HydroDyn Systems
HydroDyn Systems (Circular Projects GmbH) develops modular plastic recycling systems anchored on its patented hydrodynamic-friction HydroCleaner technology. Based in Hamburg, Germany, the company serves sorting plants, film converters, mechanical and chemical recyclers globally with containerized cleaning, drying, and water-treatment modules plus its CPOS software platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HydroDyn Systems does
HydroDyn Systems is a Hamburg, Germany-based industrial technology company, legally operated by Circular Projects GmbH, that designs, manufactures, and sells modular plastic recycling systems built around its patented HydroCleaner technology. The core technology applies hydrodynamic friction between a rotor and stator to remove contaminants, inks, and labels from heavily contaminated plastic waste streams without high temperatures or aggressive chemicals. HydroDyn has delivered 17 systems globally since its founding-era work in 2014, with a stated 40-person team across headquarters in Hamburg (Harburger Schloßstr. 24) and its HydroDyn Technology Center / engineering facility in Schwerin (Werkstrasse 4). The two Managing Directors are Michael Hofmann and Dirk Schneider.
The product architecture is plug-and-play modular: standardized 10 ft and 20 ft containers house individual process stages — cleaning (HydroCleaner TWO), classification (AeroSeparator TWO, HydroCyclone/POL TWO), drying (FlexDryer TWO, SpinDryer TWO), and water treatment (HydroPure/CC-135, HydroFirewall TWO, HydroFloat/RC-25, HydroClean/DC-80). The portfolio also covers specialized applications such as deinking and metallised-film recycling. The proprietary CPOS (Clever Process Operating System) software layer captures operational data and is used to define and certify properties of recycled material. Customers primarily reach HydroDyn through direct enterprise field sales — a dedicated contact, Andreas Schmidt, manages inquiries — and through live demonstrations at the Schwerin test center.
HydroDyn targets a horizontal set of recycling-industry customers: sorting plants and waste managers, household and sector collection systems, retail and supermarket logistics operators, film converters, mechanical recyclers, chemical recyclers, and polymer manufacturers/compounders. Revenue is generated principally through hardware sales of the modular systems, supported by professional services across consultation, planning, commissioning, and maintenance, with the CPOS software introducing a recurring/data component. No publicly disclosed revenue, funding rounds, customer logos, or pricing details are available in the source material.
HydroDyn Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HydroDyn Systems
- Legal name
- Circular Projects GmbH
- Website
- https://hydrodyn.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HydroDyn Systems (Circular Projects GmbH) develops modular plastic recycling systems anchored on its patented hydrodynamic-friction HydroCleaner technology. Based in Hamburg, Germany, the company serves sorting plants, film converters, mechanical and chemical recyclers globally with containerized cleaning, drying, and water-treatment modules plus its CPOS software platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HydroDyn Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plastic Recycling Equipment
- NAICS
- Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Packaging Waste Sorting & Recycling Technologies (Mechanical/Chemical Recycling, Sorting Systems) (IMALAMAL), Chemical/Advanced Recycling (Pyrolysis, Depolymerization, Solvolysis, Gasification) (EUAIAKAC), Film & Flexible Plastics Recycling (LDPE/LLDPE, Multilayer) (EUAIAKAE), Rigid Plastics Recycling (HDPE/PP, Injection/Blow Molded) (EUAIAKAF)
Keywords
Where HydroDyn Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
HydroDyn Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Recycling Systems (Equipment Sales): HydroDyn develops, plans, and produces innovative recycling systems (including HydroCleaner and supporting equipment) for customers globally. Systems are sold as standardized modular units (10 ft and 20 ft plug-and-play containers) that can be customized to individual requirements. The company offers full system solutions including consultation from planning phase through to commissioning and maintenance.
- System Solutions and Customization: Comprehensive system solutions combining individual products from the standardized portfolio, customized to specific customer requirements. Service includes consultation, planning, commissioning, and maintenance support.
