Since January 2012 Manuplas has recorded a £15K saving on waste removal costs after investing in specialist foam compacting technology provided by Excell Environmental Solutions, Aylesford, Kent.
Supported by Business Link's Improve Your Resource Efficiency (IYRE) Manuplas secured funding from The European Regional Development Fund to contribute towards the cost of the compactor.
Since commission, the compactor has produced approximately 60 dry, contamination free foam "logs". Collaboration with local attraction, Dartmoor Zoological Park, has enabled a perfect partnership to be built. Manuplas supplies the zoo with "logs" to be used for animal enclosures and pathways whilst at the same time drastically reducing their own carbon footprint.
Heger foam compactor technology allows processing of all foams including cross-linked EPE foam of which this application required. The machine supplied was a Lion 300 B1400 EPE, EPS, compression system delivering a compression ratio of up to 50:01.
Excell Environmental Solution and Manuplas conducted machine trails using their own material to ensure machine performance. The test and training facility is reputedly one of the largest in the UK and made open to any prospective customer.
The compactor will enable Manuplas to make cost savings of up to £50,000 per year.
Manuplas' long term goal is to eventually use the recycled foam material within their own products for which trials are already in place.