Luton set for mixed plastics reprocessing plant

The company is set to open a 25,000 tonnes-a-year capacity facility in Luton on June 22 2009, which is the first of 11 planned UK sites being developed by the firm over the next five years.

The Hampstead-based outfit manufactures a plywood substitute from waste plastic called ‘Eco Sheet', which can be used in the signage, automotive and construction sectors, and intends to expand its output to four million 'Eco Sheets' a year over the same five-year period, with mass production planned to begin in July 2009.

“The UK has a worrying mountain of plastic waste. Five million tonnes goes to landfill each year and 93% cannot currently be recycled,” said Omer Kutluoglu, co-founder of 2K Manufacturing.

He added: “We can take a huge variety of mixed plastic waste, from hospital and supermarket waste to yoghurt pots or even biros and turn it into a durable, high performance product for the construction industry. The possibilities are endless as we can adapt the end product into any form, shape or product.”

A powder impression moulding (PIM) system will be used to treat mixed plastic at a low heat and low pressure, which effectively granulates the feedstock making it ready for reuse as ‘Eco Sheets'. 2K says the PIM process also allows it to reprocess material which has high contamination levels.

A spokeswoman for the company told letsrecycle.com: “2K is now about to start considering raw material partnerships” and that these will provide the feedstock for creation of the Eco Sheets. However, there are currently no contracts in place.

Development of the Luton facility comes after 2K secured £5 million in launch funding from Sevenoaks-based investment company Foresight Group and also the EEDA in January of this year (East of England Development Agency) (see letsrecycle.com story).