Big Hanna

What Big Hanna does

Big Hanna (Susteco AB) is a Swedish manufacturer of in-vessel flow composting systems for on-site food waste treatment, founded in 1997 to commercialize a technology invented in 1991 by sociologist Torsten Hultin. The company's core product line comprises electromechanical composters in five models (T40, T60, T120, T240, T480) with weekly processing capacities ranging from 75 to 10,800 kg, operating through thermophilic, mesophilic, and maturation phases over 6-10 weeks without chemical accelerators or additives. Supporting modules include a proprietary biofilter achieving ~95% odor reduction, RFID access control for source-segregation tracking, automatic infeed systems with maceration/dewatering (~300 kg/hour capacity, ~50% capacity uplift), and remote-monitoring touch-panel controls with smartphone/tablet access. The machines carry a 20+ year lifespan with 99% end-of-life recyclability and earn LEED and BREEAM green building credits.

The company sells exclusively through a global distributor network spanning 35+ countries, with regional partners including Berca Brand (Spain and select international projects), EC ALL Ltd and Totemic Business Solutions (USA), Achab Group (Italy), Fenix Ambiente (Portugal), and Vertal Inc (Canada). End-customer segments span municipalities, hotels and restaurants, correctional and educational institutions, residential housing associations, zoos, and remote industrial sites including the Tasiast Gold Mine (Kinross) in Mauritania. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of machines and accessories, installation, training, and ongoing service contracts; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based per project. Susteco AB is a privately held company with 1-10 employees and over 1,000 cumulative installations worldwide.

Name

Big Hanna

Legal name

Susteco AB

Website

https://bighanna.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Hanna (Susteco AB) manufactures in-vessel flow composting machines for on-site food waste treatment, serving municipalities, hospitality, institutions, and industrial sites across 35+ countries through a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management Equipment

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Composting Facility Operations (Windrow, ASP, In-Vessel) (BPALAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Food Waste Programs & On-Site Solutions (Cafeterias, Grocers, Hospitality) (BPALAEAE), Organics Facility Development & Operations Services (Design/Build, O&M, Permitting) (EUAIAEAJ)

Keywords

• In-vessel composting equipment
• On-site food waste treatment
• Organic waste recycling machines
• Decentralized composting systems
• Commercial composting machines

Headquarters

HQ city

Jonsered

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Composting Machine Sales: Sale of Big Hanna composting machines in various models (T60, T120, T240, T480) ranging from 75 to 10,800 kg per week processing capacity. Machines are sold directly through Susteco AB and through a global distributor network.
2. Installation, Training and Service Contracts: Professional services including on-site installation, staff training, and ongoing service/maintenance contracts offered by Susteco AB and its distributors worldwide.
3. Accessories and Add-ons: Additional equipment such as RFID readers, scales, infeed systems, WMS dewatering units, and biofilter units sold as optional add-ons to the base composting machines.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Big Hanna manufactures and sells electromechanical in-vessel composting machines that treat food waste on-site at the customer's location, converting it into mature compost over 6–10 weeks without chemical accelerators or additives. The product line spans five models (T40, T60, T120, T240, T480) with weekly processing capacities from 75 to 10,800 kg, sold through a global distributor network alongside installation, training, and service contracts. Susteco AB in Sweden manufactures the equipment; regional distributors handle local sales, installation, and after-sales support across more than 35 countries.

Product overview

Big Hanna is a product line of electromechanical composters manufactured by Susteco AB, a Swedish company established in 1997. The product range spans from 75 to 10,800 kg per week (330 to 23,800 lbs/week in the US market), serving residential, commercial, institutional, and municipal customers. The core Big Hanna composter processes food waste through nature's own composting process without accelerators or additives, combining thermophilic, mesophilic, and maturation phases within a single enclosed vessel over 6-10 weeks. The product portfolio includes five main composter models (T40, T60, T120, T240, T480) differentiated by capacity, plus optional add-on modules including a biofilter for odor control (95% reduction), RFID access reader for usage tracking, automatic infeed system with macerator, waste management system for liquid removal, and touch panel control with remote monitoring capabilities. The machines are suitable for indoor or outdoor installation and can earn credits in LEED and BREEAM green building certification programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Big Hanna: In-vessel composting machines for on-site food waste treatment, available in models ranging from T40 to T1200 with capacities from 75 to 10,800 kg per week.

