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‘Pioneer in plastics recycling’ Helmut Bacher dies

Austria’s recycling machinery manufacturer Erema Group is mourning the loss of its co-founder and former managing partner Helmut Bacher, who has passed away at the age of 81. Bacher stood at the cradle of what is now a tech supplier providing solutions that process 25 million tonnes of plastics per year worldwide.

Bacher is regarded as a pioneer of plastics recycling. Together with colleagues Georg Wendelin and Helmuth Schulz, he founded Erema Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen in Linz, Austria, in 1983.

‘Open mind’

Their work was acknowledged in 2008 when the three founders received the Golden Award of Honour from the Province of Upper Austria. ‘Helmut Bacher displayed visionary foresight and open mind in playing a key role in shaping the plastics recycling industry,’ says Erema.

After training as a fitter and completing his schooling as a mechanical engineer, he worked in various technical positions before moving to a mechanical engineering company for plastics processing in the early 1970s. Bacher shared with his two colleagues a belief in the potential of plastics recycling.

How it began

‘During countless trials, he searched for the right solution – until he found it,’ says Erema. ‘Despite initial adversity, the three founders remained convinced of the idea of a cost-effective recycling machine for plastic waste and started their own company in 1983.

At the K trade fair in Düsseldorf that year, Erema presented ‘a simple, robust, reliable and economical recycling system’, which marked the start of a success story. The young company produced its first orders in modest premises in Leonding with two small workshops and a double garage.

Global player, driving force

More than 40 years on, plant and components supplied by the Erema Group deliver global recycling capacities of over 25 million tonnes of plastic per year. Until his retirement from management in 2004, Helmut Bacher was ‘a driving force’ behind the company and remained closely associated with it until his death. ‘His technical ability, coupled with solution-orientated thinking and genuine appreciation of his employees, have left a lasting impression and continue to shape the company to this day.’

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