New solutions for energy, processes and material flows

Handling material flows safely, understanding processes better, using energy purposefully: at two joint stands at POWTECH TECHNOPHARM 2026, exhibitors presented solutions for a resource-efficient industry.

Written by Marius Schaub

Rotomate stand at the Pavilion Recycling-in-Focus. In the foreground, a man and a woman stand talking at a laptop. — Heavy machinery is used wherever resources are (re-)used. AI-based condition monitoring and predictive maintenance can optimise the efficiency of processing and treatment, thereby saving resources and energy.

What do young start-ups and circular business models have in common? They are looking to the future of industry. Alongside industry leaders and established companies, POWTECH TECHNOPHARM 2026 therefore also gave a firm place to young, up-and-coming providers and newcomers dedicated to recycling and resource efficiency.

To be precise: at least two places. At the Young Innovators joint stand, German start-ups presented innovations for conveying systems, new processes and specialist solutions for bulk solids handling. Many of the offerings centred on resource and production efficiency. The circular economy was the focus at the Pavilion Recycling-in-Focus.

Why industry must keep recycling and resource efficiency in view

The joint stands show how closely the circular economy and industrial innovation are connected. Keeping materials in the loop requires more than new recycling processes: safe plants, reliable process data, suitable materials handling and efficient energy use are also part of the picture. Resource efficiency only emerges from the interplay of many technical building blocks.

Köllemann stand at the Pavilion Recycling-in-Focus, with open rotary valves on display. A company employee speaks to a visitor and holds a brochure in his hand. — Recycling plants depend on efficient machines for conveying, dosing and thermal processes.

Pavilion Recycling-in-Focus: processing material flows safely and efficiently

For materials to be kept in the loop, they must not only be sorted and processed, but also conveyed reliably and handled safely. The Pavilion Recycling-in-Focus brought together a range of technical approaches to resource-efficient recycling processes, from dust extraction and fire protection to machine monitoring.

Capturing and filtering dust

Dust control links the offerings of Dusttek, Dustcontrol and Tempo Filtre. Dusttek develops industrial dust extraction and filtration systems and supports their implementation from design through manufacturing and engineering to project completion. Dustcontrol offers mobile dust extractors and stationary or central extraction systems. Tempo Filtre complements this area with industrial filters and filter elements. Its portfolio includes filters for dust extraction systems as well as hydraulic, oil and air filters.

Identifying risks and safeguarding plant availability

Detect early rather than react only after damage has occurred: this approach links Fagus-Grecon and Rotomate. Fagus-Grecon develops systems for preventive industrial fire protection. At POWTECH TECHNOPHARM, the company focused on the early detection and control of fire risks in recycling, bulk solids, chemical and pharmaceutical processes. Rotomate uses artificial intelligence for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of rotating machinery. From the data, the software derives indications of developing faults, prioritises the need for action and provides reasoned maintenance recommendations.

Conveying and thermally treating materials

The actual movement and treatment of material flows is the focus at Köllemann. The company develops individually designed machines for conveying, dosing, heat treatment and cooling of bulk solids, and for sealing off process areas. In recycling and environmental technology, such systems are used for material recovery, sewage sludge drying and waste incineration.

Young Innovators: understanding processes, handling materials, managing energy

Process quality, materials handling and energy supply are closely interlinked. At the Young Innovators joint stand, companies came together that address different points along these tasks: with real-time particle analysis, new mixing methods, bulk solids technology, and intelligent storage and energy management solutions. Their offerings show how industrial processes can be monitored better, designed more purposefully and operated more flexibly.

Measuring and shaping process quality

What happens to particles, droplets or bubbles during processing? Inline Process Solutions develops technologies that make such multiphase processes more transparent. The company combines image-based inline particle measurement technology with automated particle image analysis.

While Inline Process Solutions makes the state of the material visible, HS-Tumbler changes the way it is processed. The company develops trajectory mixers that work without conventional stirring or kneading tools in the product. Instead, the closed process container moves along programmed paths. This movement generates shear forces in the material and mixes it.

Getting bulk solids into the process

Before materials can be measured or mixed, they have to get from their packaging into the process. This is where Telschig comes in. The company develops systems for opening and emptying sacks and big bags and for the subsequent conveying of powdery and granular bulk solids. The technology combines materials handling with requirements for cleanliness and dust control – as seen at the Pavilion Recycling-in-Focus.

Storing energy and making consumption flexible

Alongside materials processing, energy supply is another starting point for more efficient industrial operations. Bnewable and Encentive are both working on better aligning generation, storage and consumption. Bnewable combines battery storage for industry and commerce with intelligent control. Its in-house energy management solution controls the storage system according to on-site demand while also taking account of opportunities to trade on the energy market. Encentive uses its AI-based platform Flex On to make electricity consumption more flexible. The software connects energy assets and consumers, makes operating and energy data transparent and optimises control. Among other things, it takes account of forecasts for electricity prices, weather, generation and load.

Inline Process Solutions stand at the Young Innovators joint stand. Several people are talking and looking at the exhibits. — Image-based inline sensors and software for automated particle image analysis can monitor particle flows such as suspensions, crystals, powders, bubbles, droplets and emulsions in real time.

Conclusion: looking to the future

With the Pavilion Recycling-in-Focus and the Young Innovators joint stand, POWTECH TECHNOPHARM gave these approaches a shared platform. Users had the opportunity to get to know new technologies and to discuss specific process requirements with the providers. Implementation remains the decisive factor: the contribution a solution can make to quality, plant availability or lower resource consumption becomes clear in practice. POWTECH TECHNOPHARM provides impetus for this and brings together companies that translate industrial future topics into practice.

Author

Marius Schaub