About

Refining Resources, Enhancing Potential.
We are your partner in wet mechanical treatment.

We are a German based medium-sized, privately owned company with focus on wet mechanical solutions for an optimum and responsible valorizing of primary and secondary resources. Since the foundation of AKW Equipment and Process Design in 1963, innovation, new product ideas and technologies have turned the company into a global operating enterprise with its headquarter in Hirschau, offices in Shanghai and Dubai as well as agencies in several countries worldwide.

From Nature to Value

Our mission is to be the leader in wet mechanical processing by providing innovative, environmentally friendly and efficient solutions that help our customers make optimal use of their resources while minimizing environmental impact. Our comprehensive approach includes initial testing in our state-of-the-art lab, detailed engineering, as well as development and implementation of complete processing plants.

Process development and plant construction from AKW Equipment and Process Design are based on more than 60 years of experience, professionalism, and know-how. Modern system technology and our own proprietary equipment, combined with purchased elements, ensure a consistently high and international level of quality.

We always strive to set new standards in our industry through continuous research and development, excellent customer service, proven equipment and high quality.

Thibaut Richard, General Manager

  • 100
    +

    employees
    worldwide

  • 2000
    +

    realized
    plants

  • 10
    +

    international
    representations

  • 5800
    +

    performed
    test works

History

Engineering Excellence.
Shaping the Future of Mineral Processing since 1963.

  • 1960s

    1963 AKW Equipment and Process Design was founded as a part of the Amberger Kaolinwerke by Prof. Helmut Trawinski. We developed the first AKA-VORTEX Polyurethane hydrocyclone and delivered the first kaolin processing line to the UK.

  • 1970s

    Our next step inlcuded expanding our skills and competencies worldwide in processing bentonite, iron ore and alumina classification.

  • 1980s

    Time for further development! Working in different industries brought us into contact with different needs. That’s why we developed the AKOREL Free-Fall Classifier in the 80s. We also adapted the hydrocyclones to the chemical industry and delivered the world´s first plastic recycling plant.

  • 1990s

    In addition to delivering semi-mobile soil washing plants and pumice processing plants as well as developing the very first high performance thickener AKA-SET, the industrial entrepreneur family Heckmann acquiried the company and unlocking new opportunities.

  • 2000s

    A new millenia comes with new projects: AKW Equipment and Process Design started a joint venture with SAKW in China.
    Hence, sand became one of the world´s most consumed natural raw material, we supported our customers worldwide with our solutions for sand and kaolin processing.

  • 2010s

    Foundation of the subsidiary AKW Wet Treatment Equipment LLC in Dubai and opening of a representation office in the CIS countries. We stepped into the pharma and food business and adjusted our hydrocyclones to those specific market requirements.
    Highlight: We built our new technical laboratory in Hirschau

  • 2020s

    Over the course of time, AKW Equipment and Process Design strengthened its leading position worldwide and became an expert in processing of sand & kaolin, ores & minerals, chemicals, pharmaceutical & food as well as in the fields of FGD and environmental technologies & recycling.

    We keep on track!