EREMA has received the Plastics Recycling Award Europe 2026 for its VOLEX technology, which improves degassing performance in mechanical plastics recycling.

IRION develops a circular green hydrogen value chain by improving recycling of critical materials in PEM electrolysers across Europe.

The safety package combines artificial intelligence, camera and radar systems with automated machine intervention. Key components include the Smart All-Around Viewing Monitor (SAVM), collision risk alerts and an Emergency Stop (E-Stop) system developed for excavators.

Once material starts to stick, the buildup can be fast and dense, slowing the whole process flow, causing spillages and secondary blockages, and eventually resulting in unscheduled downtime.  And that can also mean risk, as the temptation to find a quick way to remove blockages, without the proper risk assessment, safe access, tools or training, can lead to workers making unsafe decisions.

The new company building covers 9000 square metres, a fourfold increase in area, and takes up just 25 percent of the recently acquired 6-hectare plot. By planning for the future, the company is opening up further scope for expansion.

The European Commission has fined 15 major car manufacturers and the European Automobiles Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) a total of around €458 million for participating in a long-lasting cartel concerning end-of-life vehicle recycling. Mercedes-Benz was not fined, as it revealed the cartel to the Commission under the leniency programme. All companies admitted their involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case.

In the US and the UK, similar legislative movements are underway, with governments pushing for a circular battery economy to mitigate the environmental impact of electric vehicle waste.