Regain Polymers has signed an exclusive deal to manufacture products for Sicut, a London-based group which holds the sole licence to a broad range of infrastructure patents created by Rutgers University in the US.
West Yorkshire-based Regain will manufacture all of Sicut's structural recycled plastic composite products, including its Ecotrax railway sleeper, for European markets.
Regain said the deal would “accelerate the European adoption of Sicut's structural composite materials, made from Europe's growing recycled plastic waste stream, and help to address growing demands for durable materials to replace timber in the railway infrastructure, highway and maritime sectors”.
It would also provide a local, valuable and recognisable home for large volumes of domestic and commercial waste streams generated daily across Europe, it added.
Regain Polymers' managing director Michael Eidecker said: “This partnership enables Regain to develop a brand new business sector, allowing the further development of expertise that all of our customers and suppliers will benefit from.
“Sicut recognises that Regain's extensive capabilities make it the UK's leading bespoke compounder of post-use rigid plastics. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to significant positive change in the use of waste plastic.
“It's an honour to partner Sicut in this exciting business and the partnership is testament to the skill and knowledge of everyone at the Allerton Bywater site. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with Sicut, delivering this unique structural recycled plastic composite.”
William Mainwaring, Sicut's chief executive, said: “We are delighted that Regain has agreed to become our European manufacturing partner.
“As the UK's leading recycled polymer compounder, Regain understands the importance of quality control and can apply their in-depth knowledge of polymers, recycling and extrusion manufacturing to produce consistent high quality products using our unique licensed technology.
“The manufacture of our structural composites here in the UK, including our Ecotrax railway sleeper, will not only offer significant benefits to our European customers but will also be welcomed by the UK plastics recycling industry as it battles to meet ever more challenging UK and European recycling targets.”