Sims built its first fridge processing plant on the Newport site in July 2002. The second plant, also using German technology from MeWa, will double the site's annual capacity up to 700,000 units when it becomes operational in October 2003, creating a further 35 full time jobs.
 The second fridge reprocessing plant at Sims, Newport, will increase capacity to 700,000 units a year |
Graham Davy, managing director for the division, said: “The Newport complex will be the largest facility of its type in the world, and at full capacity, will process around 700,000 fridges annually. We are well placed to continue to offer our clients the combination of low cost performance coupled with the highest standards in recycling and recovery performance.”
Sims Recycling Solutions, the recycling division of Sims Group UK, has chosen to significantly expand its Newport site in order to meet contractual volumes and increasing demand.
Mr Davy explained: “The choice of Newport for the additional capacity was an easy one to make as the processing economies of scale are significant. Our new plant, equal in specification to our first, will ensure that Sims Recycling Solutions remains at the leading edge of Fridge Recycling in the UK.”
Rail Link
Sims Group UK has also received a 1.72 million Freight Facilities Grant from the Welsh Assembly. The money will be invested in the development of a rail facility to handle scrap metal and fridges at the Sims site at the port. The funds were won in partnership with Associated British Ports, owner and operator of the Port of Newport.
The rail link is due to be opened next year to handle 600,000 tonnes of scrap metal, which should reduce lorry trips by nearly 52,174, the equivalent of seven million road miles over ten years.
Andrew Davies, Welsh Minister for Economic Development and Transport, said: “By removing over 5,000 lorry trips each year from our roads, this new freight facility is good news for people living and working along the lorry routes and for the environment as a whole. Coupled with the rail freight facilities at ABP’s King’s Dock in Swansea and Roath Dock in Cardiff, which were also supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, we are making a significant contribution to the UK Government’s target to increase by 80% the amount of freight moved by rail.”
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