Aco Recycling

What Aco Recycling does

Aco Recycling is a privately held Turkish manufacturer founded in 2016 in Izmir by Nihat "ACO" Kuruzüm, specializing in reverse vending machines (RVMs) and the supporting software infrastructure for Deposit Return Systems (DRS). Its product portfolio spans four core RVM models — the K-3 FLEXA (high-traffic, 60 items/minute), K-3 TRIO FLEXA (3-in-1 material segregation), C-1 FLEXA (compact/embedded), and C-1 FLEXA Duplici (high-volume dual unit) — plus the ACO Countsort industrial counting and validation system for centralized counting centers. Add-on modules (Shredder, Crusher, Compaction, S-Drop Soft Drop, BackRoom Roller, Vinyl Wrapping) and proprietary AI-based container recognition with 360-degree barcode scanning form the technical differentiators, alongside an in-house 3,000 sqm manufacturing facility covering mechanical, PCB, software, and cloud production.

The business sells hardware through direct enterprise sales and exclusive territorial distributorships to retailers, supermarkets, DRS operators, municipalities, beverage companies, and public venues globally. Revenue is generated across four streams: one-time hardware sales (quote-based, not publicly priced), recurring subscription revenue from the V5 Online Monitoring & Management Platform (ISO 27001:2013 certified), tiered managed service plans (Elite Gold, Enhanced Care Silver, Essential Support Bronze) delivered via the ACOGuru team, and DRS consultation/professional services for policy makers and operators. The go-to-market relies on website-driven enterprise engagement, virtual e-demos, content marketing, and certified local technician networks for installation and ongoing support.

Name

Aco Recycling

Legal name

Aco Recycling

Website

https://acorecycling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aco Recycling is a Turkish manufacturer founded in 2016 that designs, builds, and sells reverse vending machines and the ACO Countsort industrial system, together with the V5 cloud monitoring platform, for Deposit Return System operators, retailers, municipalities, and beverage companies globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recycling Equipment

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF)

Keywords

• Reverse vending machines
• Deposit return systems
• Beverage container recycling
• Recycling monitoring software
• Waste management equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Izmir

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Reverse Vending Machine Hardware Sales: Sale of reverse vending machines including K-3 Flexa, K-3 Trio Flexa, C-1 Flexa, C-1 Flexa Duplici models and associated modules (shredder, crusher, compaction, soft drop). Machines are sold globally with flexible ordering options and configurable sub-models based on material type and capacity requirements.
2. V5 Monitoring & Management Platform: Cloud-based monitoring and management platform connected to all reverse vending machines, providing real-time operational data, analytics, and fleet management capabilities. Platform operates both online and offline with automatic data synchronization.
3. Service & Support Plans: Tailored service plans including Elite Partnership (Gold), Enhanced Care (Silver), and Essential Support (Bronze) tiers offering varying levels of technical support, response times, and maintenance services.
4. DRS Consultation Services: Personalized consultation services helping clients understand specific requirements and local Deposit Return System needs to recommend suitable reverse vending machine models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aco Recycling manufactures reverse vending machines (RVMs) and industrial counting systems used in Deposit Return Systems (DRS) to automate the collection, identification, and refunding of beverage containers. The product lineup includes the K-3 FLEXA, K-3 TRIO FLEXA, C-1 FLEXA, and C-1 FLEXA Duplici machines, complemented by the ACO Countsort validation system, interchangeable modules (Shredder, Crusher, Compaction, S-Drop), and the V5 cloud-based monitoring and management platform. The company handles all design and production in-house at a 3,000 m² facility in Izmir, Turkey, and sells globally through direct enterprise sales and exclusive distributor networks.

Product overview

Aco Recycling offers a comprehensive portfolio of reverse vending machines (RVMs) and industrial counting systems for Deposit Return Systems (DRS). The product lineup includes the K-3 FLEXA (high-traffic stand-alone), K-3 TRIO FLEXA (x-large capacity with 3-in-1 material segregation), C-1 FLEXA (compact/embedded), and C-1 FLEXA Duplici (high-volume double system) as core RVM models. The ACO Countsort serves as an industrial-grade counting and sorting system for validation centers. Add-on modules include Shredder, Crusher, Compaction, S-Drop, and BackRoom Roller modules that enhance machine functionality. The V5 Online Monitoring & Management Platform provides centralized oversight of all connected machines with AI-powered analytics, while ACOGuru delivers comprehensive after-sales service and support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• V5: Advanced online monitoring and management platform for reverse vending machines and deposit return scheme operations, offering real-time monitoring, data analytics, and system health tracking.
• ACOGuru

Products and services

• K-3 FLEXA Reverse Vending Machine High-traffic, stand-alone reverse vending machine with robust modular design for plastic, glass, aluminum/steel cans, and carton collection; processes up to 60 items per minute with thermal printer for vouchers and loyalty card integration. Targeted at DRS operators, retailers, and high-throughput collection points.
• K-3 TRIO FLEXA Reverse Vending Machine

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 billion bottles recycled globally through Aco Recycling reverse vending machines
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Peers

• Sielaff GmbH:

Direct peers

• TOMRA Systems ASA: TOMRA is the global market leader in reverse vending machines and material recovery, with a multi-decade installed base across virtually every major DRS market. It is Aco Recycling's most direct and most formidable competitor, offering comparable AI-based recognition and a much larger service network.
• RVM Systems AS: Norwegian reverse vending machine supplier serving Nordic and European DRS operators. Smaller than TOMRA but directly comparable to Aco Recycling in product focus, customer profile (retail chains and collection companies), and reliance on emerging DRS rollouts.
• Envipco Holding NV: Envipco is a Netherlands-headquartered specialist in reverse vending machines and DRS infrastructure, with installations across North America and Europe. It competes head-to-head with Aco Recycling for retail and operator contracts in growing DRS markets such as the US Northeast and Canada.
• Anker Andersen A/S: Danish RVM manufacturer with a long track record supplying DRS schemes in the Nordics. Anker Andersen is a close peer to Aco Recycling in terms of product scope (RVMs plus back-room handling) and target markets, though typically with a stronger regional footprint in Scandinavia.

Broad incumbents

• Wincor Nixdorf / Diebold Nixdorf: Global incumbent in retail technology and self-service checkout/vending hardware. While not a pure RVM specialist, it serves overlapping retail and DRS-adjacent self-service checkout use cases and competes for retailer capex budgets that could otherwise fund RVM rollouts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedIntr.linkedin.com/company/aco-recycling
• Xx.com/AcoRecycling

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Aco Recycling