Transforming Quarry Recycling and Sustainability with J. Obermeier and CDE
In the heart of Bavaria, change is brewing. In Zolling, Germany, second-generation construction firm J. Obermeier e.K. has turned a critical corner in its evolution. With the commissioning of a high-capacity CDE wash plant capable of processing up to 150 tonnes per hour, the company isn’t just scaling up—it’s steering decisively towards a future built on sustainability, circularity, and innovation.
J. Obermeier’s story began in the late 1970s, grounded in traditional earthworks, demolition, civil engineering, and haulage services. Based in Abersberg, the family-run operation quickly became a trusted name across the greater Freising and Munich regions. Their early investment in a five-hectare gravel pit in the 1980s laid the foundation for large-scale quarrying projects, including the development of Munich Airport.
Moving Beyond the Pit
“In simple terms, across all the different divisions of our business, we dig, haul and process materials that are critical to the construction industry,” said Josef Obermeier, current owner and the second-generation leader of the business. “However, conserving natural resources is at the forefront of everything we do.”
This philosophy has become the driving force behind the company’s efforts to transition away from relying solely on virgin materials. “The days when valuable building materials or excavated soil from demolition and earthworks were more or less carelessly disposed of in a gravel pit are definitely over,” he stressed.
It was this environmentally-conscious approach that sparked a collaboration with wet processing powerhouse CDE, known for helping enterprises transition to a more circular economy.
Circular Thinking Meets Wet Processing
In recent years, J. Obermeier has leaned into dry recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, reclaiming reusable sand and aggregates. Now, with the new wash plant, the firm is eyeing the next step in this sustainability journey—maximising the value of every tonne of material.
“We continue to run natural sand and gravel operations because of industry demand,” said Josef Obermeier. “But we are actively investing in our recycling capabilities to offset that impact. Eventually, we aim to produce mostly recycled materials.”
While dry processes served them well, wet processing offered something more: higher recovery rates, greater material quality, and a future-proof operation.
Optimising the Primary Process
Before diving into recycling full throttle, the company had to ensure its current operations were as efficient as possible. That meant building a plant that could do double duty—process natural sand and gravel now, and shift gears towards recycling when regulatory permits caught up.
“That was a very important aspect of the project,” Josef said. “We wanted a plant fit for the future but capable of supporting our needs today. That’s where CDE came in.”
After visiting several CDE installations and witnessing the technology in action, Josef was sold. “I left convinced we had found a partner aligned with our values and who could see this ambitious project through.”
Built for Tomorrow
The plant supplied by CDE has versatility baked in. Designed to handle 150tph of primary material, it can pivot seamlessly to processing highly variable feedstocks like C&D waste.
“Modularity and versatility are at the core of equipment designed by CDE,” said Andrew Wilson, CDE’s Business Development Manager for the DACH region. “Obermeier wants to shift from virgin materials to a circular model, so we built a solution that does both.”
The system includes:
- CDE M2500 modular sand washing plant – integrates feeding, screening, washing, and stockpiling
- AggMax scrubbing and classification system – pre-screens, scrubs, removes organics, and sizes material
- AquaCycle™ thickener – recycles up to 90% of process water, reducing environmental footprint
Crucially, the plant is also powered in part by a growing solar energy infrastructure.
Energy Neutral Ambitions
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at J. Obermeier—it’s a business imperative. The company has been producing emission-free, climate-neutral electricity since 2009 via rooftop solar panels. More recently, a photovoltaic system over the infilled gravel pit has been expanding steadily. By 2025, it’s expected to generate 3 megawatts of power.
Linking the water recycling system with the solar setup drives down operational costs and carbon emissions—key priorities for the firm.
A Broader Product Palette
With the new plant up and running for nine months, the results are already apparent. The product range has expanded significantly, allowing J. Obermeier to serve the construction sector with premium-grade materials:
- Fine sand
- 0/4mm concrete sand
- 4/8mm washed aggregate
- 8/16mm washed aggregate
- 16/32mm aggregate
- +32mm oversized aggregate
Josef Obermeier sees the facility as more than just an operational upgrade—it’s a statement: “Our partnership with CDE will really help to ease pressure on these finite resources so that we can better meet the demands of the market today, in the most sustainable way possible, while also building a facility that can pave the way for a circular economy into the future.”
A Glimpse into the Future
“The future is already here,” said CDE’s Andrew Wilson. “It has been commissioned and is currently supporting Obermeier to process its natural resources with greater efficiency than before. The plant in operation today will facilitate an easy transition to waste recycling for the business tomorrow.”
Wilson added that the facility boasts a recovery rate of 60–80%, and represents the direction the construction and aggregates industries are headed. “Growing emphasis on the circular economy has significantly changed the aggregates and construction sectors’ landscapes. Businesses are expected to find innovative ways to recycle construction and demolition waste and utilise more eco-friendly materials.”
To showcase the success of the partnership and technology, CDE is hosting an Open Day at the J. Obermeier site on Friday 23rd May.
Building a Better Tomorrow
In Zolling, what was once just a gravel pit is now a symbol of industry transformation. Through bold investment and visionary thinking, J. Obermeier has set the groundwork not just for business resilience, but for a smarter, greener construction industry.
This collaboration proves that legacy and innovation don’t have to be at odds. In fact, when combined with the right technology and mindset, they just might be the secret to building a better tomorrow.
