Introduction
ECON GmbH is an Austrian machinery company specializing in pelletizing systems, screen changers, and related equipment for plastics processing and recycling. Headquartered in Weißkirchen an der Traun, Austria, the company was founded in 1999 and has built its business around underwater pelletizing and adjacent process technologies used by compounders, masterbatch producers, virgin resin processors, and recycling operators.
Within the plastics industry, ECON is positioned as a specialist supplier of equipment for turning molten polymer into pellets and for stabilizing melt filtration and drying operations. Its product portfolio and market messaging emphasize technical efficiency, process reliability, and applications involving demanding materials such as highly filled or temperature-sensitive polymers.
History and Development
ECON was founded in 1999 as a supplier of special machinery for the plastics producing and plastics processing industry.
A second major development is the company’s sustained focus on underwater pelletizing technology, including patented and continuously refined design features. Industry profiles describe ECON as having secured numerous patents and as building its reputation through technical development in pelletizing systems and screen changers.
A third milestone is the company’s international expansion. Recent reporting indicates that ECON’s export share reached 91 percent and that its business is concentrated in Europe, North America, India, and China, with additional growth in the Middle East and Latin America.
Business Operations and Segments
ECON’s core business is the development, production, and global marketing of machinery for plastics pelletizing and melt processing.
Its activities can be grouped into the following areas:
- Underwater pelletizing systems
- Air pelletizing systems
- Pellet and bulk material dryers
- Screen changers
- Pyrolysis furnaces
- Related process services such as training, spare parts, remote support, preventive maintenance, and loan equipment
The company serves producers operating in compounding, masterbatch manufacturing, resin production, and recycling, with a product focus on stable processing and operational efficiency.
Products and Technologies
ECON is best known for underwater pelletizers, which convert molten polymer strands into pellets under a water-based cutting and cooling process.
Key technical elements associated with its equipment include:
- Thermal separation technology, described by company and industry profiles as a distinguishing feature of ECON underwater pelletizers
- A specially designed die plate intended to improve processing of challenging materials
- Equipment for process water and drying, including centrifugal dryers and vibration screen dryers
- Continuous and discontinuous screen changers, including versions with backflush systems
- Pyrolysis furnaces for thermoplastic waste and recycling-related applications
According to industry and company descriptions, these systems are intended to support stable pellet quality, easier operation, and efficient processing of materials that may be highly filled, thermally sensitive, or otherwise difficult to pelletize.
Applications and End Markets
ECON’s machinery is used across several plastics value-chain segments:
- Compounding
- Masterbatch production
- Virgin resin processing
- Plastics recycling
- Specialty polymer applications
The company’s equipment is especially relevant where downstream product quality depends on uniform pellet formation, effective melt filtration, and controlled drying. Its recycling-related products also place it within the broader industry shift toward higher material circularity and resource efficiency.
Global Presence and Market Position
ECON is headquartered in Austria, with international locations reported in India and the United States in addition to its Austrian base.
The company’s market position is that of a specialized global machinery supplier rather than a broad-line plastics equipment conglomerate. Available descriptions emphasize its niche focus and technical specialization in pelletizing systems and screen changers, with customers spanning global producers of raw materials, compounds, masterbatches, and recycled plastics.
Recent trade-fair and industry reporting also suggest a strong export orientation. ECON’s foreign business has been described as especially active in Europe, North America, India, and China.
Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives
ECON’s sustainability relevance is primarily linked to energy- and resource-efficient plastics processing and to technologies supporting recycling and waste reduction.
Its reported pyrolysis furnace offerings indicate involvement in equipment used for chemical or thermal recycling-related processing, while its pelletizing and drying systems are presented as tools for improving process efficiency and material utilization.
At the same time, the company’s core business remains machinery for plastics production and processing, so its environmental contribution is indirect and operational rather than a substitute for broader systemic recycling policy or materials redesign.
Financial Performance and Economic Impact
According to trade-fair reporting based on the company’s own figures, ECON’s revenue increased from about EUR 28.3 million in 2023 to more than EUR 34 million in 2025.
The same source reported roughly 80 employees in Austria and more than 110 employees worldwide. Other business directories describe the company as a medium-sized industrial employer with a global footprint, though employee and revenue estimates vary across databases.
From an economic perspective, ECON contributes to the plastics machinery sector through export-led manufacturing, engineering employment, and the supply of specialized process equipment used by compounders, recyclers, and resin producers.
Leadership and Corporate Governance
Publicly available company listings identify Gerhard Hehenberger as a senior executive associated with ECON GmbH. One business profile names him as chief executive officer, while registry-based summaries identify him as managing director since the company’s early years.
Registry-oriented sources also describe ownership as shared among GAW Beteiligungs GmbH, an employee participation entity, and private shareholders associated with the Hehenberger family.
Innovations and Future Outlook
ECON’s innovation strategy appears to center on continued refinement of underwater pelletizing, screen changing, and drying technologies, with a focus on operational simplicity and process stability.
Several trends are likely to shape its future development:
- Recycling expansion, which increases demand for equipment that can handle contaminated or variable feedstocks
- More demanding compound formulations, including highly filled and temperature-sensitive materials
- Automation and process reliability, which remain important for cost control and quality assurance in plastics manufacturing
- International growth, especially in Asia and other export markets where pelletizing capacity is expanding
Summary
ECON GmbH is a specialized Austrian plastics machinery company centered on pelletizing and melt-processing systems. Since its founding in 1999, it has developed an export-driven business built around underwater pelletizing, screen changers, drying technology, and recycling-related equipment, with its market presence supported by patents, international sales, and a narrow technical focus.
References
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CPS+ eMarketplace. (n.d.). ECON GMBHECON GMBH. CPS+ eMarketplace. https://www.chinaplasonline.com/eMarketplace/ExhibitorInfo?CompId=1004919Link