What PELLENC Selective Technologies does

PELLENC Selective Technologies (Pellenc ST) is a French private industrial technology company headquartered in Pertuis that designs and manufactures intelligent optical sorting systems for the global waste treatment and recycling industries. Founded in 2001 as an offshoot of Pellenc SA (a 30-year veteran of agricultural robotics), the company employs 101-250 people and operates a wholly-owned manufacturing and R&D facility with more than 1,000 m² dedicated to prototype development. Its core technology combines Near Infrared and visible (NIR/VIS) spectroscopy, induction, and X-ray sensors with proprietary AI modules (CNS BRAIN, AISORT, AISEE) running on a modular Central Nervous System (CNS) platform, enabling automated separation of heterogeneous waste streams into up to 13 material fractions at up to 99% purity.

The product portfolio centers on the Mistral+ CONNECT and COMPACT+ optical sorting machines, supplemented by the Mistral+ FILM variant for flexible packaging, the XPERT for metals, the AEROLIGHT ejection hood, the QC+ and AISEE quality control systems, and a retrofit/upgrade program for the installed base. Pellenc ST sells equipment, Service CONNECT (24/7 tele-assistance with one year included), Service PACK (all-in-one maintenance), and the Smart & Share SaaS analytics platform. The company generates revenue primarily through hardware sales to enterprise customers — large materials recovery facilities (MRFs), plastics recyclers, paper mills, C&I/C&D operators, and textile recyclers — while building a recurring service and software layer on top of the 3,500+ machines installed in 40+ countries.

Pellenc ST goes to market through direct enterprise field sales with 14+ regional sales managers and wholly-owned subsidiaries in the US, Japan, and Australia, complemented by system integrator partnerships with STADLER, Van Dyk, and Kiverco for turnkey plant delivery. Co-development alliances with Bühler (PET bottle-to-bottle) and Andritz (textile circularity) embed the technology into multi-vendor value chains. Customers include Suez (multi-site), ValcopIA/Paprec (France's largest MRF with 21 machines), Groot/Waste Connections, Biffa (57,000-tonne PET plant), Iren, Semardel, Veolia, and McKinstry. Since 2013, majority shareholder and President Jean Henin has driven the 'We Are 2025' strategic plan, reinvesting the majority of profits into R&D (10% of turnover) and avoiding external private equity ownership.

Name

PELLENC Selective Technologies

Legal name

Pellenc ST SAS

Website

https://pellencst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PELLENC Selective Technologies is a French private manufacturer of intelligent optical sorting systems using NIR/VIS spectroscopy and proprietary AI modules for global waste treatment and recycling operators. The company sells Mistral+ CONNECT sorters, quality control systems, and recurring service/SaaS solutions to enterprise MRFs, plastics recyclers, and textile sorters across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical sorting and recycling equipment

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Advanced/Optical Sorting & Quality Control Services (NIR, AI, Robotics) (BPALADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plastics Sorting & Reprocessing (PET, HDPE, Film) (BPALADAE), Post-Consumer Plastics Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF) (IMANAMAA)

Keywords

• Optical sorting machines
• Waste recycling equipment
• Plastic sorting systems
• NIR spectroscopy sorters
• Materials recovery facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Pertuis

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Optical Sorting Equipment Sales: Sale of optical sorting machines including Mistral+ CONNECT, COMPACT+, and specialized sorters for various materials (plastics, paper, metal, textile)
2. Quality Control Equipment: Sale of quality control machines including QC+ and AISEE intelligent gantries
3. Service CONNECT & Service PACK: After-sales service including 24/7 tele-assistance, on-site support, maintenance visits, spare parts supply, and all-in-one service solutions
4. Smart & Share SaaS Platform: Intelligent analytics platform providing real-time monitoring, control, and performance reporting of optical sorters
5. Machine Upgrades & Modernization: Retrofit and upgrade services for existing Mistral and Mistral COMPACT machines to incorporate latest technologies and sensors
6. Portable Tools: Sale of Pemax Auto portable power clamps and easyClean cleaning equipment for automotive industry

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pellenc ST designs, manufactures, and sells intelligent optical sorting machines (Mistral+ CONNECT, COMPACT+, XPERT, Mistral+ FILM) that use near-infrared and visible spectroscopy combined with proprietary AI (CNS BRAIN) to identify and separate materials in waste and recycling streams. The company also provides quality control equipment (AISEE, QC+), software analytics (Smart & Share SaaS), and aftermarket services (Service CONNECT, Service PACK) to materials recovery facilities, plastics recyclers, and waste management operators worldwide.

