Timeline

1969: When it all began

The company is founded in Bad Marienberg, Westerwald, Germany. First deliveries to the sawmill and furniture industries.

1971: Safety innovation

Development of the drum chipper with centrifugal wedge knife attachment system.

1973: First wood recycling plant

Delivery of the first, complete wood recycling plants.

1978: One-stop service

Start-up of in-house production at company headquarters in Bad Marienberg.

1982: VECOPLAN gets things moving

Market launch of the combined loading and unloading conveyor for bulk material plants. The storage and loading of saw mill residues such as saw dust and wood chips was significantly improved.

1984: VECOPLAN Waste Shredder (VAZ) – a patently ingenious development

Market launch of the universal waste shredder and VAZ series single-shaft shredder with container. Absolute world firsts which enabled solutions for processing waste wood, used pallets and crates contaminated with nails and metal fittings.

1985: A soaring success

Market launch of a suspended plansifter and a screening systems.

1989: New markets

Successful entry into recycling markets such as plastics, paper and waste.

1989: Innovative development

Market launch of the universal rotor for shredders. Previously different materials required different rotor systems, but now it was possible to shred all materials at a single plant.

1992: Safety is paramount

Development of the flipper (pneumatic counter knife) for single-shaft shredders increases operational safety and availability when shredding heavily contaminated material streams.

1993: Modern separation

Development of the foreign matter separator for shredded packaging waste.

1995: M.A.X. Automation AG

VECOPLAN becomes a subsidiary of M.A.X. Automation AG in Düsseldorf (formerly M.A.X. Holding AG in Munich).

1996: Technical Center inauguration

VECOPLAN opens a technical centrer to enable the processing of waste and raw materials to be demonstrated under realistic conditions. Here 74 different machine combinations are available for conducting test series for customers, and also for training courses and, of course, internal testing by the research and development department.

1996: Another market launch

Development of a double-shaft shredder. This increases the application of the machine: automatic shutdown in the event of a malfunction protects the cutting unit from damage and allows foreign objects to be removed simply and safely.

1998: Exports increase to 50% of total sales

1999: New location. New markets.

The first branch sales office is opened in the state of Saxony, Germany.

2000: Foothold in the USA **See Footnote 

On 1 October 2000, the new subsidiary, VECOPLAN LLC, now based in Archdale North Carolina (USA), is established. Vecoplan and competitor Retech successfully integrate into business operations for the North American market.

2001: More space for new visions

A new production facility (2,500 m²) is built at VECOPLAN's headquarters in Bad Marienberg. The company premises now occupy some 24,000 m², with approx. 9,100 m² of manufacturing and storage facilities and 2,500 m² of office space.

2001: Energy-efficient solution

A new cutting unit for synthetic fibres and tear-resistant films makes energy-efficient shredding of problematic waste materials possible for the first time.

2002: Sales office in Austria providing customer service to our Austrian clients.

2003: UK presence established

On 8 November 2003, Vecoplan Ltd is established at Longbridge Innovation Center, 1 Devon Way, Birmingham, West Midlands.

2003: Innovative machine concept

Development of a high-performance shredder for industrial processing of domestic and commercial waste.

2004: VECOPLAN outgrows its premises.

The purchase of more buildings (Plant 2) increases the size of the Bad Marienberg site to 36,500 m², with approx. 14,000 m² of manufacturing and storage facilities and 3,500 m² of office space.

2005: Another patent

VECOPLAN is granted another patent for the highly efficient HiTorc drive combined with the VAZ. The advantages for our customers: an increase in the machine's throughput capacity together with both a reduction in energy consumption and maintenance costs as well as greater operational safety. The drive is virtually silent, too.

2005: New detection system.

Development for detecting foreign objects for shredders with HiTorc drive.

2005 - 2006: Vecoplan expands

Vecoplan, LLC in the U.S. doubles the size of its production facility.

2006: Shredding innovation

Development of the Tornado double-shaft pre-crusher with powerful shredding unit.

2007: Investment continues!

The 2007 business year sees VECOPLAN LLC invest in future growth, doubling our office, manufacturing and storage facilities. The purchase of more buildings (Plant 3) increases the size of the Bad Marienberg site to 60,000 m², with approx. 19,000 m² of manufacturing and storage facilities and 5,100 m² of office space.

2007: VECOPLAN becomes a plc - VECOPLAN AG.

2007: New drive

Development of a double-shaft pre-crusher with HiTorc drive.

2008: Operations increase in the UK

The start of 2008 sees the newly established VECOPLAN Limited (Birmingham) begin operations. Its main role is coordinating the sales activities of VECOPLAN AG in the Great Britain.

2008: Wider range of services

In order to meet the individual needs of every single customer more efficiently, the company is restructured into Wood and Recycling divisions at the start of 2008. Focusing on customer service, our Service Division complements this structure.

2010: The story continues with energy

Launch of the VEBS for producing alternative fuel from production waste (RDF) to generate energy for cement works and power stations.

2010: Systematic renewal

Market launch of the conveyor belt with innovative modular structure. Special feature: individual parts can be assembled into a system according to customer specification.

2011: New mission, new goals

As a global player, Vecoplan as a group, finishes & implements a focused strategy & new corporate image for staying more in-touch with the market. Market segmentation & product innovation were the hallmarks of this plan.