AST Group has set a long-term target to increase the amount of recyclates in its products and aims to supply its own ‘raw materials’.
AST is therefore investing in a new centre of competence with a complete plastics recycling line to process post-industrial and post-consumer HDPE, relying on the expertise and a system solution from Lindner.
AST Group
AST Group and Lindner launch centre of competence
AST Headquarters, Erndtebrück, Germany
Since 1977, AST Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH has been producing high-quality packaging with approval for dangerous goods in Erndtebrück, Germany. Today, the company is a European market leader in plastic containers for chemical products or food.
The aim of the new project is to gather experience, pave the way for future strategies and introduce the use of recyclates in the series production of technically demanding HDPE containers and drums. The new centre of competence is a pilot project that aims to harness the experience and expertise at the AST locations in southern Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK.
AST has chosen Lindner as its technology and development partner. The washing and sorting components come from Lindner Washtech, which is also responsible, together with AST, for engineering at the facility. The shredders of the parent company Lindner Recyclingtech complete the system solution.
Recycling Lead at AST Hauke Grabau said: “We transform premium plastics into high-quality containers, drums and bottles and believe that this raw material should not go the general recovery route. With the new centre of competence, we want to retain this valuable material in the loop. My many years of experience in the field of plastics recycling have shown me that Lindner offers the best overall package and expertise in mechanically recovering polymers. We have seen from the very beginning that Lindner is willing to tackle new problems and that we can learn from each other in the joint development of this project.”
