In the run-up to IFAT 2026, we spoke with Reiner Hungermann, Managing Director of Matthiessen Lagertechnik, about key industry trends, technological approaches, and innovations shaping the future of waste processing and defining the next stage of development in recycling technologies.

How does your full product portfolio look today beyond the Bag Splitter? What other systems complete your waste preparation ecosystem before sorting and recycling?

Beyond the Bag Splitter, our product portfolio covers machines that mark the starting point of the recycling process. This includes bale breakers and dosing devices that ensure a consistent and controlled material flow. Following the Bag Splitter, we offer solutions that separate oversized materials—such as long films—from the fine fraction. These systems are available for both the mid-size fraction as well as for material fractions larger than 400 mm.

Your Bag Splitter is considered a benchmark technology in waste bag opening. What is the key innovation that enables it to open bags without damaging the contents and while maintaining process efficiency?

The key challenge is to open bags without interrupting the material flow. To achieve this, the machine must continuously detect which material portions are too large to pass through and automatically create the necessary space - without aggressive mechanical intervention.

Our technology works with controlled pressure rather than cutting or tearing forces. This pressure-based principle allows the bags to open gently while protecting the contents. As a result, the process remains continuous, efficient, and highly reliable, ensuring an uninterrupted material flow throughout the system.

How do your machines interact within a complete recycling line, and what role does the Bag Splitter play in improving overall plant performance?

Our machines are designed for seamless integration into complete recycling lines. We do not shred the material. By opening the bags gently, the Bag Splitter preserves the material structure. This gives downstream sorting equipment better access to the material. Sorting efficiency and recovery rates are significantly improved.

What are you presenting at IFAT 2026, and why is it an important step forward for the industry?

We are proud to present our newest Bag Splitter BagRex for the first time at IFAT 2026. It is our answer to the latest challenges in modern recycling processes.

In which regions is demand for your solutions growing fastest, and how do market requirements differ across Europe, Asia, and North America?

In all Markets everywhere are seeking solutions for environmentally sound waste management. It is widely recognized that simply collecting and landfilling waste is not a wise solution. After waste is collected, there are cost-effective processing technologies available to recover the recyclable materials contained in the waste.

To achieve this, it is necessary to keep energy consumption as low as possible. Our bag opener fulfills exactly this requirement. With less than 36 kW, we can feed 40 t/h of household waste into the next processing step.We are opening and emptying the bags with a high rate of efficiency. This makes a well sorting possible.

Looking ten years ahead, what will be the biggest transformation in waste processing technologies, and what role will your company play in that shift?

We will have a higher rate of recycling material in the market. This reduces the CO2 emissions and will help for a better Clima. Hopefull all countries will realize this to help for a reduction of the emissions of CO2. We will do our job and will make the machines which make this possible.With less energy consumption a high rate of opening, emptying and loosing of the Material.

What role will artificial intelligence play in the future of waste management and plant optimization?

It will be helping to collect and control the data which come from all equipment in the plant. Intelligent analysis will lead to even better recycling rates. It will also help reduce electricity consumption. I am confident that the results will show that it makes no sense to start up recycling plants with shredding equipment. We will be ready to offer a better and more efficient solution with our bag-opening machines.