Who we are
We are a team of experts specializing in acid regeneration plants and the pickling process. By developing an innovative method for the total recovery of mixed acids from stainless steel pickling, we offer tailor-made solutions that help your company reduce operational costs and make your pickling operations more environmentally friendly. Our technology not only makes pickling greener but also contributes to the advancement of green steel.
Through our ongoing R&D efforts, we have extended the use case of our REGMAX®technology to include sustainable solutions for hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids, as well as their mixtures. This expansion has led to the development of a REGMAX®-Solutions Portfolio, further enhancing acid regeneration processes across the stainless steel sector.
Making the World a Better One
Stainless steel pickling has traditionally been associated with environmental challenges and high operating costs. Our REGMAX® technology turns these problems into opportunities. For the first time, all the components of waste acid can be converted into valuable resources, creating a closed-loop system. By implementing REGMAX®, we're not only reducing your pickling costs, we're making the world a better place through sustainable, resource-efficient solutions.
"We eliminate waste acids from the global stainless steel industry — and beyond!"
Fabian Storek / Founder & CEO
Our story
After years in technical management roles at a leading steel equipment supplier, Fabian founded SUSTEC in 2013. Initially, SUSTEC focused exclusively on consulting for acid regeneration plants, pickling lines, and environmental technology for the steel industry, delivering projects across four continents. However, Fabian was inspired by an acid regeneration process concept he co-invented earlier—one he believed could address a longstanding, unsolved environmental challenge. Securing the IP rights in 2015, SUSTEC committed to developing this idea into a proven, marketable technology, with essential support from regional, national, and European funding agencies for R&D. In 2019, SUSTEC successfully achieved proof of concept, and today, this technology is marketed as REGMAX® (Regeneration Maximized), recognized by Bertrand Piccard’s Solar Impulse Foundation as an “Efficient Solution” and by the Mission Innovation Initiative as a “disruptive low carbon solution.” SUSTEC now offers comprehensive solutions for the regeneration of hydrofluoric, nitric, hydrochloric, and sulfuric acids, enabling the steel industry to achieve sustainable, closed-loop acid recycling. The REGMAX® portfolio addresses a complete range of acids used in stainless steel production, providing the industry with robust, environmentally conscious, and cost-effective acid management options.
Our milestones
2013
Founding of SUSTEC
Between 2013 and 2015, we provided technology consulting for the steel industry, working on projects with Arcelor Mittal Poland, China Steel Group Vietnam & Taiwan, Corbion Spain, Ternium Mexico, and Uganda Roofing Mills.
2015
REGMAX®: Development Kickoff
SUSTEC initiated the development of the REGMAX® acid regeneration technology from scratch. Initial funding has been successfully secured to support this development work.
SUSTEC: Incubator and Seed Financing achieved
SUSTEC joined the Accent Incubator program and received seed financing through Austrian AWS Seed.
2016
AWARD: Born Global Champion - WKO
The WKO Born Global Champion Award, presented by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, honors young Austrian companies that achieve early international success with innovative products or services and demonstrate rapid growth
2017
REGMAX®: Building World's 1st REGMAX plant in Germany
Following successful development between 2015 and 2017, SUSTEC secured a contract for the world’s first REGMAX® pilot regeneration plant, located in Germany, with a processing capacity of 1.3 million liters of waste acid per year, co-financed by Austria's FFG R&D program.
2018
REGMAX®: Worlds First REGMAX Plant Operational in Record Time
In under a year since the contract award, SUSTEC successfully commenced test and development operations at the REGMAX® pilot plant in Germany.
REGMAX®: Advancing Toward Full Market Readiness
A contract was awarded for a larger REGMAX® plant in Belgium, designed to process 9.5 million liters annually, scaling the technology by a factor of more than seven. This significant demonstration of the technology was supported by co-financing from the European Commission Horizon 2020 SME program.
AWARD: “Efficient Solution” by Solar Impulse Foundation
The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label, awarded by the Solar Impulse Foundation, recognizes products, services, or processes that are both environmentally sustainable and economically profitable, following a rigorous assessment by independent experts.
2019
AWARD: Mission Innovation MI4
Awarded by Mission Innovation, a global governmental initiative to accelerate clean energy innovation, REGMAX® was chosen as one of 100 disruptive low-carbon solutions. It has the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by 6 million tons per year.
REGMAX®: World's First REGMAX® Plant Receives FAC
Following successful testing and a year of operation, the firstREGMAX® plant has officially received its Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) and commenced commercial operations.
REGMAX®: Full-Scale Belgium Construction Underway
Following the successful German pilot plant, construction of the first full-scale REGMAX® plant has begun in Belgium.
2020
REGMAX®: Full-Scale Plant Now Operational in Belgium
Following successful construction, the first full-scale REGMAX® plant in Belgium has started its operation, marking a significant milestone in scaling up sustainable acid regeneration technology. Now, with two REGMAX® acid regeneration plants in operation, they jointly offer a treatment capacity of 10.8 million liters of waste acid per year.
2021
REGMAX®: Achieving Full Market Readiness
The first full-scale REGMAX® plant has achieved customer acceptance and begun commercial operation, marking the technology's market readiness and the completion of its development journey. With two REGMAX® plants now operating commercially, the technology is set to make a significant impact on sustainable acid regeneration in the industry.
REGMAX®: Third Plant Ordered by Returning Customer
In 2021, following the success of the first full-scale REGMAX® plant, the same customer placed an order for a second, even larger plant with a treatment capacity of 16.8 million liters per year. As a repeat customer, their satisfaction highlights the value of REGMAX® technology. This marks the third REGMAX® plant underway, further advancing sustainable acid regeneration.
