Hellweg boosts sales and extends reach to Poland

Flexal Group becomes the Polish sales partner for German recycling machinery manufacturer.

In a year when many European plastic recycling companies experienced significant sales declines, Hellweg Maschinenbau remarkably achieved a 30% to 50% increase in production by the end of 2023.

This German machine manufacturing company is seizing the opportunity presented by this production boost to forge a new distribution deal with the Poland-based Flexal Group. Flexal is now the exclusive sales partner for Hellweg in Poland, tasked with maintaining and providing technical support for Hellweg’s comprehensive line of grinders.

Flexal specializes in distributing machinery for processing thermoplastic and rubber, along with offering automation solutions. Its diverse range of products also encompasses pellet dryers, centralized feeding systems, conveyors, laboratory extruders, robotics, and measuring devices.

A standout product from Hellweg, introduced at the 2023 Fakuma trade show, is the new MDSGi 1500/600 wet grinder. It operates on a low-power motor, varying from 45 kW to 110 kW, and boasts remarkably low energy consumption – just 70 to 90 kWh per hour. This efficiency is particularly advantageous in the current climate of high electricity costs. The grinder is designed for handling a variety of materials like PET, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, polycarbonate, polylactic acid, or PE film. It can process up to 5 tons of film per hour, maintaining long-term, uninterrupted operation even with contaminated input materials.

Hellweg’s commercial success became evident shortly after its debut at the October 2023 Fakuma exhibition, receiving six orders by year’s end and already securing eight more for 2024.

The Polish plastic recycling market is poised for growth starting this year, especially with the implementation of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive on July 1, 2024. This directive not only promotes recycling but also mandates the inclusion of recycled materials in new products. For instance, from 2025, single-use plastic bottles are required to incorporate 25% recycled material, a figure set to rise to 30% by 2030.