Lindner and Erema tout success in Bulgaria

Two Austria-based recycling equipment suppliers say their 10 years of joint work equipping a Bulgarian plastics recycling company has helped that company become a high-volume producer of recycled-content plastics.

Lindner Washtech, part of Lindner-Recyclingtech GmbH, and Erema Group, who have a history of working together on plastic recycling projects, have been equipping Bulgaria-based Vadias Recycling for 10 years, calling it “a successful partnership.”

In 2013, after an initial five years in business, Vadias commissioned its first Lindner Washtech washing line, followed by a second unit in 2018. Erema extruders have been used in pellet production since the second wash line was installed. “To this day, the cooperation between the three companies has always been characterized by trust, high quality and enthusiasm for innovative recycling solutions,” Lindner says.

The first wash system for processing packaging film was designed to handle 1 metric ton per hour while the second was larger, with 1.5 metric tons per hour of capacity.

Vadias, based in Bulgaria, focuses on recycling and reprocessing LLDPE and LDPE packaging film materials. According to Lindner, “In addition to organic residue, most [inbound] films also come with labels and residue of aluminum film."

The Vadias process starts with cleaning and continues in reprocessing to create plastic flakes, followed by extrusion and pellet production.

“For us, the anniversary of Vadias is a special and unique moment,” says Harald Hoffmann, managing director of Lindner Washtech. “After all, our very first Lindner washing plant went to Bulgaria, and continues to run with all the components we supplied in 2013, which must be due to the excellent maintenance and quality of the components.”

Lindner says Vadias has played an important role in many Lindner Washtech innovations, such as its Rafter or Film Examiner devices. Many newly developed products were tested in the field at Vadias.

“With Lindner Washtech and Erema, we put our trust in two brand manufacturers from the word go, and we would certainly do so again from today’s point of view," says Vasil Asparouhov, a former managing director of Vadias who Lindner says was responsible for building up and developing the company.

Currently, Vadias processes 4,000 metric tons of scrap material monthly and produces 2,850 metric tons of pellets each month.

“Our Erema extruders have been part of the recycling process from day one,” says Clemens Kitzberger, business development manager of postconsumer recycling at Erema Group. “Since 2019, they are also being used at the Vadias production site in Serbia, which, since 2022, is operated together with a Lindner shredder and Lindner wash components.”

“We are very grateful for the long, and most of all constructive, cooperation," Hoffmann adds. "The brothers Vasil and Asparouh Asparouhov have always had a hands-on role in the company and, over the last 10 years, have built a fantastic company with their team. I have a lot of respect for their achievement, and, as a company, we are grateful to be part of this success story.”