A Leicestershire commercial vehicle service and repair business has seen an 80% cost reduction in the disposal of used oil filters thanks to the product supplied by a Shropshire company.

Established in 1990 and covering the Leicester and East Midlands area, Hinckley-based Truck Services (90) previously disposed of the old oil filters using a monthly skip collection, where none of them were recycled; then - subsequent to new waste disposal legislation - via a recycling company.

Seeking a way to reduce the storage space required between collections, Truck Services (90) MD Stuart Klenk’s online search found the Agri-mac OFC10 oil filter crushing machine provided by Agritel Ltd, the Oswestry company which also supplies industrial packaging materials, stationery and environmental management equipment to businesses throughout the UK.

Having purchased the OFC10 outright in June 2008 Klenk believes it will pay for itself within two years.  He said: “We can now fit 400 crushed oil filters in a storage bin, whereas previously it would only take 65 uncrushed.  Consequently, the recycling company now only charges us £38 per month for a two-bin load, as opposed to twelve bins or one skip at £235.  As well as the cost savings, there are other benefits. There is more space in the workshop and it’s tidier, and the oil recovered from the filters using the OFC10 can also be recycled, which adds to our good feeling of doing something for the planet!”

John Duffus, MD at Agritel, said: “Prior to recent legislation concerning the disposal of waste materials, thousands of old oil filters were simply dumped in skips.  It’s encouraging to think that with the help of a small machine, high numbers are being recycled in an efficient and cost-effective manner as well as the oil being re-used, for example in heating apparatus such as waste oil burners.”

Pictured (from left) with the oil filter crusher: Stuart Klenk, MD at Truck Services (90); John Duffus, MD at Agritel.

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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.