A large number of global manufacturers are pushing to win a slice of the vibrant UK market. This was evident at the RWM06 exhibition where different sections of the industry were showing improved communication with one another.
by Malcolm Bates
There’s no escaping the fact that, when it comes to percentage of waste recycled, the domestic UK market is some considerable way behind the Scandinavian countries, Austria and Switzerland. But a strong economy, the pressures of population density and a belated official recognition that, somehow, environmental issues do need to be placed more firmly at the top of the political agenda, all contrive to make the domestic UK market a vibrant one. And, as such, a large number of global manufacturers want to win a slice of it.
It is therefore not surprising that a growing number of companies are visiting the UK to assess the possibilities for expansion. This was evident at this year’s Recycling and Waste Management event RWM06, which attracted visitors from as far away as Australia, the US and Canada, as well as Iceland and other European states.
In the demonstration arena at RWM06, a fleet of JCB machines operated by the skilled drivers of the company’s outdoor events team were used to collect, feed and load vast quantities of wood waste, green waste, demolition rubble and end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) trucked into Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre site.
In terms of dramatic performance and ‘shear’ power, machines like the 70 tonne/hour Dura Tech tub grinder, powered by a 475 hp Cat engine drew in the crowds (Dura Tech machines are now marketed in the UK by a new distributor, Engineering Services of Bridgend in Wales). But the performance of smaller, compact machines such as the newly announced Lem Track 48-25 tracked mobile crusher from Italian manufacturer, Komplet, also attracted interest.
Whether it’s the slow journey times on UK roads due to traffic congestion, the high duty on diesel, concerns about landfill tax or a combination of all these factors, there is now growing interest in plant and machinery that is capable of rapid, easy transportation and is suitable for recycling materials ‘on-site’ so as to reduce truck movements and what might be termed ‘waste miles’. This trend includes anything from rock crushers and screens (to recycle topsoil) to green waste shredders. It is also spurring on certain design parameters, including low overall weight to allow transport by normal ‘beavertail’ plant transporters, rather than larger maximum weight low loaders.
Whether other factors such as the growing trend in the demolition of detached residences with large gardens and the construction of a number of smaller houses or apartments on the same plot are creating stronger demand for such equipment is hard to determine. But one thing is for sure, manufacturers such as Willibald and Jenz are looking forward with interest at the prospect of machines such as fast, towable crushers and shredders becoming an integral part of the strong UK rental market. This is something that could also develop throughout Europe and in some other markets in due course.
Rental as a unifying force?
Given that different sectors of the scrap, waste and recycling industries are finally talking to each other on a more regular basis (even though in the UK there remain several fiercely independent professional and manufacturers’ organizations), it could well be the emergence of a strong hire/rental market for specialist mobile recycling equipment that speeds up the process of bringing all sides closer together.
The creation of a strong specialist vehicle hire/rental sector could be said to place the UK way ahead of many other European neighbours where, even though truck and van hire might be widespread, it’s still not common to find a viable rental market for waste collection or recycling units. But due to added transportation costs, it’s even harder to build a successful business out of hiring specialist wheeled loaders and materials handlers suitable for working in tough environments such as material recovery facilities (MRFs) and composting sites. Yet a number of leading UK rental companies such as John Hanlon & Co have made a successful business out of doing just that, although as company director Robert Hanlon explains that’s still some way short of offering a complete waste recycling or ‘waste reduction system’ for hire. ‘It could be a historical factor, but while few of our customers in scrap metals processing, waste recycling and composting are likely to actually buy their trucks in today’s market [as opposed to leasing them], when it comes to plant such as wheeled loaders and excavators, many still do purchase outright and only look to hire or rental as a short-term measure to cover seasonal demands or specific downtime on their own machines. We are, however, slowly winning the argument that long-term contract rental can offer significant advantages over outright purchase of machinery too,’ he explained.
A regular exhibitor at the RWM event, Robert Hanlon added that the other big attraction of a long-term rental deal is that it gives customers the advantages of fixed running costs and the ability to upgrade to newer, more environmentally friendly machines as soon as these come on the market. Whereas if they purchase a new unit they are committed to keeping it for its entire economic working life.
Other trends are further advanced. For example, when it comes to materials handlers, hydraulically raised cabs are now seen as ‘the standard’ when working in recycling and composting operations (following a number of accidents to drivers of machines with fixed, raised cabs). And even though the UK domestic market is as price sensitive as the US market, specialist ‘premium quality’ hydraulic machinery manufacturers such as Sennebogen, Fuchs and Liebherr are able to give mainstream global brands a run for their money in the waste market.
Leading UK manufacturer JCB continues to increase the scope of its Wastemaster branding with a new Wastemaster Robot, but the big surprise is the growing market share of Italian-built Solmec machines. With factory backing, UK importer CPS has been able to convince the tough UK market that Solmec after sales service support is on par with any German-built machine. While keen pricing is clearly a factor, high levels of driver acceptance seem to have combined to create a more positive image than many competitors expected. But can Solmec repeat this success in other export markets outside Italy? It’s one to watch.
