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Top 10 Dry Process PCB Recycling Equipment Suppliers in Germany in 2025

In a world drowning in e-waste, printed circuit boards (PCBs) stand out as both a problem and a goldmine. These tiny boards, found in everything from smartphones to refrigerators, are packed with valuable metals like gold, silver, and copper—yet only 15% of them are recycled globally. Enter dry process technology: a game-changer that skips the messy chemicals of wet processing, slashes water usage, and cranks up metal recovery rates. Germany, long a leader in engineering and sustainability, is home to some of the sharpest minds in this field. Let’s take a deep dive into the top suppliers shaping the future of dry process PCB recycling in 2025.

Why Dry Process Matters for PCB Recycling

Traditional wet recycling uses acids and solvents to leach metals from PCBs, leaving behind toxic wastewater that’s costly to treat. Dry process equipment, on the other hand, uses physical separation—think shredding, grinding, and electrostatic sorting—to separate metals from non-metals. It’s faster, uses 90% less water, and avoids harmful byproducts. For businesses, that means lower operational costs and easier compliance with strict EU环保 laws. For the planet? A greener way to mine “urban ore.”

EcoCycle Tech GmbH

Founded in 1998, EcoCycle Tech has been a quiet pioneer in dry process recycling. Their claim to fame? The compact granulator with dry separator equipment —a beast of a machine that turns PCBs into fine particles, then uses air classification and electrostatic separation to pull out metals with 98% purity. “We designed it for small to mid-sized recyclers,” says CEO Maria Schmidt. “It’s modular, so you can start with a 500kg/hour unit and scale up to 1.5 tons as your business grows.”

What really sets them apart is their focus on dust control. PCBs contain flame retardants that can release harmful particles when shredded, so EcoCycle integrated a built-in air pollution control system equipment into every granulator. “Our clients in Berlin and Munich love it—no extra setup needed to meet EU air quality standards,” Schmidt adds. With over 200 installations across Europe, they’re a safe bet for reliability.

GreenWaste Innovations

GreenWaste isn’t your typical engineering firm—they started as a startup in 2015 with a mission to make recycling profitable for small businesses. Their star product? The circuit board recycling plant with dry separator 500-2000kg/hour capacity , a turnkey system that handles everything from shredding to metal recovery in one line. “We visited 30 recyclers before designing it,” says founder Jan Becker. “They all said the same thing: ‘We need something that’s plug-and-play, not a science experiment.’”

Their secret sauce is AI-powered sorting. Cameras and sensors scan particles in real time, adjusting air flow and separation settings to maximize metal yield. “Last month, a client in Hamburg processed 10 tons of old laptops and recovered €45,000 worth of gold and copper,” Becker boasts. And yes, it’s mobile—truck-mounted units are available for on-site recycling, perfect for e-waste collection events.

TechnoRecycler Systems

TechnoRecycler has been around since 1985, but they’re no dinosaurs. Their latest dry process line, the TR-2000, combines a single shaft shredder for pre-chopping PCBs with a high-speed centrifugal separator that spins particles at 3,000 RPM. “Speed is everything,” explains lead engineer Klaus Müller. “Traditional separators take 20 minutes per batch; ours does it in 5. For a plant running 24/7, that’s an extra 15 tons of metal per week.”

They also offer a unique “recycling as a service” model. Can’t afford to buy outright? Rent a system and pay per ton processed. “We have clients in Poland and Austria using this—no upfront costs, just steady revenue from the metals they recover,” Müller notes. With a 97% customer retention rate, TechnoRecycler proves old dogs can learn new, profitable tricks.

UrbanMining Solutions

UrbanMining is all about innovation—and their dry process equipment lineup shows it. Take the UMS-D12: a desktop-sized unit designed for labs and small workshops. “We saw a gap in the market,” says product manager Lena Wagner. “Universities and electronics repair shops generate PCB waste too, but they can’t afford industrial gear. Our D12 processes 50kg/hour, fits through a standard door, and costs less than a new car.”

For larger operations, their UMS-Mega line cranks out 2 tons/hour, with a twist: magnetic and eddy current separators work in tandem to pull out ferrous and non-ferrous metals in one pass. “A client in Stuttgart recovered 23kg of gold from 100 tons of PCBs last year—that’s like finding a gold mine in a dumpster,” Wagner laughs. With ISO 9001 and CE certifications, they’re a favorite for eco-conscious brands like Siemens and Bosch.

EcoShred Berlin

EcoShred started as a shredder manufacturer in 2005, but they pivoted to PCB recycling when they noticed a demand for better pre-processing. Their shredder and pre-chopper equipment is now the backbone of many dry process lines. “PCBs are tough—fiberglass, copper, plastic all glued together,” says sales director Thomas Krause. “Our dual-shaft pre-chopper breaks them into 5cm pieces without jamming, which makes the granulator’s job way easier.”

They also offer custom solutions. Last year, they built a system for a client in Dresden that processes both PCBs and cable recycling equipment waste. “We added a metal detector to separate copper cables mid-process—now they’re recycling two streams with one line,” Krause explains. With a 24/7 tech support hotline, EcoShred prides itself on being “the recycler’s best friend.”

