Morssinkhof-Rymoplast

With 300 companies that generate an annual turnover of EUR 6 billion and employ 15,000 people, the plastics industry in the Leipzig region and Central Germany is an important economic cornerstone. These companies cover the entire material cycle - from production to processing and recycling. And it is precisely in the latter area that Morssinkhof-Rymoplast, and thus the plant in Markranstädt, is active. Up to 40,000 tonnes of recycled, food-grade PET pellets are to be produced here every year in future.

For this purpose, the supplier Remondis (Zeitz) will produce flakes from PET bottles. These flakes are intensively cleaned once again and processed into granulate by Morssinkhof-Rymoplast in Markranstädt, which in turn serves as material for PET packaging. The result is a closed material cycle. MRG Project Manager Raymond Nienhuis is confident that demand is assured: "More and more large companies are recognising the need for this development, and not just because legislation will impose an obligation to use recycled raw materials in the coming years." And despite the energy-intensive process required, the plant in Markranstädt alone contributes to an annual saving of 170,000 tonnes of CO2, says Nienhuis.

Morssinkhof-Rymoplast has now started testing the production of the first part of this process, which is taking place in the existing hall. A total of 17 employees are currently testing the systems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Completion of the second hall is scheduled for December. "We now expect the installation that is being built in this hall to go into operation in April," explains Raymond Nienhuis. "We would then be in full production by the end of April. We are still looking for employees in production for this, but also process technologists who can help us start the second part of the process." The plant in Markranstädt is set to grow to 50 jobs.

Markranstädt was chosen for its favourable location. The links to the A9 and A14 motorways and the proximity to a major supplier and a major customer of Morssinkhof-Rymoplast are major plus points. On the other hand, the Dutch company was very impressed by the regional business development programme. The Invest Region Leipzig GmbH business promotion agency, the city of Markranstädt and the district of Leipzig, where the district administrator's economic promotion/district development department is based, worked hand in hand and opened doors.

The city of Markranstädt also sees the settlement as a successful example of the cooperation agreement within the framework of the "development and marketing partnership" with Invest Region Leipzig GmbH. Mayor Spiske says: "The initially envisaged processing time of 18 months - particularly for the installation of a suitable power connection - was significantly reduced. It took just six months from the first site inspection in January 2019 to the actual settlement. Everyone involved - from Invest Region Leipzig to the district of Leipzig and the economic development department of the city of Markranstädt - successfully pulled together."

District Administrator Henry Graichen also agrees: "The business promoters worked professionally as a team and created 50 jobs with their commitment.

As a result, the gap that Fehrer left behind in Markranstädt has been closed, at least in part. The example of Morssinkhof-Rymoplast in particular shows that it is important to think of the Leipzig region as an entire economic area. This must be marketed in its entirety. And Invest Region Leipzig is indispensable for this task as a joint company of the city and districts."