A Shropshire industrial and agricultural packaging company has seen a 50% increase in demand for one of its product lines, the success of which it believes is a result of industry's requirement for more efficient packaging and storage management.

The Siat F1-16M is an automated stretch-film pallet wrapper from Oswestry-based Agritel Ltd, which also supplies other industrial packaging materials, business stationery and recycling equipment to companies throughout the UK.

One company that has made use of the Siat F1-16M is Paperback Collection & Recycling Ltd. Established in 1995 and based in Deeside, Paperback is a paper, polythene and plastics recycling operation, providing waste minimisation programmes to businesses in the Midlands, north west and north Wales aimed at reducing landfill and waste expense.

It has now been using the automated stretch wrapper for six months to great effect. Gordon Anderson, Managing Director, explains: "We have gradually expanded our service year-on-year since 1995 to include more industrial customers, for example, Kimberley Clark for which we now operate a significant long-term waste reduction and recycling service. 

"In conjunction with a number of universities, we are currently carrying out research and development into polymer recovery from waste material, as well as looking into waste-to-energy opportunities for use in power generation.  Until this comes to fruition, the processed bales - consisting of finely shredded 10mm items - require tidy storage. Applying stretchwrap using the automated process is quick, easy and safe - key factors in our decision to purchase the machine from Agritel. In addition, our customers are very pleased when it is delivered wrapped in a neat, protective film."

John Duffus, MD at Agritel, said: "It took Paperback only one week's trial to recognise the savings they could make. But businesses don't need to be big to utilise the benefits a pallet wrapper such the Siat F1-16M.  Cheaper than using a hand wrap, the automated process eliminates unnecessary labour time and effort, is consistent, reduces in-transit damage and heightens the customer's perception of a professional looking delivery. We anticipate increasing sales of this product for the remainder of 2008 and throughout 2009."

Pictured (from left): John Duffus, MD at Agritel; Gordon Anderson, MD at Paperback.

  Click here for more about pallet wrappers.

Pallet wrapping needn't cost the earth. Companies seeking to reduce their expenditure on, and consumption of, pallet wrapping material need look no further than Agritel Ltd's range of high-performance stretchwrap. Switching from standard to high-performance film brings the dual benefit of saving money and reducing environmental impact.

"Our high-performance film is very strong and each roll goes an incredibly long way," explains John Duffus, Agritel's Managing Director. "Trials show that it's possible to reduce the quantity of plastic used by as much as 60%, generating significant cost savings.

"What's more, because the film is pre-stretched, pallet stability is improved and goods are far less likely to suffer damage in transit."

But the benefits don't stop once the goods have reached their destination. Less plastic to wrap a pallet means less plastic to dispose of by recycling or sending to landfill.  "It's an important consideration, especially with landfill tax scheduled to double over the next three years," continues Duffus.  "High-performance film will help your customers meet their environmental obligations and reduce their waste disposal costs.

"Raw material prices are continuing to rise, and the pressure is on to reduce waste.  There's never been a better time to try high-performance wrap."

See the difference!  Compare the film needed to wrap one pallet: standard (left) and high-performance film (right).

  Click here for more on high-performance wrap.

A Shropshire company has seen its waste management costs reduce by 50% since installing a waste cardboard baling machine at its warehouse just over six months ago.

Shrewsbury-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler Rowlands & Co (Shrewsbury) Ltd purchased the Agri-mac V75 from Agritel Ltd, who also supply recycling equipment, industrial packaging materials and pallet wrappers to companies throughout the West Midlands and Wales.

Established in 1894, Rowlands & Co has a long history and an excellent reputation for providing quality produce to catering companies, restaurants, private schools, independent and well-known medium-sized supermarkets and local stores. In 2007 the company expanded through acquisition and as a result its volume of waste packaging also increased.

Peter Rowlands, Director, explains: “Previously we piled all of our cardboard into skips, but after the acquisition we became busier so disposing of the cardboard in this manner became costly and time consuming. Agritel had supplied us with pallet wrap material for a number of years and, after recommendation, we decided to purchase a baler from them too. It was a smart move because we have reduced both the volume of cardboard waste and our disposal costs by 50%. The baler will have paid for itself within the first year and we are considering part-exchanging the current one for a double-chamber model which allows the production of cardboard and plastic bales in one machine.”

John Duffus, Managing Director at Agritel, said: “Agritel is developing a good track record in support and advice on recycling to local businesses and Rowlands is no exception. Our aim is to provide alternatives to traditional waste disposal which is often more expensive, whether hiring skips or taking directly to landfill sites. The example of Rowlands highlights that by adopting recycling solutions businesses can be both environmentally friendly and save money!”

Pictured, from left: Peter Rowlands (Director, Rowlands & Co) and John Duffus (Managing Director, Agritel).

 More about Rowlands & Co at www.rowlandsltd.co.uk.
 Click here for more about vertical balers.

Oswestry-based Agritel Ltd has been appointed the UK’s sole distributor for a glass bottle crushing machine aimed at cost-effective and convenient recycling for bar, night club, hotel and restaurant owners.

Launched on the back of Agritel’s popular range of waste plastic and cardboard balers, the Agri-mac BC Bottle Crusher is available to purchase or lease from as little as £25 per week. It operates from a standard 240V electricity supply, accepts all sizes, colours and shapes of bottles and is supplied with a standard 140-litre wheelie bin which sits in a cupboard beneath the crush chamber.

The Agri-mac, which won a Shell Live Wire Award For Innovation 2006, can crush up to 600 small lager bottles in 10 minutes, approximately 2 tonnes per hour. The loading chute is set at an angle to the rotor blades and anti-kickback flaps isolate the feed and crushing chambers from any stray glass shards. The BC05 model has a dust extractor for operation in confined spaces and optional extras include a remote switch and extended chute for loading direct from bar to cellar.

Agritel’s MD, John Duffus, believes the Agri-mac has a number of advantages over conventional bottle disposal. He said: “Our research has shown that some bars and clubs are paying up to £300 a month for their glass to be collected. As a result of crushing bottles into 12mm cullets the Agri-mac provides an 85% reduction in the volume of glass to be stored prior to collection. Where collections are charged by volume as opposed to weight, these significant cost and space savings have already generated a great deal of interest in the product. If local councils do not collect crushed glass, we have agreements in place with a number of recycling companies to arrange collections at times convenient to the customer.”

Pictured: Stuart Brown (manager, Grazia Restaurant, Shrewsbury) trialling a bottle crusher.

 Click here for more about glass bottle crushers.