Founded in 1919, JOEST is a global, family-owned business with a strong engineering pedigree. Pronounced “Yoast,” the German name belies a company now deeply embedded in international heavy industry, with global operations.
JOEST Australia, based in Western Australia and celebrating 25 years of operation, was co-founded by director Ian Laws in partnership with the German parent company.
Australia’s strategic importance to the group stems largely from the country’s robust mining sector, which has shaped the product focus locally. While the company’s heritage lies in vibrating equipment, its expansion into the recycling industry reflects a maturing sector and emerging demand for high-performance machinery in waste and resource recovery. JOEST’s experience internationally, particularly in Europe, the US and Japan, provides a blueprint for what’s possible in Australia as infrastructure and interest in recycling continues to grow.
Built for recycling performance
JOEST’s recycling range includes a broad suite of vibrating screens, flip flow screens, finger screens and others, as well as feeders, conveyors and specialised equipment for niche processes. Among the unique technologies is a line of machines tailored for Waste to Energy bottom ash management, particularly in handling hot box bulk solids from incineration processes.
Also included in the range are zigzag separators, which function similarly to wind sifters. These devices use airflow to separate materials by density as they descend through a zigzag path. Laws said wind sifters are becoming increasingly relevant as facilities look for low-maintenance, cost-effective solutions that occupy a smaller footprint without sacrificing throughput.
One standout in this category is JOEST’s J-Flow Air Separator. Designed for versatility and efficiency, the J-Flow separates lightweight and heavy materials with adjustable airflow and minimal energy use. With a capacity of 5-12 tonnes per hour, it delivers an impressive performance
-to-size ratio, making it suitable for space-constrained plants that still require industrial-grade processing power.
“The J-Flow is quite innovative in that it’s a small footprint and quite an effective, low-cost wind shifting option,” said Laws.
The J-Flow exemplifies JOEST’s engineering ethos – high performance through compact, intelligent design. Created to meet the needs of smaller, more flexible processing operations, it stands apart from bulkier, traditional wind sifters. For recycling operators looking to reduce equipment sprawl while maintaining precision separation, the J-Flow offers a refined solution.
“The J-Flow was designed to do the job of historically larger, more expensive machines that take up a lot of space,” Laws said. “It’s a simplified, innovative solution, which has a relatively small footprint compared to some of the competitors in that particular product.”
As recycling streams diversify, particularly across municipal waste and construction and demolition material, machines like the J-Flow become even more relevant. With adaptability at the core of its design, it meets a range of waste handling needs without the complexity and capital outlay typically associated with larger equipment.
Expanded offering through acquisition
Further enhancing JOEST’s portfolio is its acquisition of Mogensen, a company with a complementary line of vibrating machinery. This strategic addition, completed 18 months ago, expands JOEST’s capabilities and offers customers greater flexibility in tailoring equipment to specific applications.
While Mogensen’s products are not typically paired directly with JOEST equipment, they fill functional gaps in the broader product suite. Laws sees this as a natural extension of the company’s strategy. “It’s a product range that adds to the experience and the depth of the equipment that JOEST can offer,” he said.
Crucially, JOEST does not position itself as a plant builder or turnkey provider. Instead, it focuses on manufacturing high-quality, specialist machinery that integrates seamlessly into larger systems – offering customers not just machinery, but also system solutions. Those systems, typically designed and built by third-party contractors or engineering firms, rely on durable, performance-tested components, something JOEST consistently delivers.
Back-up where it counts
Quality and reliability are at the heart of JOEST’s product philosophy, but Laws is quick to emphasise the company’s commitment to service. He sees this as a major differentiator in an industry where unplanned downtime can have financial impacts.
“We know that keeping machines running in good health is vital to plant performance and productivity,” he said. “That’s an area where we’ve put a lot of focus; making sure we have trained technical people available to support the product when it is needed.”
In addition to its Western Australia base, JOEST operates a service and warehouse facility in Newcastle, New South Wales. This East Coast outpost is strategically located to ensure proximity to clients from Brisbane to Melbourne, offering both logistical efficiency and rapid response times.
The combination of German engineering, robust design and local service backing allows JOEST to maintain a reputation for reliability across all product categories. Though competitively priced at the higher end of the market, Laws believes the quality and longevity of JOEST machines more than justify the investment.
Ready for Australia’s recycling future
JOEST is positioning itself for continued growth in the Australian recycling sector, with a keen eye on emerging trends and infrastructure development. The company showcased its J-Flow at the recent ReGen Expo and will be doing the same at the upcoming Waste Expo Australia show in Melbourne with its Flip Flow Screen of the OSCILLA Family. For Laws, it’s an opportunity not only to connect with clients but also to demonstrate the value of compact, effective equipment in the real world.
He also sees increasing diversification in recycling processes – from municipal waste to commercial streams, construction material, and food or chemical waste – and believes JOEST’s experience across global markets puts it in a strong position to support this growth in Australia.
“Everything we use is, in principle, recyclable,” Laws said. “It’s such a wide range of areas and different technologies used, and our team has experience handling a broad variety of products and materials.”
Whether it’s a complex vibrating screen for high-volume processing or an agile wind sifter like the J-Flow, JOEST continues to push forward with solutions that match Australia’s evolving waste management needs.
Its focus remains on building specialist, efficient equipment designed to last and supported by a team that understands just how critical reliability is in the recycling industry.