Recycling Conference 2025 at Warsaw

Interview: Georg Klein about Herbold Meckesheim and Coperion, Germany.

The entire plastic recycling sector is about to experience significant changes. Are you prepared for them?

Georg Klein: Yes, we are fully aware of the upcoming developments and are well prepared. We provide intelligent, value-added technical solutions tailored to our customers’ needs. This includes customized laboratory testing in our recycling labs at Herbold Meckesheim and Coperion, as well as offering refurbished second-hand equipment and comprehensive after-sales services. Our focus remains on carefully selected activities to ensure optimal results.

Our collaboration with Coperion, our parent company for the past three years, significantly broadens our portfolio. It enables us to offer a wide range of solutions - from mechanical processing such as shredding, washing, separating, drying, and agglomerating plastics, to bulk material handling, feeding, extrusion, and further processing like compounding, pelletizing, and odor reduction. Together, we are stronger and better equipped to meet the evolving demands of the industry.

What is your development perspective for the coming years?

GK: We are observing increasing market demand for larger machine sizes and are focusing on our core strengths and unique selling points. At the K Show 2025, Herbold showcased a new, large-scale SMS 80/200 granulator, a new large T150/300 mechanical dryer, and a complete hydrocyclone separation stage. Coperion presented the new ZSK FilCo Filtration Compounder. Additionally, we highlighted material handling solutions such as EcoFresh, an effective deodorization system, along with a comprehensive range of feeders.

Furthermore, Coperion’s C-BEYOND platform offers secure digital services that enhance the productivity and reliability of extrusion and compounding lines.

We are attentive to market needs and continuously adapt our portfolio accordingly. While we work on developing new solutions to handle higher throughputs and reduce utility consumption for greater efficiency, we also address current market demands with our range of refurbished second-hand machines. Maintaining open communication with our customers and partners remains a top priority, ensuring we stay aligned with industry needs and trends.

What new products will you present during the 2025 Recycling Conference?

GK: We are excited to present the entire portfolio, but will explicitely talk about the new developments from both brands.

New granulator SMS 80/200

As the largest model of the SMS-Series, the SMS 80-200 is built for efficiency and durability, ideal for particularly demanding applications.

Its energy-efficient double cross-cutting action and adjustable rotor and bed knives ensure a constant cutting circle for consistent, high-quality regrind with less fines and higher bulk density. Designed for ease of maintenance, the hinged, two-piece housing provides excellent access to the cutting chamber. This allows effortless cleaning and simple knife adjustments from outside the granulator. Quick exchange of individual parts prevents costly rotor replacements and minimizes downtime.

New large T150/300 mechanical dryer

Our latest innovation: the Mechanical Dryer T 150-300. It sets a new standard in modern drying technology with its completely new redesign for large-capacities reaching throughputs of up to 2.5 tons of film per hour.

The T 150-300 dryer is ideal for demanding industrial processes. Key features include a rotating sieve basket that performs full-coverage cleaning with integrated water spray nozzles, ensuring consistent surface cleanliness, and a centrifugal drying chamber that accelerates moisture removal efficiently.

The machine's construction allows easy maintenance, with hydraulically hinged housing for quick access, and advanced monitoring systems supporting predictive maintenance.

The T 150-300 is the ideal high-capacity dry cleaner, effectively removing fibers and particles.

Herbold’s unique Hydrocyclone Separation Stage

Unlike traditional swim-sink tanks, the Hydrocyclone Separation Stage uses powerful centrifugal forces to achieve a precise separation of materials.

Exchangeable nozzle sizes allow fine-tuning for optimal results, while high turbulence and friction create an additional washing effect. Its advanced design thus not only improves the purity of recycled plastics, but also extends the lifespan of downstream equipment, reducing operational costs.

The Hydrocyclone separation stage adapts to various applications, delivering cleaner output and more efficient processing.

ZSK FilCo Filtration Compounder

For the recycling of post-consumer recyclate (PCR) or heavily contaminated polymers, Coperion presents the cutting-edge ZSK FilCo filtration compounder, which enables both filtration and compounding in a single production step.

In the ZSK FilCo system, waste plastic is fed into a ZSK twin screw extruder, where it undergoes melting, homogenization, and devolatilization. The material melt is then passed through a filter to eliminate contaminants before being returned to the same ZSK extruder for compounding with reinforcing ingredients or fillers.

Unlike traditional two-step production lines, Coperion’s ZSK FilCo features a significantly more streamlined equipment configuration. This system reduces energy consumption and emissions during the extrusion process by over 50%. Additionally, the ZSK FilCo achieves a notably higher quality of the final product.

Please identify the future trends and challenges of plastic recycling?

Currently, we observe and appreciate a clear focus and growing interest among our customers in areas such as chemical recycling, PET recycling, Coperion twin-screw compounders, dry cleaning, plastic compacting, and deodorization. There is also a noticeable trend toward replacing existing equipment with higher-quality solutions.

Our customers are seeking process improvements and more efficient systems, particularly in terms of energy consumption, water treatment, and achieving higher end-product quality. With the combined portfolio of Coperion and Herbold, along with our intelligent IT solutions, we are well-equipped to enhance our customers’ plants and support their ongoing development.

Why is it worth working with you? What benefits and support do you offer your Partners?

GK: We have built our reputation on enduring relationships with our customers. Many of them operate second or even third generations of machines and processing lines from us. Our products are known for their durability and longevity, especially Herbold’s granulators, which have become synonymous with quality and reliability. We are also recognized for our innovations, unique selling points in the market, and our commitment to excellent after-sales service.

We pride ourselves on working closely with our clients from the initial idea stage through to after-sales support and continuous development of their lines. We thrive on collaborative projects where we can brainstorm and bring ideas to life using our equipment. Recycling is a dynamic field - constantly evolving - and we understand the importance of flexibility. We often adapt our machinery to accommodate even the most unconventional ideas our customers have, which makes our work particularly rewarding.

Together, Coperion and Herbold offer a comprehensive range of solutions that extend beyond recycling into various industrial applications. This combination creates a unique advantage for our customers, providing them with integrated, innovative and reliable solutions tailored to their specific needs. It’s a perfect match that enhances our ability to serve the market effectively.

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Georg Klein is working at Herbold Meckesheim GmbH since 2020 as an area sales manager , responsible for sales in the regions Scandinavia ( DK, S, N, FIN) , Poland , Czech Republic and Slowakia .

He is a mechanical engineer (Dipl. Ing.) who studied at the University of Karlsruhe in Germany. A former hydraulics engineer, he has been working in the plant engineering industry since 1990. Throughout his career, he has consistently focused on providing comprehensive application system solutions that benefit the customer. His expertise encompasses machinery and components, electronics, software, and unique application know-how, all aimed at delivering efficient and value-added solutions for clients.