Back in 1953, when Franz Roither Senior began creating articles in his metalworking shop, he could hardly have anticipated that 20 years later the main focus of the subsequent company would become environmental technology. This product range was launched in 1973. His son Franz founded the Austropressen brand, thus specialising in machinery and environmental technology. And over the past 50 years, this approach has more than paid off.
From the very beginning, the company has been characterised by its pioneering spirit, a capacity for innovation and a distinctive identity. These three cornerstones have made it possible over the intervening years to effectively incorporate the concepts of sustainability, environmental awareness and energy efficiency in all products. At first, special machines and specific solutions were developed for local businesses while patent applications were filed for the early inventions. Meanwhile, the demands placed on quality and specialisations became increasingly exacting. The positive result of this was the need to make continuous improvements to waste and baling presses complemented by the creation of individualised concepts for dealing with a wide range of recyclable materials and initial exports of products beyond the borders ofAustria.
Today, Roither Maschinenbau GmbH still develops and manufactures the full range of its products exclusively at its headquarters in Seewalchen, Austria. Now the company supplies tailor-made waste disposal systems to some 100 countries around the world. The unique know how, the power of innovation and the high quality of its services are the successfactors of this family-run business with its more than 50 skilled and experienced employees.
Based on experience, driven by innovation –
the formula for success of the next generation
Roither Maschinenbau, one of the leading international manufacturers of environmental and recycling technologies, is currently in the hands of the third generation of the family. The three siblings Marlene (marketing), Philipp (management) and Lukas Roither (sales) are now responsible for the future of the company. Their priorities are already clearly defined; they intend to ensure the business remains a recognised brand-name company with increasing product output and an extensive training programme for apprentices and skilled personnel.
The low rate of turnover among the workforce and the many who have celebrated 20, 30 and even 40 years of service with us demonstrate that senior director Franz Roither selected the correct road to success. He began investing in in-house schooling and continuing training programmes at an early stage. In a work environment such as this, there can be no doubt that those at Austropressen have a secure future ahead of them.
Focus on the future – Austropressen 2024
There is thus a systematic focus on creating effective systems that promote recycling, the conservation of resources and a circular economy. The increasing demands are responded to in the form of a product portfolio that is cutting-edge in terms of the facets of sustainability, environmental awareness and energy efficiency. Performance and energy balance are here as important as intelligent processing and concepts for preparation for recycling. Austropressen products are designed for all branches of business and are able to meet all the needs of the international waste and recycling economy.
Example from practice.
The APK-ES 135 channel baling press used by the Energie AG Umwelt Service ensures efficient waste management and careful handling of valuable resources.
Energie AG Umwelt Service (a 100% subsidiary of Energie AG, an Austrian energy supply and infrastructure supplier) offers waste disposal services to local communities, businesses and manufacturers throughout Austria. The whole of the value creation chain is covered – in other words, collection, sorting and, where possible, recycling. What is required is what is provided – careful handling of potential resources and the avoidance or reduction of associated emissions.
The task:
the processing of 1000 tonnes of material per month
At their site at Ötztal Bahnhof in Austria’s Tyrol, some 1000 tonnes of material are processed every month. This consists of 900 tonnes of cardboard and paper, 70 tonnes of film and 30 tonnes of hard plastics. Cardboard and paper waste collected from businesses and local communities is pre-compacted. The plastic materials take the form of pre-sorted industrial waste of manufacturers, including hard plastics, films, recyclable waste and HDPE. The cardboard and paper bales – in other words, the larger proportion of the bales – are loaded directly onto trains from the adjoining loading platform and thus provided with environmentally-friendly transport. The bales of film and the stable bales of hard plastics suitable for transport are carried by truck to the recycling plant.
The baling press then in use was unable to cope with the growing volume of material and the associated required bale weights. It was no longer possible to process materials such as the hard plastics effectively. What was required was a system that would efficiently produce bales of greater weight, provide a higher throughput rate (with integration of the existing conveyor system) and ensure adaptability to the range of materials. Not to forget the fact that the energy efficiency of this system was to be outstanding!