REGMAX.NITRATE: Green Passivation - SUSTEC’s Nitric Acid Recovery Solution
SUSTEC has developed a unique process to fully recover HNO₃ passivation baths from stainless steel pickling, enabling complete recovery of both metals and acid. This innovation is an important step toward eliminating nitric wastewater and making stainless steel pickling a sustainable and green process.
2022
SUSTEC: Certified in Quality Management Standards
SUSTEC has achieved the ISO 9001 quality certification, awarded by TÜV Austria, underscoring its commitment to quality management standards. This certification highlights SUSTEC's dedication to delivering reliable, high-quality solutions and continuously improving its processes.
SUSTEC: Pioneers Recycling Tech for Sustainable EV Batteries
SUSTEC is applying its expertise from REGMAX® technology to develop a new process for EV battery production, enabling the recovery of both acids and valuable metals from etching. As a partner in the ESiLib consortium, SUSTEC is advancing circularity in battery manufacturing by creating efficient, closed-loop recycling systems.
REGMAX.CHLORIDE: Enables Closed-Loop HCl Recovery in Stainless Pickling
SUSTEC developed REGMAX.CHLORIDE technology, an innovative solution for regenerating spent hydrochloric acid from stainless steel pickling, which was previously a major challenge due to high ferric chloride concentrations. This technology enables full recovery of hydrochloric acid, significantly reducing environmental impact and operational costs while promoting a closed-loop.
2023
REGMAX®: Third Plant Boosts Waste Acid Treatment to 27.6M Liters Annually
The third REGMAX® plant in Belgium became operational, bringing the total treatment capacity of all three plants to 27.6 million liters of waste acid per year. This new plant also offers automatic switching for treating both HF/HNO₃ mixtures and HNO₃ passivation baths, enhancing its versatility.
REGMAX.SILICON: Advancing Sustainable Silicon Battery Production
The REGMAX.SILICON pilot plant for EV battery production was developed and engineered by SUSTEC and installed at a partner facility in the Netherlands. Promising initial results lay a solid foundation for advancing a fully circular, sustainable process for nano-porous silicon in lithium-ion batteries.
REGMAX.CHLORIDE: Pilot Plant Set for Final Development
A pilot plant built to validate and demonstrate the REGMAX.CHLORIDE technology. This plant confirm the effectiveness in recovering hydrochloric acid stainless steel pickling, supporting a system and reducing environmental impact.
REGMAX.NITRATE: Proven, Sustainable Solution for Passivation Bath Recovery
SUSTEC's passivation bath solution REGMAX.NITRATE for stainless steel production is now proven and market-ready on a large industrial scale, allowing full recovery and recycling of nitric acid in a closed-loop system. With this advancement, SUSTEC has now expanded its acid regeneration portfolio to cover both HF/HNO₃ mixtures and pure HNO₃ passivation baths, all manageable within a single acid regeneration plant.
REGMAX.SULFATE: A Breakthrough in HF and H₂SO₄ Recovery
SUSTEC has developed REGMAX.SULFATE, an innovative solution for treating HF/H₂SO₄ mixtures in stainless steel pickling, enabling full recovery and reuse of hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids along with their bound metals. This addresses the last acid mixture in stainless steel production lacking a sustainable recycling solution. Together with REGMAX, REGMAX.NITRATE and REGMAX.CHLORIDE, SUSTEC closes the loop on acid recycling, offering a sustainable, cost-effective approach for all acids used in the steel industry.
REGMAX® Plants: Minimal Supervision Needed
The latest automation advancements in SUSTEC's REGMAX plants allow for nearly autonomous operation, with system operator's input is limited to the selection of four operation modes.
2024
REGMAX: Third Plant Launches Commercial Operations
The thirdREGMAX® plant in Belgium has received customer acceptance and is now in commercial operation, bringing the combined treatment capacity of all three plants to 27.6 million litres of waste acid per year.
REGMAX.CHLORIDE: Proven Superazeotropic HCl Recovery Tech Ready
REGMAX.CHLORIDE has successfully completed pilot plant testing using waste from an operational stainless steel pickling line and is now market-ready, offering a proven solution for sustainable hydrochloric acid recovery. The process achieved superazeotropic regenerated HCl, providing industries with a reliable, eco-friendly option for managing acid waste in stainless steel processing.
REGMAX.SULFATE: Successful Pilot for HF and H₂SO₄ Recycling
REGMAX.SULFATE has successfully completed pilot testing with waste acid from an operational stainless steel pickling line, providing a solution for sustainable recovery of hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids mixtures form stainless steel pickling.
REGMAX.SILICON: Proof of Concept Achieved, Moving to Scale-Up
REGMAX.SILICON has proven its concept at the Netherlands pilot plant, showing strong potential for green, circular nanoporous silicon production. The next step is scaling up to industrial production capacity to enable sustainable, large-scale manufacturing.
Leading the Way in Sustainable Acid Management
REGMAX® stands as the world’s most sustainable solution for industries using hydrofluoric, nitric, sulfuric, or hydrochloric acids. Unlike traditional methods, REGMAX® fully recovers waste acids, establishing a closed-loop system that transforms waste into reusable resources. This approach not only delivers significant cost savings but also supports global climate goals and protects water-based ecosystems. Recognized by the European Commission as a top-class innovator among SMEs, SUSTEC continues to set the standard for sustainable acid management worldwide.