Waste can cost a lot of money or actually make you some money. Retail can get more from disposal companies with compressed resources than from loose material in a container. Usually the space behind a store is limited. Modern molding presses significantly reduce volumes. Andreas Jeschke of HSM details what retail should look out for. HSM, headquartered at Lake Constance, produces “made in Germany” products since 1971.
One year after the last EuroShop – what is your assessment of the trade show? Which specific customers were you able to win over through the trade fair?
Due to our participation at the Euroshop trade show for many years and our excellent market presence, at the trade show we focus on public relations with our existing customers and prospective buyers, nationally as well as internationally.
What do you recommend to retailers in terms of cardboard packaging disposal & recycling?
Basically, two waste management concepts lend themselves to retail. On the one hand there is the local disposal of cardboard boxes and sheets at the stores – for example with the help of vertical baling presses – or on the other hand the return of material to the central warehouse and subsequent pressing on larger presses at the warehouse. In our opinion the focus of retailers at the moment is clearly on local waste disposal based on the advantages due to volume reduction on site.
Does retail get more for well-pressed raw materials or are at least waste disposal costs being reduced?
Both apply, with a baling press resources are generally marketable and bring a better return than loose or just lightly compressed material. In addition, there are always cost advantages due to transportation and logistics optimization when using a local baling press.
What volume reduction is possible for plastics?
In the area of vertical baling presses, plastics can be pressed at a ratio of 1:5 all the way to a ratio of 1:30.
Which plastics can the retail market homogeneously press without a lot of effort?
A homogeneous pressing of all accumulated plastics in retail is possible, but not always worthwhile. Needless to say, whether the baling press pays off for use with sheets, PET or other plastics has to be decided on an individual basis. It’s good to know that with many baling presses, pressing of sheets and cardboard boxes is possible. In addition, there are multi-chamber baling presses that are perfectly suited for parallel, homogenous pressing of different materials.
Retail has invested a lot in reverse vending machines for deposit of empty bottles. Some equipment breaks things up while some has a conveyor belt. When does a press pay off?
Most reverse vending machines for PET bottles in Germany already operate with a HSM Crusher. Due to the crushing of bottles, the volume is reduced down to 25 percent of the original volume. Pressing on location is therefore for the most part not feasible. Oftentimes the material is consolidated and pressed at the central warehouses.
At what amounts does it pay off to press styrofoam?
Retail rarely accrues the appropriate amount of styrofoam where pressing would make sense. One bale from our vertical baling press V-Press 860 can achieve a bale weight of approximately 135 kg. Of course it is also always important what the styrofoam is intended to be used for next. Reuse for thermal insulation for example does not permit prior pressing.
Disposal companies pay quite a bit for aluminum and tin foil. When does a press make sense?
Oftentimes, the use of a baling press in retail just for cans is not profitable due to the small amounts. However, there is a possibility to use a press cartridge for cans to reduce the volume of individual cans for machines, which is actually being used to press other fractions.
Your business heavily depends on what politics will allow. What course do you expect in the upcoming years?
From our point of view, Germany is a global leader in the areas of recycling and re-use of resources. That’s why we don’t expect any serious changes due to a potential change in government.
Interview by René Schellbach, First publication EuroShop.de
01/07/2012
