After a dip caused by the pandemic, there was a rapid recovery, according to the VDMA. In the first half of the year, manufacturers of waste and recycling technology recorded a 3.3-percent year-on-year increase in incoming orders, according to the VDMA. Increased environmental awareness, stricter legal requirements and a shift towards a circular economy had boosted the willingness to invest in recycling technology. The upward trend is said to be mainly driven by strong domestic demand, which is forecasted to increase to 33 percent in 2021. The pan-European market accounted for around 70 percent, with North America in second place with around ten percent and Asia, including China, in third place with 8.4 percent.

 

For the year as a whole, the industry anticipated an increase in orders of around six percent and expects record revenues with an increase in sales of at least four percent. The industry would be also optimistic about the coming year. However, according to Dr. Sarah Brückner, Managing Director of the Waste and Recycling Technology Association, the positive economic trend was being clouded by bottlenecks in the procurement of primary products, particularly steel and electronic components. Long delivery times and rising prices are a "real challenge for the industry," Brückner said.

Sources:

• recyclingmagazin.de (10/28/2021)
• Photo: @ Tomra