New potential?
While it was still early days, there are signs of the emergence of independent ‘mobile waste reduction’ specialists offering an on-site shredding and waste volume reduction service (thus reducing the number of container truck movements). Certainly the prospect of having a mobile contractor visiting an industrial client’s premises to reduce the volume of waste in containers owned by a larger waste contractor might go a long way to sharpen up concepts of ‘customer service’.
But why is on-site materials recycling or a mobile waste container reduction service such an issue? Because green waste can be reduced seven-fold in volume and even with general ‘household waste’ (old furniture and other ‘bring site’ items) the volume can be reduced three-fold. That’s a saving of six out of seven green waste container shipments or three out of four ‘bring site’ container loads - a massive saving in vehicle movements, wages and diesel consumption.
 ABOVE LEFT Solmec - out to win the after-sales service battle ABOVE RIGHT Ecoprocess electric binlifts draw a crowd |
However, there are other issues facing all waste vehicle operators. Top of the list for many is potential fines for overloading. A considerable increase in the number of exhibitors at RWM this year - from the US and a number of European and Scandinavian exhibitors as well as UK companies - suggests that on-board vehicle weighing continues to be a key issue.
As we’ve discussed previously in Waste Management World, trends towards ‘pay-by-weight’ domestic bin collections and the ability to incorporate billing, route planning and performance monitoring suggest that a ‘built-in’ original equipment manufacturer (OEM) system (such as Scania’s Interactor system) is the way to go in future. But while that might be the long-term picture, current interest seems to revolve around retrofit opportunities. Certainly the availability of on-board weighing is now a major factor in the UK rental market, with leading companies such as WCR Hire advertising the fact that its entire fleet is now less than three years old and that all units now feature on-board weighing.
WCR can also claim to be the first rental company in the UK to install the Ecoprocess electric binlift system. There are now positive signs that the Icelandic-based manufacturer is finally getting its message across that electric power can offer significant weight savings over conventional hydraulic systems, as well as significant advances in safety and reduced noise emissions. With operational data from actual working units now available, it looks like the claims stand up. The latest news is that Ecoprocess now has both a new ‘trade lift’ design and will shortly introduce its own on-board weighing system for ‘pay-by-weight’ operations. According to Ecoprocess designers, on-board weighing on an electric binlift can be made far more reliable than with hydraulic units.
New contender
Staying with advances in transport, the announcement that the new ‘zero emissions’ Modec electrically powered truck range should be ready for production early in 2007 was probably the most exiting news of the show. This UK-based manufacturer plans to produce a number of different body styles on the same basic two tonne payload chassis, making it highly suitable for urban recycling collections. Maximum travel speed will be 80 kph (50 mph) with a range of up to 180 km (110 miles). An unusual feature is the centrally placed rear entry driver’s cab reached by a transverse, low step height catwalk that allows easy access from either side of the vehicle.
 ABOVE LEFT The new electric Modec truck, shortly to go into production, has a rear entry cab ABOVE RIGHT AJK hydrolift units take special operator requirements into account |
With most of the leading waste collection vehicles such as Faun, Dennis Eagle, Heil, HN Logistics, Farid and Geesink Norba present at the show (as well as suppliers of bulk waste trailers, such as Legras), it was an ideal opportunity to discuss and ‘compare notes’ on trends in collection and transportation of waste. We’ll cover this issue in more detail in the Special Feature in the next issue. But in line with the fact that demolition and other industrial waste is now very much seen as an integral part of the total waste and recycling spectrum, it’s interesting to note a new wave of interest in adding versatility to both skip handling and hooklift demount body trucks. Operational restrictions such as poorly parked cars and the need in many markets for special permits to leave skips and containers on the highway while they’re being filled seems to have restarted a process of design innovation that is well worth keeping an eye on.
The rapid growth in mini-skips is already being challenged by large, one-tonne payload woven bags. While these are primarily used to deliver building materials such as sand or other bulk supplies, the fact that they take up no room until ready for use can be a major advantage. Designed for distribution by specialist lorry loader cranes, the race is on to find a ‘multi-purpose’ handling system that can also be applied to the hooklifts of conventional skip loaders. Companies like Ground Level Demounts Ltd - the UK importer of AJK hydrolift units - are already looking at the potential. AJK has a good record of innovation with special ‘low height’ hooklift options for operators requiring access in restricted areas where low roof heights and bridges are an operational hazard.
Over the next few months, Waste Management World will be looking at new products and trends spotted at a number of other major events, reporting first hand on actual operational experiences with the latest new machines.
Malcolm Bates is Transport Correspondent of Waste Management World.
e-mail: wmw@jxj.com
