VDI Nachrichten

02.02.2026

Cameras with artificial intelligence quickly recognize which valuable materials are contained in old construction debris and can be recycled, as a drive through a recycling center in Stuttgart shows. There, the companies Optocycle and Feess improve the purity of the materials with the help of automation.

EUWID

23.02.2026

The DBU (German Federal Environmental Foundation) is supporting the Tübingen startup Optocycle with around €170,000. The funds will be used to develop a prototype that enables AI-based real-time monitoring of recycled aggregates from construction waste. The goal is to automate and make reproducible the quality control in the production of recycling granulates.

Forbes 30 Under 30 List

29.11.2024 

As the founder and CEO of Optocycle, Max-Frederick Gerken is committed to a sustainable vision: transforming construction waste into reusable building materials. With optical sensors and AI, Optocycle has established itself in the construction and recycling industry since 2022. The company aims to advance the circular economy by efficiently and environmentally friendly recycling mineral construction waste.

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Süddeutsche Zeitung

05.08.2024 

Nowhere is there as much waste as on construction sites. However, at recycling yards, they also do not know what arrives there – and overlook many things that they could recycle. A start-up from Tübingen wants to change that.

Stuttgarter Nachrichten

28.02.2024

An innovative medium-sized company from Kirchheim unter Teck and a start-up in Tübingen are perfecting the recycling of construction waste using artificial intelligence. The potential is enormous.