In the North, Frank Mercer and Sons has successfully launched a new damp proof course product, while in Oxfordshire, British Polythene Industries (BPI) has moved its production plant for a similar product, to Derbyshire.
Frank Mercer and Sons' new product, Toughcourse, is made from lower quality post-consumer plastics. It is aimed at the construction industry and was unveiled by local MP, Ruth Kelly at the company's Bolton site on Friday (19/12/2003). The damp proof course took two years to develop and will be made of 98% polythene film.
Doug Mercer of Frank Mercer and Sons said the company estimates the production of Toughcourse will expand its recycling activities by an additional 2,500 tonnes of plastics a year of a total of 18,000 tonnes.
The plastic recycler is hoping to build on the success of its Toughsheet, damp proof membrane product, also made from 98% recycled PE film.
Mr Mercer said: “We are very proud to increase our product range with Toughcourse, using similar technology to Toughsheet but enabling us to use lower grade packaging waste not suitable for film blowing.”
A critical factor in the development of the product by Mercer was the support from Valpak, the packaging regulations compliance scheme through its brokerage of the company's Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs).
Mr Mercer said: “We would like to state that without the help of the PRN system and our relationship with Valpak we would not have put the investment into research and development and machinery that enabled us to achieve these results.”
Valpak's director of operations Steve Gough added: “We are delighted to have been able to give Frank Mercer and Sons the support to develop this successful product. As the UK faces ever-increasing recycling targets, products such as Toughsheet are vital to develop alternative end markets for materials.”
BPI
In Oxfordshire, British Polythene Industries (BPI) has closed its recycled polythene damp proof course manufacturing plant in Witney. Due to the lease expiring on the Witney site and in the absence of suitable alternative premises in the area, BPI has decided to move the polythene film recycling operations to its Heanor site in Derbyshire.
In its Interim Report published on December 22, 2003, for the six month period leading up to June 2003, BPI said the cost of moving the operations was 800,000. It explained: “The exceptional operating cost relates to the closure of our polythene damp proof course factory in Witney where we had come to the end of our lease. We were unable to find suitable premises in that area at an economic cost, and will transfer the operation to our factory at Heanor, further consolidating our recycling operations on that site”.
Subscribe for free