After less than a year of construction and a successful trial run lasting several months, the time has finally come: TriPlast, Europe's most modern and Austria's largest sorting plant for lightweight packaging, was officially opened by its owners ARA, Bernegger and Der Grüne Punkt together with Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and Governor Thomas Stelzer. The circular economy project in Ennshafen has an annual capacity of 100,000 tons and will create more than 60 new green jobs thanks to the investment of EUR 65 million.
The owners ARA, Bernegger and GreenDot/Der Grüne Punkt hosted the grand opening of the new sorting plant for lightweight packaging in Ennshafen on Friday. "Austria has set itself the goal of doubling the recycling of plastic packaging by 2025. TriPlast processes valuable materials for subsequent recycling and thus saves raw materials. The new plant is therefore an important building block for the Austrian circular economy and also strengthens climate protection," said Austria’s Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler.
For Upper Austria’s Governor Thomas Stelzer, the project embodies a win-win situation: "TriPlast benefits not only the environment, but also Upper Austria as a place to work and do business. TriPlast opens up great market opportunities for the industrial location of Ennshafen and strengthens our position as a European innovation pioneer in the field of sustainable industry."
Secondary raw materials for Austrian industry
TriPlast has a sorting capacity of 100,000 tons of plastic and metal packaging per year. This means that 50% of all Austrian lightweight packaging can be sorted. Packaging is processed in such a way that it can then be turned into recyclate and used to manufacture new packaging or other products. More than 20 different raw materials can be turned back into products such as shampoo bottles, canisters, films or components for the automotive and electrical industries. "With our strategic partnership and the cross-border joint venture, we are preparing Austria and the EU for the recycling quotas from 2025. TriPlast can process an incredible 20 tons per hour and is three times the of existing plants in Austria. We want to reduce Austria's dependence on raw materials and provide the industry with high-quality raw materials," emphad ARA CEO Harald Hauke.
Kurt Bernegger, Managing Director of Bernegger GmbH, emphad the central location: "The location at Ennshafen in Upper Austria allows trimodal connections by truck, rail and ship. The plant network at the site enables a self-sufficient supply of sustainable energy. As a result, we provide low-emission and climate-friendly secondary raw materials for a successful circular economy and take joint responsibility for our environment and future generations."
Laurent Auguste, CEO of Der Grüne Punkt, emphad the cross-border partnership: "The scarcity of resources in Europe requires a strategic reorientation and determined sustainable action. This includes cooperation and investment in the circular economy of the future - such as the pioneering merger of TriPlast."
TriPlast strengthens Upper Austria location
State-of-the-art technology was installed in the plant: 2.5 km of conveyor belt, 160 km of cable, 2,250 tons of reinforcing steel, 38 near-infrared devices and three screening drums. "With a hall height of 25 meters, the new plant will be one of the highest in Europe, ensuring low space consumption and an efficient material flow," empha TriPlast Managing Directors Jürgen Secklehner, Kurt Bernegger and Denis Völler. "TriPlast is also a secure employer in the area of 'green jobs' - we are currently looking for employees ranging from shift supervisors and fitters to electricians." Interested parties can find out more on the website www.triplast.at
