The recycling machinery market is evolving rapidly, and innovation is more important than ever, observes Matthias Egarter, ceo of Austrian shredder manufacturer Lindner. ‘Our focus is on bringing the right innovations to the market and actively shaping its future,’ he tells Recycling International.
Another trend spotted by the ceo: broad and global consolidation, with markets getting increasingly divided between big players. ‘The good news is, we will be one of them.’
Private equity investors are knocking on the doors of recycling tech suppliers but Lindner says it will not be tempted. It prefers to build its future under its own steam.
Over the past two decades, the 100% family-owned Lindner business has seen spectacular growth. In 2004 Lindner had 74 machines in operation, today more than 4000.
GLOBAL VIEW
From its headquarters in Spittal in south Austria, shredders are shipped all over the world. The company has sales and service hubs in all major markets, including Southeast Asia, North and South America, and the Middle East. ‘The Middle East is doing quite well,’ says Egarter. ‘We’ve installed several (mobile) machines at customers in Saudi Arabia and also Kuwait.’
The company has recently invested EUR 50 million in a new factory to ramp up production capacity. ‘We can now do up to 500 machines per year.’
Egarter sees great potential in textile recycling as well as wind turbine recycling. In the US, Lindner has a partnership with local company producing shredders to process wind turbine blades.
AMONG THE LATEST
At IFAT 2026, Lindner unveiled the new Merak 2800 DT. An expansion of Lindner’s Merak 2800 mobile shredder series, the Merak 2800 DT is claimed to be the first diesel-driven mobile single-shaft shredder in its class. Combining full off-grid operation with proven Lindner performance, the new model offers operators greater flexibility at remote and temporary processing sites.
POWER ISSUES
First introduced at IFAT 2024 with an all-electric drive system, the Merak 2800 quickly established itself as a versatile solution for demanding recycling applications. The addition of the diesel-powered version responds to a key market challenge: getting access to electricity.
‘The availability of a reliable electric power supply varies greatly around the world and presents a major challenge for many of our customers,’ explains Egarter. ‘Extension of the Merak series with an additional drive option is our response.’
The Merak 2800 DT eliminates the need for external power connections, transformers or separate diesel generators, reducing infrastructure requirements and allowing operators to move the machine easily between locations. Once fuelled, the shredder is ready for operation.
WIDE RANGE, HEAVY LOADS
Despite the different drive concept, performance remains unchanged. The diesel-hydraulic system was engineered to maintain rotor speed under heavy loads, ensuring the same high throughput and reliability as the electric version.
With three rotor concepts and interchangeable screens, the Merak 2800 DT can process a wide range of materials, including wood, plastics, industrial and commercial waste, and household waste.
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