Products and services

• Big Hanna Composter (product family)
• Big Hanna T40
• Big Hanna T60
• Big Hanna T120
• Big Hanna T240
• Big Hanna T480

Quantifiable outcome

• Organic waste volume reduced by up to 90%
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Istituto Agrario VetroneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020Agricultural college in Benevento, Italy, collaborating with Torrioni municipality to use Big Hanna-produced compost in school greenhouses and crops for agronomic study and analysis.
• Atersir (Emilia-Romagna Territorial Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Atersir, the Emilia-Romagna Territorial Agency for water and waste services, funded the Fiorano Modenese 'Compost kmzero' project including the purchase of a Big Hanna composter at Luisa Guidotti primary school.
• Ohio EPA / Summit ReWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2019Ohio EPA and Summit ReWorks collaborated with Akron Zoo to fund and plan the Big Hanna composting project. Ohio EPA's Recycling and Litter Prevention Program (R&LP) community development grant co-funded the composting unit and building, with Akron Zoo providing match funds.
• BERCA INSULARminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018BERCA INSULAR, alongside BERCA BRAND, is a distributor for Big Hanna in Spain, with a press release noting their collaboration on the Hotel Tigaiga installation in Tenerife.
• Agenzia di Sviluppo Gal Genovese (SCOW Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013As part of the EU-funded SCOW project (Selective Collection of the Organic Waste in touristic areas, 2013–2015), Agenzia di Sviluppo Gal Genovese installed three Big Hanna composters in the Genoa area. This was a strategic co-development partnership combining EU funding with Big Hanna technology deployment across Mediterranean territories.
• Berca BrandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBerca Brand is the exclusive distributor for Big Hanna in Spain and handles international projects including the Tasiast Gold Mine in Mauritania. Based in Collado Villalba, Madrid, they provide sales, installation, training, and service support for the Spanish market and select international projects.
• EC ALL LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEC ALL Ltd is the distributor for Big Hanna in the United States, handling sales and support for US installations including Akron Zoo and multiple Ohio correctional institutions.
• Totemic Business Solutions LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdditional US-based distributor for Big Hanna products in the United States market.
• Fenix AmbientecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFenix Ambiente is the representative for Big Hanna in Portugal, dedicated to local, community, and municipal composting solutions. Installed the first Big Hanna in Portugal at Restaurante Mauritânia Real.
• Achab GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAchab Group is the Italian distributor for Big Hanna, managing the Italian market with 59 machines delivered and 35+ in operation as of 2019. Handles Italian-language communications and local installation support.
• Vertal IncminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVertal Inc represents Big Hanna in Canada, participating in exhibitions and explaining composting technology to Canadian customers.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Suez Environmental Services: Large environmental services and waste management company offering organic waste treatment and composting at industrial scale. Represents the centralized alternative to Big Hanna's decentralized on-site model for municipal food waste streams.
• Veolia Environmental Services: Global waste management incumbent offering industrial composting and organic waste treatment services. Comparable as a broader waste-management player competing for municipal and commercial food waste contracts that Big Hanna also targets.
• Tuthill Corporation: Diversified industrial manufacturer whose EarthCare division supplies composting and waste processing equipment. Comparable as a broader industrial incumbent offering food waste processing solutions to similar enterprise customers.

Direct peers

• Engineered Compost Systems (ECS): Washington-state based provider of in-vessel composting equipment and odor control systems. Direct competitor to Big Hanna in the on-site and mid-scale composting equipment market, serving similar municipal and institutional customers.
• Green Mountain Technologies: US-based designer and manufacturer of in-vessel composting systems for commercial and institutional food waste. Comparable to Big Hanna in both technology (enclosed aerobic composting) and customer base (universities, municipalities, commercial kitchens).
• Power Knot: Manufacturer of on-site food waste digesters (LFC biodigester) used in commercial kitchens. Overlaps with Big Hanna in serving hospitality and institutional food waste generators, though using an alternative aerobic digestion technology.
• BioHiTech America: US provider of on-site food waste management solutions including the Eco-Safe Digester. Targets the same hospitality, healthcare, and institutional segments as Big Hanna with automated food waste processing equipment.
• Oklin International: Canadian manufacturer of on-site food waste composting machines (GG-02, GG-10, etc.). Direct peer to Big Hanna in product category — small-footprint automated composters targeting restaurants, hotels, and institutional food service.
• Compost Systems: Austrian manufacturer of in-vessel composting systems for organic waste treatment. Directly comparable to Big Hanna in product category, technology approach (enclosed vessel composting), and target customers (municipalities, hospitality, commercial food waste generators).

Emerging players

• ZERO Waste Energy (ZWE): Provider of on-site organic waste processing and anaerobic digestion solutions. Adjacent technology overlap with Big Hanna, targeting commercial food waste generators with an alternative decentralized processing approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BigHannaCompost
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/bighanna
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigHannaComposter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/susteco-ab

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 Big Hanna