- CPOS Software System: CPOS software system provides data for operations improvement and customized processing of recycled materials, including data to define and certify specific properties of recycled material.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
HydroDyn Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HydroDyn Systems develops, plans, and produces modular plastic recycling systems built around its proprietary HydroCleaner technology, which uses hydrodynamic friction to clean heavily contaminated plastic waste to virgin-material quality. The portfolio includes the HydroCleaner core cleaning unit plus complementary modules for separation (AeroSeparator TWO), drying (FlexDryer TWO, SpinDryer TWO), density separation (HydroCyclone/POL TWO), and process water treatment (HydroPure/CC-135, HydroFirewall TWO, HydroFloat/RC-25, HydroClean/DC-80), all delivered as standardized 10 ft or 20 ft plug-and-play containers and accompanied by the CPOS data software.
Product overview
HydroDyn Systems offers a modular plastic recycling technology portfolio centered on the HydroCleaner core technology. The product line includes the HydroCleaner TWO as the primary cleaning system, complemented by supporting modules for drying (FlexDryer TWO, SpinDryer TWO), purification/classification (AeroSeparator TWO, HydroCyclone/POL TWO), and water treatment (HydroPure/CC-135, HydroFirewall TWO, HydroFloat/RC-25, HydroClean/DC-80). The company also provides the proprietary CPOS software system for monitoring and data management. All products are available as standardized modular plug-and-play units in 10 ft and 20 ft container sizes, allowing customers to build customized system configurations tailored to their specific recycling requirements. The technology is designed for both mechanical and chemical recycling applications across various polymer types including rigid polymers, PET, films, and agricultural materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HydroCleaner TWO Latest-generation core cleaning system for plastic recycling, using single-stage mechanical cleaning through hydrodynamic friction to remove contaminants and printing inks from heavily contaminated plastic waste, achieving quality comparable to virgin material. Includes HydroFlush Feeder, adjustable rotor-stator cleaning gap (0–30 mm), and Omnivore solution for challenging materials.
- AeroSeparator TWO Classification module that uses counterflow at low consistency to precisely separate 3D rigid plastics from 2D flexible plastics, separate laminated multilayer films into individual layers, and remove dust and impurities from the material stream.
- FlexDryer TWO Mechanical-and-heat film drying module achieving residual moisture levels as low as 1–2% with minimal energy consumption, using a controlled mechanical drying process with adjustable press and an optional BoosterDryer enhancement.
- HydroCyclone/POL TWO Density separation module operating at low consistency, designed to integrate seamlessly with the HydroCleaner to separate heavy contaminants from valuable plastics without material loss; includes an integrated process water sieve.
- HydroPure/CC-135 Process water treatment module for final cleaning, combining mechanical water purification with ultrafiltration through a filter membrane to remove impurities on a nanometric scale; processes up to 135 cubic metres per hour with filtration rates below 0.02 micrometres.
- SpinDryer TWO Drying module for both flexible and rigid plastic materials using a cascade-structured sieve basket that creates a spin effect, with automatic sieve basket cleaning and integrated water extraction of separated moisture.
- HydroFirewall TWO Process water management module that targets the smallest impurities, establishes a clear dividing line between pre-cleaning and final cleaning stages, and ensures a closed process water circuit using sensor monitoring and targeted rinsing/flushing technology.
- HydroFloat/RC-25 Water treatment module combining mechanical cleaning with an advanced two-stage flotation system; filters up to 60 cubic metres of process water per hour and floats up to 25 cubic metres per hour, removing smallest impurities while minimizing water loss.
- HydroClean/DC – 80 Water treatment module providing cost-efficient mechanical sieving with precision of less than 150 micrometres; cleans up to 80 cubic metres of process water per hour with an optional integrated sludge treatment system.
- Modular Plug-and-Play Container Systems Standardized modular containerized recycling systems in 10 ft and 20 ft sizes, each housing a single technical process stage, allowing customers to combine modules into customized recycling system configurations tailored to specific waste streams and contamination profiles.
