Economical process transforms previously non-recyclable plastic waste into valuable resources

Gendorf / Fürth February 13, 2025 – The GENDORF Chemical Park is growing: The Fürth-based company PRUVIA GmbH will build one of Europe’s largest commercial plastic-to-oil plants from summer 2025. This was announced today by the operator of the chemical park, InfraServ Gendorf, and PRUVIA at a joint press conference in Gendorf.

The process developed and patented by PRUVIA converts non-recyclable mixed plastic waste into circular, non-fossil naphtha using a continuous pyrolysis process. This raw material recovered from waste can be used in the petrochemical industry to produce new plastics. The state-of-the-art PRUVIA plant replaces fossil raw materials and at the same time contributes to the sustainable defossilization of the chemical industry through the environmentally friendly circular economy of plastics.

When it goes into operation, which is planned for the 4th quarter of 2026, the plant in Gendorf will be able to process an annual capacity of 35,000 tons of mixed plastic waste, which corresponds to the volume of more than 900,000 people. PRUVIA is initially investing a mid-double-digit million euro amount in Gendorf and will employ around 30 people once the plant is commissioned. The doubling of the annual capacity to 70,000 tons is planned for 2028.

“This investment decision by PRUVIA is a strong signal for the attractiveness of the GENDORF Chemical Park,” says Dr. Christoph von Reden, Managing Director of InfraServ Gendorf. “PRUVIA is an absolute pioneer and offers a solution to one of the most pressing questions facing mankind: What to do with the huge amounts of plastic waste? PRUVIA therefore fits in perfectly with the other highly specialized companies in the GENDORF Chemical Park, which are also setting standards in their respective fields. We want to further strengthen this position as a location for technological flagship companies by attracting young, dynamic and innovative companies from future-oriented industries.”

Milestone: chemical plastics recycling becomes competitive

PRUVIA, in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP, has already demonstrated the scalability of the technology in an industrial demo plant in Leuna. At the GENDORF Chemical Park, PRUVIA will demonstrate the particular competitiveness of its technology with a large-scale commercial plant.

Martin Nitz, PRUVIA co-founder and CEO, on the advantages of the MLM-R® technology, which has already been patented in Europe, the USA, China and India: “The marketability of chemical recycling has so far failed for two main reasons: High energy consumption and high operating costs. We have found the solution to both challenges. Our MLM-R® technology is characterized by excellent energy efficiency and low operating costs.”

PRUVIA COO Dr. Andreas Kurz adds: “With our process, we are potentially setting an infinite material cycle in motion, as the naphtha from our plant can be used to produce and recycle new product quality again and again.”

Ideal location: GENDORF Chemical Park

For the establishment of PRUVIA, an area of around 2.5 hectares in the north of the chemical park is being developed, which was already planned as an expansion area for the chemical park. InfraServ Gendorf has acquired this area from the Free State of Bavaria and the clearing work will start in mid-February. The species protection review has already been carried out and ecological compensation areas are available. The construction site is scheduled to be handed over to PRUVIA in June.

“The GENDORF Chemical Park is the ideal location for us,” concludes Nitz. “We can put our plant into operation here in record time. A sufficiently large area with a rail connection, energy and media supply and, above all, a chemical park operator that supports us with all relevant services: from approval management and process analysis to plant construction and maintenance. InfraServ Gendorf makes it possible for us to concentrate fully on our business model.”

Bavaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, Hubert Aiwanger, is also positive about PRUVIA’s project at the GENDORF Chemical Park: “I am very pleased about PRUVIA’s investment decision here in Gendorf. The company’s highly innovative process shows once again that the chemical industry is part of the solution when it comes to decarbonization and resource efficiency. This creates new jobs, added value and further impetus for growth. We therefore benefit when companies like this settle here in Bavaria. This is precisely why we as the state government are closely supporting the Gendorf Chemical Park and all other sites here in the chemical triangle.”

About the InfraServ Gendorf Group

InfraServ Gendorf is the operator of the GENDORF Chemical Park and an expert in the chemical and process industry. With almost 1,100 employees, InfraServ Gendorf develops and implements integrated solutions for the economic and safe operation of plants: from planning and construction, maintenance and plant operation to plant safety, environmental services/analysis and IT solutions. As a chemical park operator, the company offers services in the areas of site services, supply, waste disposal and logistics. Around 50 young people complete their training at InfraServ Gendorf. InfraServ Gendorf Technik, InfraServ Gendorf Netze and Bildungsakademie Inn-Salzach are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the InfraServ Gendorf Group.

You can find more information about InfraServ Gendorf online at: www.infraserv.gendorf.de

About PRUVIA

PRUVIA GmbH is an internationally operating clean-tech company in the field of plastics recycling. Our MLM-R® technology bridges the gap between mechanical recycling and incineration.

We strive for a world without plastic pollution. A world without plastic waste in nature, in the oceans or in our food. For many decades, plastic waste was at best mechanically recycled or incinerated and at worst disposed of in our environment. Recycling technology was not mature enough – until now. Our unique approach to recycling plastic waste through advanced pyrolysis technology is more than a business model – it’s a plan for a sustainable future.

Solving the global plastic waste problem is an enormous challenge. Despite our successes, we cannot tackle it alone, which is why we are making our MLM-R® technology so transparent and accessible to interested parties.