Orwak
Orwak, founded in 1971 in Sävsjö, Sweden, designs and manufactures waste compactors and balers — including the TOM smart bin, vertical and horizontal balers, multi-chamber balers, and in-bin compactors — serving food retail, hospitality, QSR, logistics, manufacturing, marine, and municipal customers across 50+ countries via SULO Group subsidiaries and distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersSävsjö, Sweden
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Orwak does
Orwak AB, headquartered in Sävsjö, Sweden, designs and manufactures waste compactors and balers for solid waste at the point of generation. Founded in 1971 by Olof Robert Wilhelm Åkerberg, the company built its core technology around a patented concept of placing waste bags outside a steel cylinder, later pioneering the multi-chamber baler in 1978. Today its product portfolio spans the TOM automatic smart waste bin for public spaces, the Orwak Compact/3220/3250/Power family of vertical balers, the Orwak Multi (5070-HDC) multi-chamber balers for source sorting, Orwak Flex FLEX 660/1100 in-bin compactors, Brickman briquetting presses, semi-automatic horizontal balers, and the fully automated Orwak Horizontal 1000 ATH, supplemented by the Orwak Connect communications service that supplies status and fill-level alerts via a web portal. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and — notably as the first in its sector — ISO 3834 welding certification.
Orwak operates as a subsidiary of the France-headquartered SULO Group following SULO's January 2020 acquisition of San Sac Group. Its go-to-market blends direct enterprise sales for large accounts with an extensive distributor and regional-subsidiary network across more than 50 countries, including Orwak North America, Orwak-Easi UK, ATS-Orwak, Orca Group France, Orwak Polska, Orwak Japan, and SULO entities in Mexico, Chile, and Spain. Revenue is primarily hardware-based (balers, compactors, supplies, and consumables like strapping) with installation and technical support professional services; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company sells primarily into food retail, non-food retail, hotels and restaurants, QSR, warehouses and logistics, manufacturing, and marine/offshore segments, with publicly cited customers including the largest retail chain in Mexico and Central America (160+ balers installed since 2024), Bluesun Hotels, Hilton, McDonald's Chile, Clinica Las Condes, HMSHost at Amsterdam Schiphol, and the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center in Japan.
Orwak firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Orwak
- Legal name
- Orwak AB
- Website
- https://orwak.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Orwak, founded in 1971 in Sävsjö, Sweden, designs and manufactures waste compactors and balers — including the TOM smart bin, vertical and horizontal balers, multi-chamber balers, and in-bin compactors — serving food retail, hospitality, QSR, logistics, manufacturing, marine, and municipal customers across 50+ countries via SULO Group subsidiaries and distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Orwak industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Waste Management Equipment
- NAICS
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Waste Handling & Compaction Equipment (Balers, Compactors) (IMAHALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- On-site Waste Compaction & Baling Operations (BPABALAD), Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM), Compactor, Container & Roll-off Services (Rental, Service & Logistics) (EUAIAGAC)
Keywords
Where Orwak is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sävsjö
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Orwak business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Baler and Compactor Sales: Sale of industrial waste compaction equipment including vertical balers, horizontal balers, in-bin compactors, multi-chamber balers, and briquetting solutions. Equipment ranges from small semi-automatic units to large automated horizontal presses.
- Supplies and Consumables: Sale of supplies including binding materials, straps, and other consumables for the balers and compactors.
- Installation and Technical Support: Professional installation services and technical support provided through regional subsidiaries and distribution partners, including SULO companies and local distributors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Full range of compaction solutions from small semi-automatic units to large fully automated horizontal balers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Orwak product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orwak designs, manufactures, and sells stationary and self-contained waste compactors and balers that compress and bale solid waste materials at the source of generation. The company also provides multi-chamber sorting solutions, in-bin compaction systems, and an IoT-based communication service that enables remote equipment monitoring and data collection. Its equipment is deployed in commercial and industrial environments to reduce waste volume, simplify handling, and support recycling and waste-sorting workflows.
Product overview
Orwak is a world leader in compaction and baling solutions for solid waste materials, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products for effective waste management at the source. The product range spans from compact automatic waste bins (TOM) for public spaces and small operations, through vertical balers (Orwak Compact, 3220, 3250, Power family including 3110/3150/3420/3820) for retail and industrial applications, to large-scale solutions (Orwak 3500, Horizontal 1000 ATH) for high-volume operations. The multi-chamber baler lineup (Orwak Multi/5070 Series, 9020S) enables simultaneous sorting of multiple recyclable streams, while in-bin compactors (Orwak Flex FLEX 660/1100) provide hygienic bagged waste compaction. Automated solutions include Brickman briquetting presses for high-volume materials and semi-automatic horizontal balers. The portfolio is unified around the 'Compact Is Impact' theme, with Orwak Connect providing IoT-style communication services for equipment monitoring and maintenance alerts. The company serves diverse industries including food retail, non-food retail, hotels/restaurants, quick service, manufacturing, warehouses/logistics, and marine/offshore sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TOM: Smart automatic waste bin for public spaces with touch-free sensor technology and fill-level alerts
- Orwak Power
- Orwak Flex
- Orwak Multi
- Orwak Compact
- Brickman
- Orwak Connect
- Orwak Horizontal
Products and services
- Orwak Waste Compactors
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 90% volume reduction (waste reduced to 10% of original volume)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Orwak
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Orwak technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Orwak partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SULO GroupcoreSULO Group, a global company with headquarters in France, acquired San Sac Group (which owned Orwak) in January 2020. SULO Group includes companies worldwide such as SULO Iberica, SULO Mexico, SULO Chile, and numerous subsidiaries. Orwak operates as a key brand within the SULO Group portfolio.
