3
2021
Editorial
Here’s to the tech heroes…
I
magine you’ve invested millions in a new
dismantling line. The containers carry-
ing the equipment have finally arrived
and engineers are about to fly in to start
the installation work… but then a deadly
pandemic emerges, putting everything
on hold and enveloping in uncertainty the
project on which you and your team have
been proudly and ambitiously working.
One year ago, this would have seemed like a
nightmarish if unrealistic scenario. But now, we all
know better. In fact, what is described above is ex-
actly what happened to a recycling company in the
Chinese city of Hangzhou. Peter Hessler of URT
Recycling Technology, who supplied the process-
ing line, told me the story on a recent visit to URT’s
headquarters in Karlstadt, Germany. Peter shares
his experiences on page 4-5 of this magazine. It’s
about port delays and engineers at the mercy of
travel restrictions and quarantine measures.
URT is certainly not the only tech supplier to
have been challenged by the Coronavirus crisis.
We’ve heard many similar stories of new installa-
tions being postponed owing to facilities shutting
down, shipping issues or port delays, you name it.
The good news is that recycling technology
experts also happen to be true innovators. As we
all know, innovators are optimists, in good times
and in bad. So no matter what the pandemic has
thrown at them, they have come up with solutions
and alternative ways to get their jobs done.
If one thing has become clear during this
crisis, it’s the big helping hand offered by the
internet. Webinars and video conferences
have become immensely popular during
the pandemic. Video has also proved to be
a perfect tool for remote servicing and even
installing new technology, irrespective of
how far away and remote a customer may
be, as sorting specialist Steinert showed
with the installation of a sorting line in
the north east of Russia.
These and all the other stories
contained in this magazine should
be seen as signs of hope in chal-
lenging times for both recyclers
and technology providers.
I wish you much reading
pleasure.
Martijn Reintjes
Chief Editor
Recycling International/
Recycling Technology
03_editorial.indd 3 09-09-20 14:26
