Saperatec GmbH commissions pilot recycling plant

Technology provider Saperatec GmbH has announced it has commissioned an ‘innovative’ industrial pilot plant for the recycling of composite materials at its headquarters in Germany.

Saperatec claims its 500 tonne per annum recycling plant (which involves ‘sophisticated micro-emulsions’) can separate composite materials and recover the individual components as clean secondary raw materials. It has been specifically designed for the processing of plastic-plastic and plastic-aluminium laminates (such as beverage cartons), but can also process automobile glass or photovoltaic modules.

Saperatec has said it is a ‘completely new and unique possibility to separate composite materials’, with Jörg Dockendorf, Saperatec’s Managing Director, saying: “Per year, composite materials with a value of more than a billion euros are thrown away. With a recycling quota of 100 per cent, our wet-chemical process provides for a sustainable raw materials industry.”

Founded in Bielefeld, Germany in 2010, Saperatec GmbH develops recycling technologies based on the use of micro-emulsions.

Read more about Saperatec.

Recolight helps create international draft standard for LED lighting

Recolight, a WEEE compliance scheme for the lighting industry, is helping to develop an international draft standard for LED lighting, it has been announced.

Recolight reportedly started working on the draft standard last year, as part of its role as the UK’s representative to The European Committee for Electronic Standardisation (CENELEC). If adopted, the standard will be sent to national standards committees, such as the British Standard Institution (BSI), for approval, and, if accepted, will be published by CENELEC. From there, the UK government will decide whether or not the standard is used.

The company is to host a two-day meeting in the UK for CENELEC and many other EU-wide representatives later this year, as part of their regular meetings to build the draft standards.

Chief Executive of Recolight Nigel Harvey said: “We are delighted that we are able to be part of creating the international draft standard for LED lighting and we applaud the work that CENELEC is doing for the lighting industry.”

Recolight is a not-for-profit producer-led compliance scheme and was established in the UK.

Designer Contracts launches carpet recycling scheme

UK flooring contractor Designer Contracts has launched a new carpet recycling scheme in conjunction with Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK).

The scheme, which was first launched as a trial in 2013, can reportedly turn 90 per cent of unused carpet from Designer Contracts’s fitters into felt underlay, with the remainder used in the equestrian sector for arena flooring. The scheme has already saved 100 tonnes from landfill since being trialled at the company’s head office in ‘autumn 2013’.

The campaign is now being rolled out to most of Designer Contracts’s 12 regional offices.

Peter Kelsey, MD of Designer Contracts, explained: “Fitters are supplied with a builder’s bag to fill with unfitted carpet to then drop off at their nearest Designer Contracts regional office. It is then taken to our approved recycling facility before being transformed into felt underlay.”

Laurence Bird from CRUK said the company was “pleased to have them as a member leading the way in the recovery of carpet fibres”.

Read more about carpet recycling.

GPS joins ADBA

GPS, a manufacturer of process control and automation systems, has become a member of the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA).

The group has said it is ‘looking to extend its capability to the wider AD and energy-from-waste sector, and introduce a scalable product that provides an efficient and economic control solution for a range of plant sizes or series builds’.

Based in Bristol and established in 1978, GPS produces control panels, motor control centres and low voltage switchgear for customers engaged in building services, energy, food, manufacturing mining and quarrying, transportation, water and wastewater treatment.

GPS is also a framework supplier to Thames Water, Welsh Water and Wessex Water.

Find out more about GPS.

Plastics Recyclers Europe agrees partnership with Plastics Recycling Expo

Plastics Recyclers Europe and the organisers of Plastics Recyclers Expo will collaborate on Europe’s ‘first exhibition and conference dedicated to plastics recycling’ taking place on 18-19 June 2014 at the Telford International Centre.

PRE President Tom Emans said: “The European scene of plastics exhibitions was entirely lacking an event devoted to plastics recycling… This exhibition will strengthen the position of plastic recyclers and enhance their visibility on the plastics market in Europe.”

The Plastics Recycling Expo exhibition and strategic conference will last two days and aims to connect brand owners and specialists in design and manufacturing of packaging, automotive, medical, and consumer goods sectors with those already involved in plastic recycling.

Read more about the Plastics Recycling Expo.

Mark Jenkins appointed as Taylor’s UK Sales Manager

Bin manufacurer Taylor has appointed Mark Jenkins as its new UK Sales Manager, after a restructure of its sales team.

Having been with Taylor since he left school, Jenkins is now responsible for ‘developing the new Sellers product range’ (owned by Taylor), and generally continuing Taylor’s growth in the steel bin and street furniture marketplace.

About his promotion, Jenkins said: “I’m proud to have worked my way up through Taylor. Not only has it provided me with huge insight into the Taylor brand but it’s also given me an unparalleled knowledge of the products we sell and how they continue to meet the challenges of the ever changing waste landscape.”

Sales and Marketing Director Julian Gaylor described Jenkins, who is 6’9” and an international powerlifting competitor, as a ‘larger than life character’ and a ‘huge asset to the team’.

Read more about Taylor.