- SULO MexicocoreSULO Mexico is Orwak's sister company and the exclusive distributor/installer of Orwak products in Mexico and Central America. Has installed over 160 balers at the largest retail chain in the region. Recognized as one of the best auxiliary equipment suppliers in 2025.
- InterzerocoreInterzero is Orwak's representative in Croatia, providing comprehensive environmental services including waste management, closed-loop solutions, and recycling. Partnered with Bluesun Hotels for Orwak multi-chamber baler installations.
- VigateccoreVigatec is Orwak's distributor in Chile, supplying TOM bins and other Orwak products. Developed projects with McDonald's Chile (23+ TOM bins), Tommy Beans (touch-free bins), and Clinica Las Condes (12 TOM units).
- SULO IbericacoreSULO Iberica S.A. serves the Spanish market with head office and showroom in Madrid. Operated by EnviroGlobal. Distributes full Orwak product range including balers, compactors, and supplies. Attends TECMA trade show.
- EnviroGlobalcoreOrwak's distributor in Spain that opened Orwak España head office and showroom in Madrid in April 2018. Strategic relocation to capital for closer customer relationships and market development. Led by Rutger Willemse with Victoria Torrecilla heading sales.
- Orwak JapancoreOrwak's Japanese subsidiary/distributor. Installed 5070-HDC multi-chamber baler at Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center. Supports circular economy initiatives in Japan with Sales Manager Shimpei Takanohashi leading operations.
- AramarkminorInternational facility management services provider that partnered with Vigatec (Orwak Chile) for TOM installation project at Clinica Las Condes. Aramark manages facility operations and sought Orwak solutions for improved waste management.
- ClimeworksminorSwiss company pioneering Direct Air Capture technology. Orwak supports Climeworks' climate action initiative as a sponsor. Climeworks captures CO2 from air using renewable energy and stores it underground.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Orwak competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TOMRA: Norwegian technology company and Orwak's former parent (until ~2005) that pioneered reverse vending and material sorting. Both compete in advanced waste sorting and recovery equipment, with overlapping exposure to circular economy and recycling customers globally.
- Marathon Equipment: North American manufacturer of compactors, balers, and waste handling equipment. Direct competitor in the US and Canada — a geography where Orwak operates through Orwak North America.
- Avermann: German manufacturer of balers, compactors, and waste press systems with comparable product portfolio serving municipal and industrial waste handling customers across Europe.
- HSM: German manufacturer of baling presses, shredders, and waste compaction equipment. Competes with Orwak across retail, industrial, and logistics customers in Europe and increasingly global markets.
- PTR Baler and Compactor: US-based manufacturer of industrial balers, compactors, and crushers with comparable vertical and horizontal equipment lines targeting retail, manufacturing, and waste hauler customers.
- Bramidan: Danish manufacturer of vertical balers, compactors, and waste handling equipment with comparable product range and European distribution. Most direct head-to-head competitor in the vertical baler and multi-chamber press categories.
- Presona: Swedish manufacturer of balers and waste handling systems — direct geographic and product peer, both producing from Sweden with overlapping industrial customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Waste Management Inc. North America's largest waste services provider. Customer-side counterpart rather than direct competitor — buys compaction equipment and is a potential channel for Orwak's smart-bin and IoT-enabled solutions in fleet operations.
- SSI Shredding Systems: US-based manufacturer of industrial shredders and size reduction equipment. Adjacent in waste handling but broader and more industrial-focused; competes for downstream recycling capital budgets.
Others
- SULO Group: French-headquartered parent group of Orwak and a leading European waste container and services company. Sister company providing distribution channels for Orwak and a strategic reference point for Orwak's positioning within the broader waste management value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Orwak social profiles
Digital presenceOrwak compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Orwak financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Orwak leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Orwak subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Orwak funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Orwak 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 Orwak
What does Orwak do?
Orwak designs, manufactures, and sells stationary and self-contained waste compactors and balers that compress and bale solid waste materials at the source of generation. The company also provides multi-chamber sorting solutions, in-bin compaction systems, and an IoT-based communication service that enables remote equipment monitoring and data collection. Its equipment is deployed in commercial and industrial environments to reduce waste volume, simplify handling, and support recycling and waste-sorting workflows.
Is Orwak a public or private company?
Orwak is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Orwak founded?
Orwak was founded in 1971. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Orwak based?
Orwak is headquartered in Sävsjö, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Orwak make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Baler and Compactor Sales are the primary driver. The others are supplies and Consumables and installation and Technical Support.
Who are Orwak's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TOMRA, Marathon Equipment, Avermann, HSM, PTR Baler and Compactor, Bramidan and Presona. Broad incumbents are Waste Management Inc. and SSI Shredding Systems. SULO Group is listed as an others.
Does Orwak have an API?
No public API is recorded for Orwak.
What industry is Orwak in?
Orwak's product category is Waste Management Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHALAI, Industrial Waste Handling & Compaction Equipment (Balers, Compactors), with a secondary code of BPABALAD, On-site Waste Compaction & Baling Operations. Its NAICS code is 3333 and its SIC code is 4953.