Quantifiable outcome
- 17 systems delivered successfully since 2014 with continued growth trajectory
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use HydroDyn Systems
Customer profileSegments9 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HydroDyn Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature15 records
HydroDyn Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HydroDyn Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vecoplan: German manufacturer of shredding, conveying, and processing equipment for plastics and other recyclables. Comparable in size, German footprint, and customer segment (industrial recyclers and waste processors).
- Erema Group: Austrian market leader in plastic recycling systems (extrusion, filtration, recycling lines). Comparable as a direct competitor in mechanical plastic recycling equipment with global reach and a much larger installed base than HydroDyn.
- Herbold Meckesheim: German specialist in size reduction, washing, and separation technology for plastic recycling. Overlaps directly with HydroDyn's washing and classification modules for the same mechanical-recycling customer base.
- Sorema (Previero): Italian supplier of washing, separation, and drying lines for plastic recycling (PET, films, rigid containers). Directly competes with HydroDyn's modular washing/drying portfolio for the same recycling-plant customer base.
- Starlinger & Co: Austrian manufacturer of plastics recycling and processing machinery, including washing, extrusion, and turnkey recycling lines. Directly comparable to HydroDyn in target customers (recyclers, converters) and product category (mechanical plastic recycling systems).
- Machinex Technologies: Canadian designer and manufacturer of recycling sorting systems and MRF equipment. Directly comparable as a modular recycling-systems provider with similar approach to configurable, containerized recycling lines.
- Lindner-Recyclingtech: Austrian manufacturer of shredders and processing systems for plastics recycling. Comparable in size, target customer (mechanical recyclers), and European industrial-equipment positioning.
Broad incumbents
- TOMRA Systems: Norwegian sensor-based sorting and recycling giant serving waste management, plastics, and metals. Comparable as a broad incumbent in recycling technology with overlapping sorting/classification functions but a much larger portfolio.
- Bollegraaf: Dutch builder of turnkey recycling plants, balers, and sorting systems. Comparable as a broader recycling-systems incumbent serving similar MRF and sorting-plant customers that HydroDyn targets.
Emerging players
- Pellenc ST: French smart-sorting and optical-sorting specialist for waste and recycling. Partial overlap with HydroDyn's AeroSeparator TWO for classification and sorting of plastic streams in MRFs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HydroDyn Systems social profiles
Digital presenceHydroDyn Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HydroDyn Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
HydroDyn Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HydroDyn Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HydroDyn Systems
What does HydroDyn Systems do?
HydroDyn Systems develops, plans, and produces modular plastic recycling systems built around its proprietary HydroCleaner technology, which uses hydrodynamic friction to clean heavily contaminated plastic waste to virgin-material quality. The portfolio includes the HydroCleaner core cleaning unit plus complementary modules for separation (AeroSeparator TWO), drying (FlexDryer TWO, SpinDryer TWO), density separation (HydroCyclone/POL TWO), and process water treatment (HydroPure/CC-135, HydroFirewall TWO, HydroFloat/RC-25, HydroClean/DC-80), all delivered as standardized 10 ft or 20 ft plug-and-play containers and accompanied by the CPOS data software.
Is HydroDyn Systems a public or private company?
HydroDyn Systems is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HydroDyn Systems founded?
HydroDyn Systems was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HydroDyn Systems based?
HydroDyn Systems is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does HydroDyn Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Recycling Systems (Equipment Sales) is the primary driver. The others are system Solutions and Customization and CPOS Software System.
Who are HydroDyn Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vecoplan, Erema Group, Herbold Meckesheim, Sorema (Previero), Starlinger & Co, Machinex Technologies and Lindner-Recyclingtech. Broad incumbents are TOMRA Systems and Bollegraaf. Pellenc ST is listed as an emerging player.
Does HydroDyn Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for HydroDyn Systems.
What industry is HydroDyn Systems in?
HydroDyn Systems's product category is Plastic Recycling Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAKAM, Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion), with a secondary code of IMALAMAL, Packaging Waste Sorting & Recycling Technologies (Mechanical/Chemical Recycling, Sorting Systems). Its NAICS code is 333914 and its SIC code is 4953.