The solution:
rapid and reliable in operation, stable bales without the need for cross binding and with ease of handling
After a detailed review of the situation and the requirements, the fully automatic Austropressen APK-ES 135 channel baling press providing 5-fold vertical binding of the bales was selected as the optimal solution. The existing conveyor belt was retrofitted with a state-of-the-art personnel protection system and connected to the new channel baling press.
What the customer has to say:
“The machine operates well, completely fault-free and rapidly! The new press has made it possible to achieve greater weight utilisation in the output with significantly reduced running hours. So it is now possible to compress the various segregated different types of plastics separately with no need for cross binding! The recipe control system makes it easy for our personnel to set the machine and thus operate it without extensive prior training in its use. In addition, the key transfer system in combination with the personnel protection module provides for the maximum level of safety at the workplace.”
Christoph Prantl, Regional Manager Tyrol/Vorarlberg
The technical parameters of the APK-ES 135:
– With a pressure force of 1350 kN, a cutting force of 1480 kN and theoretical output of 585 m³/h – depending on material – bales of weights of up to 880 kg (with a length of 1.2 - 1.3 m) are produced.
– Two 55 kW drives with sensor-controlled switch-off in case there is no material infeed also guarantee the efficient use of energy.
– Ease of processing of mixed waste – pre-compacted cardboard, recyclables, PET, aluminium and tinplate, HDPE canisters and hollow body waste.
– Energy consumption even when processing pre-compacted cardboard is just
4 kW/h per cardboard bale with a bale weight of 700 kg and a length of 1.1 m.
– The DRILLFIX 5-fold vertical bale binding system provides for stability even in the case of hard plastic bales and is more efficient, resource-saving and uses less wire than a cross tie system.
– Replaceable HARDOX base and side plates reduce wear and increase the service life of the channel baling press.
– Specially developed hydraulic units and an oil care system (cooling, heating and cleaning, all-in-one) ensure energy-efficient operation and serve to extend the service life of the hydraulic equipment and fluid.
– Installed branded products: hydraulic equipment by Rexroth/Parker, electrical equipment by Siemens.
– The patented cutting system minimises jamming of material, energy consumption and cutting tool wear.
– Ideally designed knives with optimum cutting angles and an automatic clear-pressing system guarantee uninterrupted trouble-free operation.
– Fully automatic 5-fold vertical bale binding using the Austropressen DRILLFIX 2.0 system ensures smooth, trouble-free and sure-fire operation with minimal use of wire.– Maximum safety thanks to the key transfer system for door monitoring.
Automatic control system with pump shut-down, automatic press channel control and user-friendly display panel providing for ten different program settings.
The facts:
– Filling volume of 2.6 m³ with a fill opening of (l x w) 2000 x 1020 mm and channel length of 4000 mm
– Bale sizes of (w x h x l) 1100 x 1100 x 400 to 2000 mm
– Bale weights:PET: 400 kg (1.2 m in length)
Cardboard: 700 kg (1.2 m in length)
Film: 680 kg (1.3 m in length)
Hollow body waste: 400 kg (1 m in length)
Aluminium: 350 kg (1 m in length)
Tinplate and metals: 880 kg (1.3 m in length)
Austropressen at IFAT 2024 in Munich
Forward planning for sustainability – innovations for effective recycling
To be efficient, a circular economy requires the interaction of innovations across a range of sectors. Austropressen will be showcasing itself to international visitors from 160 countries as a company that produces equipment to promote a future of improved waste and raw material handling.
“Future focus – good waste management can be a success factor”
Austropressen will be present at stand B5/500 and B5/551 at IFAT 2024 from 13 May to 17 May 2024 with its intelligent machinery for a range of applications and persuasive energy efficiency.
Austropressen will be sharing its experience and displaying important developments on the roughly 160 m² display area:
• A fully automatic channel baling press of the professional APK-ES range
• Vertical baling presses of the APV, APVeasyline and Kompakt ranges
• Horizontal baling presses for a wide range of different applications• Other machinery from our wide product programme (can balers, waste compactors)
• Personnel will be on hand for personal advice, information and dialogue.