Product overview

Pellenc ST offers intelligent and connected optical sorting solutions for the recycling industry. The product portfolio centers on the Mistral+ CONNECT and COMPACT+ optical sorting machines, which use Near Infrared (NIR) and visible spectroscopy for material detection and sorting. These machines are powered by the CNS (Central Nervous System) software platform, which enables AI integration through CNS BRAIN and AISORT modules. The ecosystem includes quality control equipment (QC+, AISEE), specialized ejection systems (AEROLIGHT), and film-specific sorting (Mistral+ FILM). The company provides comprehensive services including Service CONNECT (24/7 support), Service PACK (all-in-one maintenance), Smart & Share (performance analytics SaaS), and machine upgrade programs. All equipment is manufactured in Pertuis, France with over 3,500 machines deployed across 40+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mistral+ CONNECT: Multi-material sorting machine for sorting and recycling centers
• COMPACT+
• CNS BRAIN
• AISEE
• AISORT
• XPERT
• Mistral+ FILM
• AEROLIGHT
• Smart & Share
• Service CONNECT
• Service PACK

Products and services

• Mistral+ CONNECT Multi-material optical sorting machine for sorting and recycling centers, featuring FLOW Detection NIR/VIS spectrometer, 4.0 Industry connectivity, and future-proof modular upgradability for AI, Water-marking, and IoT sensors. Sold to waste management operators, MRFs, and recyclers worldwide.
• COMPACT+ Compact high-performance optical sorter with FLOW Detection spectrometer, CNS platform for sensor upgradability, modular assembly for restricted environments, and pivoting reflectors for eased maintenance. Designed for sorting and recycling centers with space constraints.
• Mistral+ FILM Plastic film sorting optical sorter for mechanical and chemical recycling applications, delivering 50% higher throughput than standard units for flexible polyolefin packaging such as LLDPE, LDPE, and PP films.
• XPERT Advanced optical sorting machine dedicated to metals and plastics recovery, used in metal recycling and WEEE/ELV applications.
• AISEE AI-based intelligent quality control gantry providing real-time flow composition analysis, anomaly alerts, and continuous quality monitoring with expert support integration. Sells to MRFs and recycling plants needing automated quality verification.
• QC+ Quality control machine for automated composition analysis and quality verification of sorted materials, used in MRFs and recycling plants to validate output purity.
• Smart & Share Intelligent SaaS platform for analyzing sorting performance with near real-time monitoring and control of optical sorters via intelligent alerts and easy-to-read performance graphs. Sold to enterprise recyclers and MRFs that operate Pellenc ST sorters.
• Service CONNECT Connected after-sales service solution including 24/7 tele-assistance with 90% of calls resolved remotely, intelligent alert monitoring, and personalized reports during maintenance visits. One year of 24/7 service is included with Mistral+ CONNECT purchase.
• Service PACK All-in-one service solution combining traditional 24/7 services, unlimited replacement parts supply, and data analysis advice through digital system analysis for Pellenc ST equipment owners.
• Mistral+ UPGRADES (Modernization) Modernization service to upgrade existing Mistral+ machines with latest innovations, including FLOW Detection retrofit and new sensor technologies.
• Mistral Compact UPGRADES Modernization service to upgrade existing Mistral COMPACT machines with latest innovations and new sensor technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 99% purity rates guaranteed for material recovery
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• BühlercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for comprehensive 'Bottle to Bottle' PET recycling solution covering the entire value chain from bottle sorting to PET flake sorting. Bühler's optical sorters handle flake sorting while Pellenc ST provides bottle-stage sorting. Joint digital solution combining Sortex Monitoring System (SMS) powered by Bühler Insights with Pellenc ST's Smart&Share platform for performance optimization.
• AndritzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for textile circularity solutions. Pellenc ST's Mistral+ machines sort complete garments and scraps by colour and material while Andritz's delining and shredding solutions transform post-consumer textiles into quality fibers for spinning, non-woven fabrics or chemical recycling. Demonstrated at Nouvelles Fibres Textile pilot site.
