrated PE zipper on a standard horizontal machine at Fachpack 2025. The CarbonLite film family offers PE- and PP-based barrier options without aluminum or metallization.