The Nebbett business was incorporated in 2002 and is run by Stuart Nebbett who is to leave the business following its acquisition by EMR.
Mr Nebbett told letsrecycle.com that he was pleased to conclude the deal and will now be concentrating on his other metals business, Guildford Metal Exchange based in Guildford, Surrey.
The purchase by EMR comes against a background of lower prices for scrap metal. And, within the metal recycling sector there is talk of the potential for the lower prices to see some of the smaller newcomers to the sector squeezed out, plus the likelihood for larger firms, such as EMR, to consider some rationalisation of yards.
Croydon
EMR already has a yard in Croydon and one option for the business is expected be to the potential to merge activities onto one site. The Nebbett site, which is one acre in size, has been modernised and is seen having less planning restrictions than the company’s existing yard.
EMR, which has about 70 yards in the UK, also has others in the south London area including one a few miles north of Croydon in Wandsworth.
A comment from Warrington-headquartered EMR about the Nebbett purchase is expected soon.
Containers
On its website, the Nebbett business talks of how the business has expanded and how it has an area “for the sole purpose of loading containers. This extra capacity enables us to export to all corners of the world, helping us develop the business and further making B Nebbett & Son a leader in scrap metal in the South.”
The idea of sending metals in containers overseas is expected to appeal to EMR with the growing cost of transporting material to the docks and for operating docks as well.
EMR traditionally has been a big enthusiast for using docks – its founders the Sheppard family were particularly proud of their shipping and dockside activities. But, the advantages of using containers, which today are easily available, as well as the fact that they can be more economic, easily usable for non-ferrous and also for higher quality ferrous material is thought to be being recognised by the company.
• Stuart Nebbett came to national fame in 2012 when he paid for a local war memorial to be restored after scrap metal thieves stole 14 brass plaques from the monument in Carshalton, Surrey.
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