India is the promised land for recycling tech suppliers 

India’s fast growing economy and recycling sector offer great opportunity for machinery producers seeking new markets.

This year’s International Material Recycling Conference (IMRC), held in the country’s northern city Jaipur, set new records with the trade floor hosting more than 200 recycling solution providers. Among them was smart sorting tech expert Steinert. ‘India is one of our new frontiers,’ says Steinert’s head of regional sales metal recycling, Christian Kühn. ‘We’ve attended this show many times and it has really helped us to get a foothold in India.’

Steinert has installed 10 or more lines across India in recent years, mostly at companies and operations active in stainless steel and aluminium, while there is growing interest from cable recyclers.

Big ‘fish’ for Danieli

Another supplier seeing its business in India emerge is Danieli Centro Recycling. Since the Italian machinery manufacturer shipped its first baler to the Indian subcontinent, sales have gone up, and one thing has led to another, says company sales director Davide Braga.

Latest is sales of a 4 000-horsepower shredder to JSW Group’s subsidiary NSL Green Steel, a major steel maker. ‘We signed the contract in November and the shredder will be shipped to their plant near Mumbai by the end of 2025,’ says Braga. ‘Installation is scheduled for early 2026.’

Once in operation it will be the biggest shredder in India, according to Braga. ‘We’re really proud of that and we hope and trust this will open doors to more business. India has recycling potential waiting to be explored.’

First time for Adrem

For Belgium’s recycling tech specialist Adrem, it was a first IMRC. ‘We have no machines in India yet but, looking at the many leads we’ve got, I’m sure it will come,’ says the company’s project sales engineer Davy Saint Germain. ‘Plastics separation from e-scrap is not yet a focus here but with more policies and regulations coming in, that will change for sure.’

Adrem’s general manager Brian Noppe adds: ‘While India and Europe differ in many ways, ultimately they face similar challenges in building a sustainable circular economy.’