Outlook 2021: Innovations in post-consumer plastics recycling

The coronavirus pandemic is currently posing major challenges for many companies around the world and, of course, it has not left Lindner-Recyclingtech GmbH unaffected. According to Michael Lackner, Managing Director of Lindner: “We have immediately taken some necessary measures such as teams being divided into several locations or working from home as well as avoiding unnecessary business trips wherever possible. Fortunately, work on the production floors was able to continue throughout the whole year.” As a manufacturer of shredders and entire systems also for the production of alternative fuels and the processing of waste wood, in addition to plastics recycling, Linder is broadly positioned. The company has also extended the use of remote control services and has paid special attention to push digitalisation. “We are convinced that our successes of the recent years will help us overcome the crisis in a positive light,” according to Mr. Lackner. 

Mr. Michael Lackner, Managing Director, Lindner-Recyclingtech  

Lindner continues to see a trend in the recycling of post-consumer plastics in 2021, and is set to continuously develop its shredding, washing and sorting technology accordingly. “The demand for higher qualities in re-granulate will increase dramatically, therefore the machinery (shredding, sorting, washing) have to follow the same. Our goal is to continuously innovate our technology to meet the growing standard or better said, we see our company among those who define the new state-of-the-art and drive the future of plastics recycling,” Mr. Lackner explains. 

As it was the case for most of this year, Lindner is assuming that no big international trade fairs and conferences will take place in 2021, and that there will continue to be travel restrictions. “Of course, this influences our actions: we will continue to attach great importance to the further development of our remote control services and sensor technology as well as to the even closer cooperation with our distribution partners,” according to Mr. Lackner. 

For 2021, Lindner is set to focus on the area of post-consumer plastics, as this is the most important market for its shredding, washing and sorting technology. For the last few years, Lindner has experienced rapid sales growth in Asia, a region that has become an important market for Lindner.  The company already has very strong partners with whom it has successfully implemented numerous projects in countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and also Australia. And there’s a new service and sales hub in Singapore created as a point of contact for partners and customers.  “With the positive outlook for the Asia market, further expansion plans are in the pipeline in view with the increase in demand for sales and service support in the region. Our worldwide existing network of sales and service partners is constantly being expanded in terms of quality and quantity. In addition, we will expand our existing location in the US further in 2021,” Mr. Lackner shares.

Lindner is also investing in a new headquarters in Austria covering over 45,000 square metres and therefore aiming to double its capacity in the long term; additionally towards a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, the new site will become an international Centre of Excellence for waste recovery and recycling – in keeping with the circular economy concept.