Top 5 Dry Process PCB Recycling Equipment Suppliers in Germany [2025]

Founded in 2005 in Munich, EcoRecycle Tech GmbH cut its teeth repairing industrial shredders before pivoting to full-scale recycling systems. Today, they’re known for machines that feel less like equipment and more like precision instruments—think Swiss watches, but for tearing down circuit boards.

Their star product? The WCBD-2000A Circuit Board Recycling Plant , a dry-separation workhorse with a capacity of 500–2000 kg/hour. What makes it stand out? It starts with a shredder and pre-chopper that breaks PCBs into 10mm fragments without melting or damaging metals. Then, the magic happens in their compact granulator with dry separator : a dual-stage system that grinds the material to 1–3mm, then uses electrostatic separation to split metals from non-metals. Early clients rave about its 98.5% metal recovery rate—so precise, it even snags tiny gold flakes from connector pins.

EcoRecycle doesn’t stop at the main unit. They pair the WCBD-2000A with a plastic pneumatic conveying system to whisk away non-metallic waste, keeping the workspace clean and reducing manual labor. “We designed it for small to mid-sized recyclers who need reliability without the giant price tag,” says Karl Heinz, their lead engineer. “A lot of our clients start with one line and expand within two years—their only complaint? They wish they’d bought two.”

Certifications? They’ve got them: CE, ISO 14001, and even a nod from the German Federal Environment Agency for low energy consumption (under 15 kWh per ton processed). If you’re after precision and scalability, EcoRecycle is a safe bet.

Based in Berlin, GreenCycle Solutions was born from a university research project in 2012. Their mission? Make recycling so eco-friendly, it outperforms landfilling in both cost and carbon footprint. Spoiler: They’ve come pretty close.

Their flagship is the GC-Dry 500 , a compact dry process system built for small-scale operations (300–500 kg/hour). Don’t let the size fool you—this machine punches above its weight with a focus on energy efficiency. It uses a single shaft shredder (quieter than most office printers, they claim) to pre-process PCBs, followed by a air-classification unit that separates metals using nothing but air flow and vibration. “We skipped the fancy electrostatic stuff to keep costs down and energy use low,” explains Lena Schmidt, GreenCycle’s sustainability director. “The GC-Dry 500 runs on 12 kWh/ton—about the same as a home dryer.”

What really sets GreenCycle apart is their commitment to circularity. They use recycled steel in their machine frames and offer a trade-in program for old equipment (which they then refurbish and resell). Their after-sales package includes training for operators on how to sort input materials for maximum efficiency—because even the best machine can’t work miracles with mixed waste.

Clients love their transparency. One Dutch recycler noted, “GreenCycle sent engineers to our site three times in the first month—they didn’t just install the machine; they taught us how to make it profitable.” For eco-conscious startups or facilities in urban areas where space and energy are tight, the GC-Dry 500 is a game-changer.

If EcoRecycle is the precision watchmaker, PrecisionShred Systems is the tank builder. Hailing from Stuttgart, this family-owned firm has been making industrial shredders since 1987, and their PCB recycling line feels like it was built to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Their pride and joy? The QuadShred 4000 , a beast of a system centered around a 4 shaft shredder —four interlocking steel rotors that chew through PCBs, capacitors, and even whole motherboards like they’re cereal. “We designed it for recyclers who process 10+ tons a day and can’t afford downtime,” says Markus Weber, whose father started the company. “The 4-shaft design means fewer jams, and the blades last 3x longer than standard models—we’ve had clients run it 24/7 for six months straight.”

After shredding, the QuadShred feeds material into a dry separation unit that uses magnetic and eddy current separation to pull out ferrous and non-ferrous metals. What’s unique? Their “DustLock” system, which captures 99% of fine particles (a big win for air pollution control) and recycles them into construction materials. It’s not the most compact system—you’ll need a 500 sq.m. facility—but for heavy-duty operations, it’s worth the space.

PrecisionShred doesn’t skimp on support, either. They offer a 5-year warranty on shredder blades and 24/7 technical hotline (with real engineers, not automated menus). “Last winter, our machine broke down during a cold snap,” recalls a Polish recycler. “Markus’s team drove 12 hours through a snowstorm to fix it. You don’t get that with big corporations.”

Düsseldorf-based EcoTech Innovations entered the scene in 2015 with a bold claim: “We’ll make PCB recycling so automated, you could run it with a tablet.” Ten years later, they’re not just keeping that promise—they’re redefining what “smart recycling” looks like.

Their EcoDry 3.0 system is a marvel of automation. It starts with a robotic arm that loads PCBs into a single shaft shredder (no human lifting required), then uses AI-powered cameras to sort materials mid-process. “The system learns as it goes,” explains tech lead Sophie Müller. “If it notices more aluminum in the input, it adjusts the separator settings automatically. We’ve seen it boost recovery rates by 5–7% in the first month alone.”

But the real star is their “RemoteOps” platform. Clients can monitor energy use, metal purity, and maintenance needs from their phones. Forgot to order new blades? The system texts you when stock is low. Want to tweak separation settings for a batch of old computer boards? Do it with a few taps. “We had a client in Spain run the system for three weeks while on vacation,” Sophie laughs. “He checked in once a day—everything ran like clockwork.”

EcoTech’s focus on automation makes it ideal for large facilities or companies looking to reduce labor costs. The downside? It’s pricier upfront (starting at €850,000), but clients report ROI in under 2 years thanks to lower operating costs. For forward-thinking recyclers, it’s an investment in the future.

Not all PCBs are created equal. Medical equipment, military hardware, and vintage electronics have unique components that standard systems struggle with. That’s where Sustainable Recovery GmbH comes in. Based in Leipzig, this small but mighty firm (just 25 employees) specializes in custom dry process solutions for “tough-to-recycle” circuit boards.

Their claim to fame? A circuit board recycling plant with dry separator tailored for high-solder PCBs (common in older electronics). Solder melts at low temperatures, which can gum up standard shredders—but Sustainable Recovery’s system uses cryogenic pre-treatment (liquid nitrogen) to freeze solder brittle, then a gentle shredding process that preserves metal integrity. “We had a client who processes vintage arcade machines,” says founder Anna Richter. “Their old system was ruining the copper tracks—now they recover 95% of the copper, and the buyers pay a premium for it.”

They also excel at small-scale systems, like their CompactDry 100 (100–300 kg/hour), designed for labs, universities, and small e-waste collectors. It’s portable, energy-efficient, and even fits through standard doorways—a hit with urban recyclers tight on space.

What clients love most? The customization. “Anna’s team visited our facility, studied our waste stream, and built a system that handles our specific mix of medical and industrial PCBs,” says a Swiss client. “It’s not the cheapest, but it’s the only one that works for us.” For niche needs, Sustainable Recovery is worth every penny.