Geminor claims ‘UK first’ mobile baling unit system

The Norwegian company said the mobile balers can be sent to producers who would normally send waste to energy from waste plants, but are unable to do so due to “unscheduled maintenance, planned shutdowns, or if offtake is adjusted for other reasons”.

Geminor explained that due to an “increased demand” for short-term baling services, it set up a team during the spring to train regional waste producers across the UK “in the efficient baling of RDF for export or storage”.

The Norwegian firm reasoned that as the export of secondary fuel is dependent on secure baling, the short-term baling units will facilitate for more efficient export. They have a capacity to bale 300 tonnes of RDF for export, the company claimed.

Petur Thor Haftorsson, operational manager in Geminor Norway, has been in charge of the Nordic baling team in the UK this spring.

He said: “These mobile units have been common in Scandinavia for some years now, but this is as far as we know the first baling operation of its kind in the UK.

“The capacity will vary, but when working around the clock with Flexus machinery it is possible to bale as much as 250 to 300 tonnes a day using recycled plastic foil. The operations are going according to plan, and we are seeing a big potential for mobile services in the UK at the moment.”

Companies are currently in need of onsite, short-term baling services

• Geminor

Demand

Geminor stated that the team from Geminor Norway has been in charge of setting up mobile baling units in several locations in the UK, and demand has been growing.

Chris Baggley,  key account manager at Geminor UK, said: “In contrast to local EfW offtake – which is often transported in walking-floor trucks – the export of secondary fuel is very much dependent on secure baling. The short-term baling units that Geminor is currently establishing are meant to facilitate for more efficient export.

“Due to an unpredictable market, many companies are reluctant in investing in their own machinery and capacity for baling. Hence, some companies are currently in need of onsite, short-term baling services.”