Technology
25recyclinginternational.com | September/October | 2020
live from cologne:
the birth of a new
test centre
‘I invite recyclers from all over the world to send in their scrap test
samples and have them processed here with our recycling solutions.’
With these words, followed by a push
on a big red button, Peter Funke,
managing director of Germany’s sort-
ing technology expert Steinert, offi-
cially opened the company’s new test
and development centre.
Located in Pulheim, a 10-minute drive
from Steinert’s Cologne headquar-
ters, the test centre features the firm’s
latest technology all under the roof of
a huge hall. Steinert invested EUR 7
million in the facility which is as big as
a football field.
STUDIO STEINERT
In pre Covid-19 times, Steinert would
have invited recyclers from all over the
world to fly in and participate in the
opening ceremony. But the pandemic
forced Funke and his team to come
up with an alternative: a live stream
video show from the test centre floor.
For this occasion, the front part of the
hall was transformed into a TV studio
with cameras, lights, camera-
equipped drones, direction desk and
a moderator – all against the backdrop
of Steinert’s new metal sorting and
separation line.
THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHES
Several hundred customers from 55
countries worldwide tuned in to the
live stream of the opening event. ‘I am
glad about the positive feedback from
our customers,’ said Funke. ‘Of course
I regret that the global recycling scene
cannot be here “live” due to the pan-
demic. However, it’s encouraging to
see how many people and businesses
have put effort into adjusting to the
new reality. I believe with this new
digital experience, which we will be
seeing more and more of in the
future, we may have set the tone and
certainly done our part.’
‘THE PLACE TO BE’
The opening show was co-hosted by
Steinert’s technical director Dr Nico
Schmalbein and Karl Hoffmann, the
company’s sales director, metal recy-
cling.
Hoffmann called the new test centre
‘a big playground’. ‘For any testing of
metal recycling, this is the place to
be,’ he said, adding that data and
testing could be checked remotely
from every corner in the world
because of digital tools and video
cameras in the test equipment.
‘Change has come fast, boosted by
coronavirus.’
A CIRCULARITY FRONTRUNNER
The need for secondary material will
only grow, Hoffmann insisted. ‘And so
will the need for smart recycling solu-
tions. We want to play a key role in
the circular economy, together with
recyclers.’
Visit www.steinert.de to watch the
recording of the official opening of
the test centre.
Fotobijschrift
KADERKOP
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24-25_studiosteinert.indd 25 28-09-20 16:28
