Top 10 Plastic Recycling Machine Manufacturers for 2026

Industry Comparison · 2026 Outlook

Plastic recycling machines have moved from “support equipment” to a production-critical asset. This guide explains the pelletizing process, the selection criteria that determine ROI, and highlights 10 prominent manufacturers shaping the market heading into 2026.

Nejlepší pro

Engineers, plant owners, and procurement teams comparing suppliers for PCR/PIR projects.

What’s inside

Process overview, evaluation criteria, and manufacturer strengths—mapped to real waste streams.

How to use

Shortlist 2–3 suppliers, then validate with material samples, OEE expectations, and service readiness.

On this page

What is Plastic Recycling (Pelletizing)?

Mechanical recycling/pelletizing converts plastic waste into uniform pellets that can be reintroduced into extrusion, injection molding, or blow molding processes. A typical line includes feeding & pre-conditioning, melting & plasticizing, vacuum degassing, melt filtration, pelletizing, drying, and collection.

Buyer reality check: For PCR, the “winner” is rarely the machine with the highest nameplate output. The winner is the line that maintains stable output, good pellet quality, a high OEE under real contamination and moisture conditions.

Key Criteria for Evaluating Recycling Machines

Material versatility

Film vs. rigid, printed vs. clean, and the ability to handle volatility without degrading pellet quality.

Filtration strategy (OEE)

Continuous filtration reduces stoppages and is often the biggest driver of uptime for PCR projects.

Energy efficiency (kWh/kg)

Evaluate total line energy (including upstream drying/dewatering). This metric determines long-term competitiveness.

Degassing performance

Vacuum venting quality dictates porosity, odor, and pellet density stability—especially with moist or printed materials.

After-sales & spare parts

Rapid access to screws, barrels, heaters, blades, and support is essential to minimize downtime.

Automation & operator load

Stable feeding and practical controls reduce labor risk and quality variance across shifts.

Top 10 Plastic Recycling Machine Manufacturers for 2026

This list blends global technology leaders with highly competitive Taiwan and China suppliers—reflecting the reality of how the industry is procured in 2026: performance must be balanced with ROI, serviceability, and uptime.

1. EREMA (Austria) PCR / Bottle-to-Bottle

Core specialty: high-end PCR with premium pellet quality
  • Strength: benchmark systems for demanding PCR streams and quality targets.
  • Best for: high-budget projects pursuing maximum pellet quality and certifications.

2. GEOR-DING (Taiwan) Two-Stage / Custom

Core specialty: customized lines for difficult materials
  • Strength: engineering flexibility for moisture, gas, and difficult feeding behavior.
  • Best for: challenging materials requiring custom screw and venting design.

3. Starlinger (Austria) PET / Super-clean

Core specialty: food-grade PET recycling and decontamination
  • Strength: PET-focused systems and super-clean technology leadership.
  • Best for: bottle-to-bottle PET and odor/IV-sensitive applications.

4. GENIUS (Taiwan) Washing + Rigid

Core specialty: robust washing lines and rigid recycling plants
  • Strength: durable systems and complete plant planning.
  • Best for: washing + pelletizing projects for rigid plastics and industrial environments.

5. FIMIC (Italy) Mělká filtrace

Core specialty: self-cleaning melt filters to boost OEE
  • Strength: filtration solutions that reduce downtime on contaminated PCR.
  • Best for: recyclers upgrading filtration to improve uptime and stability.

6. ZHEJIANG BORETECH (China) PET Engineering

Core specialty: high-capacity PET washing & engineering projects
  • Strength: turnkey PET lines with high automation for large-scale projects.
  • Best for: fiber-grade and bottle-grade PET engineering capacity expansion.

7. NGR (Austria) One-Step Shredder-Feeder

Core specialty: integrated feeding for bulky industrial waste
  • Strength: simplifies feeding of bulky scrap by integrating shredding and extrusion.
  • Best for: purgings, lumps, and hard-to-feed industrial waste.

8. LUNG MENG (Taiwan) 3-in-1 Integrated

Core specialty: compact integrated systems
  • Strength: compact footprint and integrated design for operational simplicity.
  • Best for: producers seeking an all-in-one solution with limited floor space.

9. LINDNER (Germany) Shredding & Washing

Core specialty: preparation phase for contaminated waste
  • Strength: shredding and washing systems that improve extrusion feed quality.
  • Best for: front-end preparation where contamination is a major constraint.

10. Rumtoo (China) High-ROI Industrial Systems

Core specialty: practical recycling solutions for film & rigid plastics

Rumtoo focuses on building industrial-grade recycling equipment designed for real production conditions—where output stability, serviceability, and fast payback matter as much as nameplate capacity. Rumtoo systems are commonly configured to match specific waste streams (PCR/PIR), contamination levels, and pellet quality targets.

Shortlisting suppliers for 2026?
If you share your material photos/video and target output, Rumtoo can recommend a configuration and clarify what matters for OEE and pellet quality.

FAQ: Choosing the Right Partner for 2026

Which machine is best for clean factory film waste?
For clean post-industrial film waste, a cutter-compactor integrated recycling machine is typically ideal. It densifies light film for stable feeding, simplifies operation, and delivers strong ROI.
How do I handle heavily contaminated plastic waste?
Use robust upstream preparation (sorting/washing where required), then ensure the extrusion line has an appropriate filtration strategy and vacuum degassing. The right filtration approach is often the biggest driver of OEE for PCR.
Who specializes in PET bottle recycling?
PET recycling often requires dedicated washing and decontamination/pelletizing technology. Large-scale engineering providers and super-clean PET specialists tend to dominate bottle-to-bottle applications.
What should I ask suppliers before buying?
Ask for reference projects matching your waste stream, confirm kWh/kg at comparable conditions, clarify filtration downtime expectations, and validate spare parts availability (screws, barrels, heaters, blades, screens).

Note: This comparison is a directional shortlist, not a substitute for sample-based validation. Final selection should be based on material trials, contamination profile, moisture condition, quality targets, and local service readiness.