CleanCycle Engineering

CleanCycle is the new kid on the block, founded in 2020, but they’re already turning heads with their energy-efficient designs. Their dry process equipment uses 30% less electricity than competitors, thanks to regenerative motors that capture energy during braking. “We’re engineers, but we’re also environmentalists,” says co-founder Anna Weiß. “Why waste energy when you can reuse it?”

Their flagship system, the CC-1500, processes 1.5 tons/hour and comes with a smart dashboard that tracks metal yields, energy use, and maintenance needs. “A client in Frankfurt told us they reduced their electricity bill by €2,000/month after switching,” Weiß says. They’re also big on transparency—every machine comes with a carbon footprint report, so clients can prove their sustainability claims to customers.

RecyclePro GmbH

RecyclePro has a niche: high-purity metal recovery. Their circuit board recycling equipment uses triboelectrostatic separation—a fancy term for zapping particles with electricity so metals and plastics repel each other. “We can separate copper from brass from aluminum, which most systems can’t do,” says technical director Hans Schulz. “A jewelry maker in Cologne buys our copper concentrate to make eco-friendly rings—it’s that pure.”

They also offer training for operators. “Dry process isn’t just about the machine; it’s about knowing how to adjust settings for different PCB types,” Schulz notes. “Old motherboards from the 90s have more gold than modern ones—our team teaches recyclers to sort input materials for maximum profit.” With clients in Switzerland and France, they’re expanding fast.

ProEco Solutions

ProEco specializes in large-scale recycling plants, and their circuit board recycling plant wcbd-2000a with dry separator 500-2000kg/hour capacity is a monster. Designed for facilities processing 10+ tons/day, it features a four-stage separation process: shredding, granulating, air classification, and electrostatic sorting. “We built one for a client in Düsseldorf last year—they’re now the biggest PCB recycler in North Rhine-Westphalia,” says project manager Karl Hoffmann.

What clients love most is the low maintenance. “Our shredder blades last 500 hours before needing sharpening—twice as long as competitors,” Hoffmann says. “And the dry separator has no filters to replace, just occasional cleaning. That means less downtime, more money in your pocket.” With a 10-year warranty on major components, they stand behind their gear.

EcoMetals Tech

EcoMetals started as a spin-off from RWTH Aachen University, so you know they’re all about R&D. Their latest breakthrough? A dry process system that recovers rare earth elements (REEs) from PCBs—metals used in smartphones and EV batteries that are notoriously hard to recycle. “Traditional methods use acids to dissolve REEs, but we use ultrasonic separation,” explains lead researcher Dr. Lisa Koch. “It’s gentler on the environment and just as effective.”

While their REE tech is still in pilot stages, their standard dry process equipment is already a hit. “We sold 12 units last year, mostly to recyclers looking to future-proof their operations,” Koch says. “REEs are going to be in high demand as EVs take over—why not start recovering them now?”

Sustainable Shredders GmbH

As the name suggests, Sustainable Shredders excels in tough pre-processing. Their 2 shaft shredder equipment is built to handle “dirty” PCBs—those covered in solder, connectors, or even residual batteries. “Most shredders get stuck on big capacitors,” says CEO Markus Bauer. “Ours has reversible blades and a hydraulic ram that pushes material through, no jams.”

They pair their shredders with a mobile dry separator for on-site recycling events. “We worked with the city of Munich last month, processing old computers from schools,” Bauer says. “Parents loved watching us recover copper—kids called it ‘magic.’” With a focus on durability, their machines come with a 5-year warranty on blades.

How to Choose the Right Supplier for You

With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to consider:

  • Capacity: Do you need 500kg/hour or 2 tons/hour? Start small if you’re new, but leave room to scale.
  • Pollution Control: If you’re in a densely populated area, built-in air filters are a must.
  • Support: Look for suppliers with 24/7 tech support—downtime costs money.
  • Certifications: ISO 14001 and CE marks ensure compliance with EU standards.
GreenWaste Innovations TechnoRecycler Systems UrbanMining Solutions ProEco Solutions
Supplier Key Equipment Capacity Range Best For
EcoCycle Tech Compact granulator with dry separator 500kg-1.5 tons/hour Small to mid-sized recyclers
Circuit board recycling plant (500-2000kg/hour) 500kg-2 tons/hour Turnkey solutions for startups
TR-2000 (single shaft shredder + separator) 1-2 tons/hour High-volume operations
UMS-D12 (desktop) & UMS-Mega (2 tons/hour) 50kg-2 tons/hour Labs & large facilities
WCBD-2000A plant 500kg-2 tons/hour 10+ tons/day facilities

The Future of Dry Process PCB Recycling

Germany’s suppliers are leading the charge, but the industry is evolving fast. “We’re seeing more demand for AI and automation,” says EcoCycle’s Maria Schmidt. “In 5 years, I bet most systems will adjust settings automatically based on input material.” GreenWaste’s Jan Becker agrees: “The next big thing? Integrating blockchain to track recycled metals—consumers want to know their ‘green’ phone is actually made from recycled PCBs.”

One thing’s clear: dry process technology isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of e-waste recycling. As more countries adopt EU-style regulations, German suppliers are poised to dominate. So whether you’re a small recycler in Berlin or a multinational in Paris, investing in dry process equipment isn’t just good for business—it’s good for the planet. After all, the best mine is the one we’ve already dug.

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