About URT

Get to know us.

Die Planung einer Recyclinganlage von URT im URT Hauptstandort in Karlstadt

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.

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Insight

A mechanic double checking a part of an URT recycling plant

URT engineers while discussing a plan of a new recycling plant

URT Recycling Plant Operator Personell doing maintenance work

A specialised URT coworker assuring the quality of recycling plant output

A URT logistics employee loading parts for a new construction plant

URT industrial recycling plant construction employees

Presentation of a recycling plant design from URT

At one glance

30+

Years of experience in recycling plant engineering.

50+

Recycling plants delivered across multiple application areas

95 %

Export share
Plants supplied to customers worldwide

45 Mio. €

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.

Engineered for Integrity

Responsibility

We act with technical precision and entrepreneurial foresight – for our customers, our employees and the environment.

Partnership

We support our customers from day one – and far beyond commissioning – with commitment, transparency and on equal terms.

Innovation

We continually advance processes with the goal of closing cycles, removing pollutants and recoveringvaluable resources.

Reliability

From planning and implementation to service: We are the technical partner, advisor and trusted source for solutions that work.

Quality

Our solutions are durable,cost-effective, and safe to operate - because we take every detail seriously.

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.

Engineered for Future.

Technological development based on real-world operations

Continuous improvement of our process technology builds on data-driven analysis, decades of engineering experience, and direct operational feedback. Our processes are continuously refined to improve recovery rates and enhance operational safety under real-world conditions – delivering solutions that prove their value in day-to-day operation.

Structured application of industry expertise

Through active involvement in expert groups and industry conferences, URT maintains close alignment with regulatory developments and technical trends. This knowledge directly informs project execution and product development, securing long-term technological leadership.

Investment in knowledge transfer and qualification

Whether through internal training, development of young professionals or practical customer education – URT builds on knowledge as a key driver of success. This results in qualified teams, improved process performance, enhanced safety, and long-term commitment – both internally and across customer partnerships.

Reinforcing After-Sales as a Core Performance Promise

At URT, after sales support is an integral part of the overall project. Spare parts service, operational monitoring, preventive maintenance, and digital support are consistently extended – ensuring maximum operational reliability across the entire plant lifecycle.

Digitalization as an enabler of efficiency and transparency

Digital tools support the planning, operation, and servicing of plants – precisely documented and interconnected. By strategically integrating digital processes, we enhance traceability of technical workflows and unlock new opportunities for analysis, support, and collaboration.

Advancing process excellence within the organisation

URT’s internal structures are continuously evaluated and refined – with a strong focus on stability, efficiency, and quality in every step. Clearly defined workflows, streamlined interfaces, and reliable project execution processes are key to strengthening performance – even as demands grow.

Moderate growth as a strategic success factor

URT pursues healthy, organic growth – driven by its own strength. This controlled development creates space for technical depth, flexibility in project execution, and reliable customer relationships – with the right balance of agility and dependability.

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.

Engineered for Impact

Technology as a driver of resource efficiency

Our recycling plants make a direct contribution to the circular economy. They enable the recovery of strategically important raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and plastics – with exceptionally high recovery rates. We also focus on resource conservation in our own operations: our site is equipped with photovoltaic systems and uses 100% renewable electricity for operations and infrastructure.

ESG-oriented corporate governance

URT integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into all core business processes. Whether in technical development, partner se-lection or long-term project execution – efficiency, transparency and social impact are key factors in every decision we make.

Fostering Diversity

Diversity drives innovation and strengthens the quality of our organisation. URT actively promotes equal opportunity and builds mixed teams. Women are actively represented in manage-ment – as a natural part of our leadership culture.

Knowledge sharing and technology transfer

We invest in the next generation through partnerships with universities, internships, thesis supervision and the promotion of technical careers. At the same time, we contribute our expertise to committees, standardisation bodies and industry networks, helping shape a future-ready recycling sector.

Responsibility along the supply chain

Our supply chains are built on quality, safety and reliability. We work with long-standing partners who share our standards and values, supported by clear documentation, audits and close technical alignment.

Community engagement in our region

URT supports local charities, volunteer initiatives and regional organisations in our hometown area. As an employer, apprenticeship provider and supporter of social projects, we see responsibility not only as a corporate duty, but as part of our role in the community.

URT Milestones

1995

URT established

Shaped by a spirit of innovation from day one

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

With a clear growth strategy

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

Strong positioning in the WEEE recycling segment

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.

Industrial recycling plant from URT Recycling Technology

2015

International Scale-Up

Strengthening international corporate structures

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.

Recycling plant engineering and construction by URT

2019

Business Unit Expansion

Technological innovation in lithium battery recycling

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.

Recycling plant by URT Recycling Technology

2024

New Engineering Center

Capacity expansion for customized engineering solutions

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.

Florian Heßler – Thomas Gundersdorf – URT Recycling Technology

2025

Shaping the Future

Florian Heßler, son of Peter Heßler, assumes the role of CEO and Acting Partner, succeeding company co-founder Thomas Gundersdorf, who played a key role in shaping the business over the decades. As part of the 30-year anniversary, URT reaffirms our long-term vision: consistent customer focus, value-based leadership and short decision-making cycles remain the foundation for developing tailored solutions that help customers achieve their goals.

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.

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)