The 100th Axtor
– A success story
It is compact, powerful and versatile: The Axtor is at the heart of many compost and biomass operations worldwide. In Japan, it is the company Ryokusan that is sending a visible signal for a sustainable future with the purchase of the 100th Axtor. But there is more behind the number: a decades-long partnership and the clear goal of shaping a greener future.
Image: The 100th Axtor together with the Ryokusan team at N-Expo – Asia‘s largest environmental trade fair.
The Axtor is one of the most versatile machines in the Komptech portfolio. Whether as a shredder or chipper – thanks to its simple conversion, it is suitable for a wide variety of materials: from green waste to logs and waste wood to bark and pallets. Depending on the screen basket and tool equipment, the exact material required for energy or material use is produced.
A special anniversary has now been celebrated with the production of the 100th Axtor – and with Ryokusan, this machine went to a long-standing partner who knows and uses the Axtor like no other.
An engraved milestone: the 100th Axtor
„Each Axtor machine is proof of partnership, performance and vision.“
Ewald Konrad,
CSO at Komptech
FROM TOPTURN TO AXTOR
Ryokusan, based in Japan, has been a pioneer in the development and provision of technologies for a bio-based circular economy for many years. The collaboration between Komptech and Ryokusan goes back more than two decades. In the early 2000s, it was Ryokusan‘s founder Katsuji Kosuge who first came across the Topturn compost turner during a visit to Austria.
What began with the Topturn quickly developed further. In 2014, the first Axtor was delivered to a major customer in Japan – a milestone that laid the foundations for the machine‘s success story in Japan. The Axtor quickly showed its strengths, particularly in the processing of wood materials for biomass utilization.
But especially in a country like Japan, where compactness and efficiency are crucial, it quickly became clear that a customized solution was needed.
So, in close cooperation with Komptech the new Axtor series was created – innovative machines that perfectly combine performance and mobility. Also included: more compact versions specially tailored to the requirements of the Japanese market.
The 100th Axtor is on its way to Ryokusan.
„The Axtor is our daily partner – robust, versatile and just right for the requirements of the Japanese biomass industry.“
Ryosuke Mochizuki,
Sales Manager, Ryokusan
COMMITMENT TO JAPAN‘S GREEN ENERGY
Today, thanks to Ryokusan, the Axtor is used every day in Japan – for processing tree trunks, bark, branches, wood pallets and forestry cuttings. The wood chips produced are used as fuel for biomass power plants and heating systems in public facilities such as schools, hospitals and municipal facilities.
The high versatility of the machine and the ease of maintenance – especially of the cutting tools – are particularly appreciated. These features play a decisive role in ensuring smooth and efficient operation – a key aspect in the Japanese energy industry, where reliability and quality control are top priorities.
The two managing directors of the family business, Katsuji Kosuge and Teppei Kosuge, with the 100th Axtor.
When asked how one would describe the machine, company president Katsuji Kosuge replied with a smile:
„We like the Axtor because it delivers exactly what we need.“
Katsuji Kosuge,
President of Ryokusan
With the 100th machine now delivered, Ryokusan is now one of Axtor‘s most important customers worldwide.
THE FUTURE? FLEXIBLE, ELECTRIC!
The Axtor will remain a central element of Ryokusan‘s strategy in the future. The desire for an electro-mobile version has already been formulated, and the ideas and demand are there. Komptech‘s role remains clear: developer and partner at eye level – with technical expertise, innovative strength and international support.
The 100th Axtor is a milestone. But for Ryokusan and Komptech, it is also a starting point – for the next stage on the road to a greener world.
Photo series documenting
the production of the 100th Axtor:
This is the online version of the article “The 100th Axtor – A success story” from the Komptech magazine Opportunity / Issue No. 4 (2025) ↗
Image rights: All images © Komptech GmbH where not otherwise indicated.
No liability accepted for changes or errors.
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