About URT
Get to know us.
Engineered for Excellence.
At URT, we develop recycling technology that lasts – driven by conviction, responsibility and a clear view of the bigger picture.
Only when a solution is well thought out, safe, economically viable and implemented with integrity can it truly contribute to a better future. That’s what we stand for – and have for over 30 years.
For our customers, this means: reliable processes, tailor-made solutions and partnerships built on trust and mutual respect. For us, it means: always moving forward. Questioning the status quo. Not just developing technology, but understanding its broader impact.
At one glance
Years of experience in recycling plant engineering.
Recycling plants delivered across multiple application areas
Export share
Plants supplied to customers worldwide
Order volume. Project pipeline driven by continued market demand
Mission and Values
We develop and deliver turnkey recycling plants that are technically advanced, safe to operate and economically viable.
As a process engineering partner, URT provides tailored plants for the recovery of valuable raw materials, including integrated depollution, comprehensive economic evaluation and individual consulting.
From initial project concept through commissioning and after sales service, URT supports customers reliably over the long term. The objective is not only to deliver plants, but to create lasting operational safety, efficiency and trust.
Strategy
URT stands for process-engineered recycling solutions – developed through experience, implemented with precision, and driven by technical conviction. To uphold this standard going forward, we align our actions strategically: with long-term developments in mind, responding to shifting regulatory frameworks and evolving customer and market demands.
Our focus remains on robust, techno-economically viable solutions, efficient plant operation, and long-term partnerships – backed by our commitment to our hometown site and the business units in which URT sets global benchmarks.
Responsibility
Recycling technology is evolving within an environment that is constantly changing – technologically, economically and politically. With increasingly complex global supply chains and growing technological dynamics, demands on resource efficiency are rising. At the same time, compliance with international environmental and recycling standards is becoming more critical. Resource scarcity, skilled labour shortages and heightened expectations towards corporate ac-countability add further pressure.
As a specialist in recycling technology, URT assumes responsibility – for the environment, for society and in how we do business. Our actions are guided by a long-term mindset, with reliability and impact at the core of everything we do. Our understanding of corporate social responsibility goes far beyond regulatory compliance: it is embedded in our attitude – in the way we think, act and engineer technology that matters.
1995
URT established
Thomas Gundersdorf and Peter Heßler recognized the potential of the recycling industry and established a company in 1995. By leveraging state-of-the-art shredding technology, they laid the groundwork for efficient and future-ready recycling processes.
2001
Strategic Shift in Engineering
Driven by the success of its innovative recycling solutions, the company expanded into a new office facility and strengthened its team. In parallel, its strategic positioning evolved: from a pure dis-tributor of shredding equipment into a specialized engineering partner for turnkey recycling plants.
2008
Growth
URT further established itself as a leading technology partner and solution provider in the WEEE sector. The company became a recognized specialist in refrigerator recycling.
As tasks and team size increased, a new company site was required. In the first construction phase, a technical building and assembly halls were completed. In 2010, the facility was expanded with an office building, bringing the total site area to approxi-mately 10,000 m².
2015
International Scale-Up
URT celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015. In parallel, the company expands its international presence through strategic partnerships with global sales agents. An export share of over 95 percent reflects the company’s internationalization strategy.
2019
Business Unit Expansion
Following years of research and development, URT commissions its first pilot plant for lithium-ion battery recycling in 2019, designed for a leading German OEM. Further industrial-scale projects follow. The technology now enables the recovery of more than 985 of the black mass.
2024
New Engineering Center
The technical facility has been expanded to include a new competence center for mechanical design. This extension enables even more efficient development of customized solutions while addressing the growing demands of the recycling industry.
2025
Shaping the Future
We deliver recycling plants to customers worldwide
With over 30 years of experience and an export share of more than 95%, URT develops tailored recycling plants that are in operation in over 50 countries today.As an international technology partner, URT combines engineering expertise “Made in Germany” with a clear focus on reliable plant performance.The objective is to recover valuable resources, reduce environmental impact and support customers worldwide in building economically viable recycling operations.
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Management
At URT, specialists from around the world and across multiple disciplines work together to develop, build and operate recycling plants over the long term. Made in Germany.
Peter Heßler
Managing Director & Acting Partner- BVSE – Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management
- Member of the Directive Committee VDI 2292 (Emission Reduction – Treatment Plants for Refrigeration Appliances and Other Heat Transfer Equipment)
- Chairman of the ICBR Steering Committee (International Congress for Battery Recycling)
- Technical Expert in DKE Working Groups within CENELEC
- Member of the TA-LuftGuideline Committee (Refrigerator Disposal and Treatment)
- Member of the VDMA Working Group on Battery Recycling
Florian Heßler
CEO & Acting Partner- Member of the Steering Committee of ICBR Asia
Franziska Kühl
Jochen Bayer
Rainer Hock
Looking for a role with real impact?
URT continues to grow – and we are always looking for talented people to support us in our mission to build high-performance recycling plants.