• STADLER Anlagenbau GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for turnkey sorting plant installations. STADLER handles planning, production and assembly of complete sorting plants while Pellenc ST provides optical sorting equipment. Successfully collaborated on Iren paper and cardboard sorting facility in Collegno, Italy - first in Italy to separate 6 types of paper.
• Van Dyk Recycling SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSystem supplier partnership for MRF construction projects. Van Dyk served as system supplier for Groot MRF reconstruction in Plainfield, Illinois, installing 11 Pellenc ST optical sorters. Described as 22nd joint project with strong trusting relationship.
• KivercomajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for construction and demolition waste recycling facility installations. Kiverco designed and installed McKinstry's advanced C&D recycling facility in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, with Pellenc ST supplying 6 Mistral+ CONNECT optical sorting units.
• CiteominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench eco-organization for household packaging recycling. Collaboration on sorting center requirements and development streams for flexible packaging.
• CoreplaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian consortium for plastic packaging collection and recycling.
• EcoembesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanish environmental organization for packaging and paper recycling.
• FostPlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBelgian organization for household packaging waste sorting and recycling.
• ADEMEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench Agency for Ecological Transition - government agency supporting circular economy initiatives.
• APR (Association of Plastics Recyclers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS-based trade association for plastics recycling industry.
• PETCORE EuropeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean trade association for PET containers value chain.
• Plastics Recyclers EuropeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean trade association representing plastic recyclers.
• WRAPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK-based charity working on circular economy and waste reduction.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Redwave (BT-Wolfgang Binder): Austrian niche competitor in optical sorting for waste, plastics, and electronics recycling; smaller than Pellenc ST but competing in similar tenders across Europe with comparable NIR-based product positioning.
• ZenRobotics Oy: Finland-based AI robotic sorting company focused on C&D, MSW, and metals recovery; competes for the same integrator-led MRF/C&D project pipeline that Pellenc ST serves through partners like STADLER and Kiverco.
• AMP Robotics: AI-driven recycling robotics company applying computer vision to MRF pick lines; competes with Pellenc ST's AISEE/AISORT vision offerings for the same AI-in-recycling budget at large operators.
• MSS (Magnetic Separation Systems): US supplier of optical and sensor-based sorters for recycling plants, frequently competing with Pellenc ST and TOMRA on North American MRF projects including Groot/Waste Connections sites.

Direct peers

• Sesotec GmbH: German sensor-based sorting specialist active in plastics, packaging, and metal sorting; offers overlapping optical and induction products targeting the same recycling plant buyers as Pellenc ST.
• STEINERT GmbH: German manufacturer of NIR, XRT, and induction-based sorting systems for waste, plastics, and metals recycling, competing head-to-head with Pellenc ST in MRFs and metals recovery.
• TOMRA Systems ASA: Global leader in optical sorting and sensor-based recycling equipment (TOMRA Sorting), with autosort, XRT, and AI platforms serving the same MRF, plastics, and metals end markets as Pellenc ST across all geographies.
• Bühler Group: Swiss process and optical sorting specialist (Sortex) that co-develops bottle-to-bottle PET solutions with Pellenc ST while also competing directly in food/food-optical sorters and serving many of the same recyclers.
• NRT (National Recovery Technologies) / Bulk Sorting Technologies: US-based NIR optical sorter manufacturer serving MRFs, plastics, and e-waste, providing direct competition in North America where Pellenc ST is expanding via its US subsidiary.

Others

• STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH: German turnkey MRF and sorting plant builder that is a Pellenc ST system integrator (e.g., Iren Collegno), but also integrates competing optical sorters from TOMRA/STEINERT in other projects, making it adjacent rather than strictly comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMyX53AexEgFY04G_H75G5Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pellenc-selective-technologies
• Xx.com/pellencst

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PELLENC Selective Technologies