Plastics recycling specialist Pekutherm sets course for expansion in Europe
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Plastics recycling specialist Pekutherm sets course for expansion in Europe
- Pekutherm CEO Heiko Pfister: "As the global use of acrylic glass continues to grow, so must our recycling efforts. This is why we aim to double our recycling volume."
- The target group is manufacturers and processors throughout Europe who are committed to the development of a circular economy.
Geisenheim near Frankfurt am Main (Germany), 11 July 2024 – Pekutherm Kunststoffe GmbH of Geisenheim near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, a specialist in recycling thermoplastics such as acrylic glass (polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC), plans to accelerate its European expansion. Heiko Pfister, Managing Partner of Pekutherm, identifies Italy, Spain, France, and the Baltic States as key target markets for expansion. Additionally, the company plans to broaden its operations in Northern Europe, building on its existing presence in Denmark and Finland.
Pekutherm's expansion is driven by environmental and climate concerns rather than purely economic considerations, assures Managing Partner Heiko Pfister. According to his research, Europe generates approximately 30,000 tonnes of PMMA waste annually. Of this, 5,000 tonnes are recycled in Geisenheim for reuse, while the rest is processed elsewhere, often ending in incineration. "A significant portion is collected in Europe and shipped to Asia, where the recycling rate is likely very low," Pfister warns. His plan for Pekutherm is to double the PMMA recycling volume to 10,000 tonnes within the next three years. This effort will also include an additional 1,000 tonnes of polycarbonate (PC) and 1,000 tonnes of other plastics already being recycled in Geisenheim. "For every 100 tonnes of recycled material used, nearly 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide can be saved," explains Pfister, highlighting the climate protection benefits of the circular economy. He further emphasizes that the recycled materials meet new raw material standards in terms of purity and quality, underscoring the environmental benefits of reusing these resources.
Pekutherm, founded in 1985 by Erwin Pfister and continued by his son Heiko, will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year. The company name, "Pekutherm," is derived from "Thermoplastische Kunststoffe Erwin Pfister," creatively reversed and abbreviated.
Precision Sorting: Hands-on Expertise at Pekutherm
At Pekutherm, a team of approximately 25 skilled specialists meticulously separates various types of plastic waste by hand. Each item undergoes a thorough process: after any applied film is removed, it's inspected visually and by touch, and then sorted accordingly. Heiko Pfister, reflecting on their methods, emphasizes, "We require one hundred percent type-specific separation, which no technology can reliably achieve." Despite experimenting with infrared and other detection methods, Pfister notes, "The margin of error remains too high." Pfister, as CEO, underscores their commitment to delivering flawless quality: "Our customers rightfully demand one hundred percent pure recyclate for their production. A single sorting mistake can render an entire batch unusable, placing us at significant economic risk." This stringent focus ensures Pekutherm consistently meets the exacting standards required by their clientele.
After sorting, Pekutherm's thermoplastic waste is granulated in precision granulators and delivered to the customer dust-free. "Our recyclates have the same processing properties as virgin material," assures Heiko Pfister.
There are two main advantages for the customers of this quality-conscious medium-sized company. Firstly, the materials supplied by Pekutherm are more cost-effective than virgin materials. Secondly, and of greater importance to many, as noted by Heiko Pfister, "our customers can legitimately promote their commitment to a sustainable circular economy." The customers themselves process the granulate into a finished product, such as acrylic glass panes.
Securing Recycling Material Supply
Pekutherm relies on a steady stream of materials to sustain its recycling operations. As part of its international expansion efforts, the company is actively seeking partners who can provide PMMA or PC remnants. To facilitate this initiative, Pekutherm provides specialized collection boxes for on-site waste collection. Once filled, these containers are transported to the Geisenheim plant where the contents are processed into granules.
Manufacturers across Europe committed to fostering a circular economy for the betterment of climate and environmental protection are highly sought-after as partners. Highlighting this initiative, Pekutherm CEO Heiko Pfister references the "Closing the loop" project by Exolon Group, a leading producer of polycarbonate sheets. Under this program, customers of Exolon Group are encouraged to collaborate with Pekutherm as their recycling partner for offcuts and waste materials generated during new material purchases. Pekutherm facilitates this process by providing complimentary collection containers known as Ecoboxes, which are retrieved when full. The company compensates based on the quantity of waste collected. Following processing at the Geisenheim facility, the resulting granulate becomes available to manufacturers like Exolon Group for reuse in their production cycles.
For many years, Pekutherm has offered its own recycling concept for the well-known acrylic glass brand Plexiglas from the Röhm chemicals group, whose founder Otto Röhm brought the first acrylic glass panes to market. As part of a take-back and recycling program, Pekutherm sorts, processes and granulates Plexiglas waste. The recycled raw material is re-incorporated into original Plexiglas products.
Heiko Pfister classifies the recycling programs for Plexiglas and Exolon polycarbonate as "role models for a functioning circular economy". He explains his expansion plans: "We want to enable manufacturers and processors throughout Europe to contribute to the circular economy and thus to environmental and climate protection without having to make significant investments in their own collection concepts."
Acrylic Glass Production Continues Steady Global Growth
The global production of acrylic glass has been steadily increasing for many years due to its qualities as a shatterproof, lightweight, and easily moldable plastic that finds applications across diverse industries. From automotive and construction to healthcare, lighting technology, and various household items, acrylic glass is used in windows, car hoods, headlight covers, signage, contact lenses, spectacle lenses, bone cement, hearing aid molds, dental crowns, greenhouses, bowls, and flat screens, among countless others.
According to market analysts, global production of acrylic glass sheets surged from 1.8 million tonnes in 2000 to 4.1 million tonnes in 2020. Projections indicate this volume will continue to rise, reaching an estimated 9.5 million tonnes by 2029.* "Given the substantial growth forecasted across various market analyses, it becomes both an ecological imperative and an economic opportunity to recycle the increasing volume of waste from offcuts and obsolete material," remarks Heiko Pfister.
* Sources:
https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/cast-acrylic-sheet-market/
https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/de/reports/4636/acrylic-sheets-market/
Trademark notice: PLEXIGLAS® is a trademark of Röhm
Pekutherm is a leading European recycling company for acrylic glass (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) as well as other thermoplastics and has developed a sustainable recycling cycle for these materials. Sorting and processing produces a high-quality raw material that is available for new PMMA or PC products. Pekutherm takes the first step towards a new life for the plastic product with its own Ecoboxes, which are placed at companies where PMMA residues or other thermoplastic semi-finished products are produced as waste or offcuts. The product is processed into granulate in the plant. The raw material obtained in this way enables environmentally friendly and resource-saving new components.
Further information: Pekutherm Kunststoffe GmbH, Chauvignystrasse 19, 65366 Geisenheim near Frankfurt am Main (Germany), E-Mail: info@pekutherm.de, Web: www.pekutherm.de
Press agency: euromarcom public relations GmbH, Phone +49 611-973150, E-mail: team@euromarcom.de, Web: www.euromarcom.de
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