Focus on digital plant operations
Opening the session, Co-Chief Executive Officers Willi Stadler and Julia Stadler outlined the company’s strategic direction. The management highlighted STADLER’s continued international growth, including a new office in Japan and expanded activities in India and Poland.
According to the company, the recycling industry is moving towards increasingly data-driven operations. Stadler therefore aims to expand its role beyond plant engineering by integrating digital tools into plant management and optimisation processes.
The company stated that platforms such as STADLERconnect are intended to support customers in reducing downtime, improving operational performance and enabling more informed process decisions.
Live demonstration of STADLERconnect
The second part of the presentation focused on STADLERconnect, the company’s cloud-based platform that combines real-time plant data with Artificial Intelligence. The system is designed to convert machine and material data into operational insights and process optimisation measures.
At the centre of the demonstration was the Stadler Demo Loop, a compact test setup built around a miniaturised sorting plant. Dr. Nils Kroell and Dr. Xiaozheng Chen, Heads of Digital Solutions at Stadler Group, together with Dr. Bastian Küppers, Head of Process Engineering, guided visitors through the system.
The demonstration showed how process parameters can be adjusted and automation scenarios simulated in real time. Visitors were able to observe how operational changes affected material flows and plant performance through Stadler’s AI Material Compass.
The setup also presented several digital applications, including Predictive Maintenance, Blockage Detection, Downtime Tracker, Production Report and Adaptive Plant Control. According to the company, these tools support the transition from passive monitoring towards active process control.
Stadler stated that its digital approach combines process engineering expertise with dedicated hardware and sensor systems. The company argued that this integration improves data quality and prediction accuracy compared with software-only solutions.
Deployment in customer plants
According to Stadler, STADLERconnect is currently deployed in customer facilities across nine countries as well as at the company’s Test Center in Krško, Slovenia. The company reported that modules have been supplied to more than 40 customer plants.
The platform is intended to support operators by reducing unplanned downtime and automating quality control processes. Stadler stated that specific applications have achieved yield improvements of up to 18 percent.
New Air Drum Sifter introduced
In addition to its digital portfolio, Stadler introduced a new machine at IFAT 2026: the Air Drum Sifter. The compact system combines a drum sifter with an integrated air separator for processing heavy and light bulk materials.
According to the company, the system uses controlled airflow to separate materials into defined fractions while supporting contaminant removal.
International expansion continues
Stadler also provided updates on its international growth strategy.
In Japan, the company announced the planned opening of a new office to strengthen cooperation with customers in the local recycling market.
In India, Stadler is expanding its activities in municipal solid waste and plastics recycling applications. The company recently appointed Rahul Bajaj as Sales & Country Manager for India.
In Poland, Łukasz Tomsia has been appointed Sales & Country Manager to strengthen the company’s commercial activities in the region.
