plasticpreneur
Austrian GreenTech company producing portable, CE-marked small-scale plastic recycling and injection moulding machines that use 3D-printed tooling inlays, enabling circular economy product development for NGOs, educators, and SMEs in 100+ countries.
- CEO / Founder
- Sören Lex
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- Undisclosed (EREMA Group acquired 19.8% minority stake in May 2022; total amount not disclosed)
- Latest Round
- Strategic Investment
- Key Investors
- EREMA Group GmbH
Technology & Products
Key Products
Small-scale manually operated injection moulding machines; 3D-printed mould inlays and custom tooling; plastic shredder and extruder machines; vocational training programmes; circular economy consulting services
Technological Advantage
CLAIMED: CE-marked machines designed for portability and ease-of-use in field conditions; 3D-printed inlays enable flexible, low-cost custom tooling bridging gap between desktop FDM printing and industrial injection moulding. VERIFIED: EREMA Group (leading global plastics recycling machine manufacturer) acquired 19.8% stake May 2022, validating technology and providing industrial supply chain access; machines shipped to customers in 90-100+ countries; multi-award-winning designation per Advantage Austria profile. DEFENSIBLE: CE certification creates regulatory barrier to entry in EU markets; EREMA partnership provides distribution and technical co-development advantage. REPLICABLE: core injection moulding mechanics are standard; 3D-printed inlay concept is not known to be patented.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Enables NGOs, schools, and SMEs to enter plastic recycling and low-volume injection moulding at a fraction of industrial machine costs — portable, ready-to-use, CE-marked machines with 3D-printed inlay tooling reduce mould tooling cost and time vs. traditional injection moulding, deployed in 100+ countries across R&D, prototyping, education, and awareness-raising use cases.
How They Differentiate
vs. Precious Plastic (open-source community designs): plasticpreneur offers CE-marked, commercially supported machines with professional safety compliance and training services, enabling institutional procurement vs. DIY self-assembly; vs. industrial injection moulding OEMs (Arburg, Engel): plasticpreneur machines are portable and priced for NGOs/educators at a fraction of industrial cost, trading throughput for accessibility; 3D-printed inlays reduce tooling cost vs. traditional CNC steel moulds by an estimated 80-95%, enabling rapid design iteration.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
NGOs, educational institutions, social enterprises, and SMEs in developing and developed markets seeking affordable, portable entry-level plastic recycling and low-volume injection moulding capability without industrial-scale capital expenditure
Industry Verticals
Circular Economy; Education; Manufacturing; Waste Management; Social Enterprise
Competitors
Precious Plastic (open-source small-scale plastic recycling and injection moulding machines, similar circular economy positioning but no CE mark or commercial support); Holipress (desktop injection moulding for makers/educators)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Machines and moulds shipped to customers in more than 100 countries; hundreds of units shipped globally; present in R&D, prototyping, manufacturing, education, and awareness-raising verticals; multi-award-winning Austrian GreenTech company; backed by EREMA Group (strategic investor, 2022)
Major Milestones
~2019: Founded in Klagenfurt, Austria; 2022: EREMA Group GmbH acquires 19.8% strategic stake (May 30, 2022); CE certification achieved for machines; Hundreds of machines and moulds shipped to customers in 90-100+ countries; Multi-award-winning GreenTech recognition (Advantage Austria); Exhibitor at international Plastics & Rubber trade shows