STADLER builds on e-waste recycling offerings with weeeSwiss Technology AG acquisition

STADLER has acquired a majority stake in weeeSwiss Technology AG, a specialist in the design, construction and operation of turn-key Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling plants.

With this move, STADLER extends its offering to include recycling of electronic waste, a sector that is growing fast in response to the increasing pressure to improve the environmental management of this type of waste, to use resources more efficiently, and to contribute to a circular economy.

WEEE is the fastest growing waste stream across the world, currently amounting to annual volumes around 50 million metric tons. The demand for recycling this material is rising fast, as legislation to regulate the management of electronic waste comes into force across the world to address the environmental impact of this waste and foster a circular economy where its component materials are recovered and reused. The growing public awareness of the importance of using more efficiently natural resources is also a factor in the push for recycling. On the other hand, electronic waste is a source of many materials that are in great demand for new low-carbon technologies and electronics, which translates into business opportunities for recycling operations.

"WeeeSwiss is a perfect fit for STADLER," stated Willi Stadler, CEO of Stadler Anlagenbau. "Through this partnership we are extending further our product line to include electronic waste, which is set to become an increasingly important sector in the recycling industry. Our customers will benefit from the expert know-how of weeeSwiss in WEEE recycling facilities together with the benefits of STADLER's worldwide sales and service network, our strong project management capabilities and experience in building large sorting plants."

The two companies will harness their combined know-how in the joint development of new solutions, processes and technologies for WEEE recycling. These efforts will benefit from the resources of STADLER's innovation and test centers in Altshausen, Germany and Krsko, Slovenia. They will also build on the existing collaborations that weeeSwiss has established with Swiss universities.