STADLER supports Japan’s evolving recycling market with regional office

STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH officially opened its new office in Japan, making a major step toward its goal of international growth while reinforcing its long-term commitment to the Asian market. 

The launch was marked by a dedicated event that brought together industry players, partners, relevant associations, and media representatives, allowing STADLER to showcase its activities in Japan and engage with key stakeholders. Alongside Willi Stadler, the event was attended by Jürgen Berger, head of International Sales, and Ursina Mutzner, sales manager responsible for the Japanese market, underscoring the company's strong commitment to Japan and its long-term growth strategy in the region.

"This opening is an important milestone. We believe that with our technology, we can make a significant contribution to improving the sorting of valuable materials in Japan and return them to the recycling loop for a cleaner and more sustainable world," said Willi Stadler, co-CEO of STADLER Group.

Japan moves towards a circular economy 

Japan is a strategically important market for STADLER, characterised by a strong focus on quality and a highly developed waste management infrastructure.

The country, which has historically accounted for around 70 percent of the world's incineration facilities, has built a waste management model strongly centred on waste-to-energy, supported by limited landfill availability and high urban density.

At the same time, Japan is advancing its transition towards a more circular economy, driven by an increasingly stringent regulatory framework and a growing emphasis on material quality and resource efficiency. Initiatives such as the Plastic Resource Circulation Act, promoted by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, reinforce the need to improve plastic recycling rates and strengthen upstream sorting processes.

In this context, there is growing interest in pre-incineration sorting solutions that enable the recovery of valuable recyclable materials, particularly plastics and municipal waste streams. This interest includes the development of dry sorting technologies as an alternative to conventional wet processes. Another key aspect is the integration of sorting facilities alongside existing waste-to-energy plants to maximise material recovery before energy generation. 

The growing role of sorting solutions in Japan 

STADLER's decision to establish a direct presence in Japan builds on more than a decade of activity in the market. 

The company's first project in Japan dates back to 2010, with a presorting plant for PET bottles, followed by the sale of high-speed conveyors starting in 2013. From 2015 onwards, the company further strengthened its presence through its collaboration with FUJI CAR MANUFACTURING CO, LTD for ballistic separators and the opening of a local test facility.

This development is reflected in a series of projects across different waste streams. In plastics recycling, STADLER has delivered presorting plants for PET bottles to a Japanese customer in 2010 and 2017. In packaging, the company has supplied sorting plants for Hyuga Kuroda and TBM. More recently, STADLER has expanded into metal recycling with the Arbiz project, marking the introduction of XRT-based sorting solutions into the Japanese market.

In addition, STADLER has established a strong installed base in the country, including over 30 ballistic separators supplied via Fujicar and around 100 high-speed conveyors, reflecting the steady expansion and diversification of its activities in Japan.

STADLER takes a strategic step in its global growth 

Building on this foundation, STADLER has established STADLER Japan K.K., led by Megumi Sasaki, project director (Japan Setup), establishing the Japan Subsidiary & Operations of STADLER Japan. 

The new office will focus on sales and after-sales activities, supporting recyclers in key applications such as light packaging and municipal solid waste sorting, particularly in processes upstream of incineration.

STADLER has recently opened several sorting facilities across the globe, including an 8 tph plant in Italy designed to boost paper recycling. 

"We are proud to be in Japan and see this as an important step in the further development of our company. It underlines our long-term commitment to the region and our ambition to grow together with our customers. This move is part of STADLER's broader strategy to expand its global reach while responding to evolving market requirements," said Julia Stadler, Co-CEO of STADLER Group.

STADLER is uniquely positioned to assist with Japan's circular goals 

The new premises will play a key role in strengthening the company's position in the country and building closer relationships with customers and partners, supporting key applications such as light packaging and MSW sorting, as well as plastics recycling, including PET presorting, and, more recently, metal recycling solutions.

"Our local presence allows us to work closely with customers and partners in Japan, better understand their specific requirements, and respond more effectively to market needs. At the same time, we see a clear opportunity to complement existing waste-to-energy systems with advanced sorting solutions, enabling more materials to be recovered before incineration. This is where STADLER can bring real added value," said Megumi Sasaki.

Japan's policy framework is increasingly focused on improving the recovery of valuable materials across different waste streams, encouraging operators to extract more value from waste before final treatment. 

As part of this direction, the country has set ambitious targets for plastics, including the goal of achieving 100 percent effective utilisation of plastic waste by 2035. This is expected to drive the need to upgrade existing facilities and integrate more advanced sorting technologies alongside current systems. In this context, STADLER aims to support this transition by combining its engineering expertise with a growing local presence. 

"We are currently in discussions on several projects, which clearly demonstrates the momentum we are seeing in the market," concluded Megumi Sasaki.