More than 500 companies exhibited at this year's Resource efficiency and waste management (RWM) show which ran in Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre from 13-15 September. Seminars and workshops took place alongside the three-day exhibition.
Joan Marc Simon, director at Zero Waste Europe, spoke about Brexit transition and how Europe and the UK can continue to work effectively towards a zero waste future. Keynote addresses included Ichin Cheng, director and co-founder of the Sustainable Innovation Lab who talked about sustainability and Horizon 2020 in his role as an advisor to the largest European Union Research and Innovation programme.
The two areas of interest to plastics companies were machinery and equipment, and the circular economy. The machinery and equipment zone showcased solutions and technology concerned with sorting and separation, size reduction equipment and mobile plant machinery. The latter showed visitors the environmental and financial benefits of recycling.
Kent-based Veka Recycling promoted its services as an outlet for PVC-U window waste with an emphasis on developing long-term working relationships with its customers. It converts such waste into a PVC pellet so companies can turn it into decking or other products.
Hertfordshire-headquartered Bunting Magnetics had a High Intensity Separation Conveyor (HISC), a Twin Pole Overband Magnet, a Metal Separator (combined magnetic separator and metal detector), Grate Magnets, Plates Magnets and Tube Cartridge Magnets at the show.
“We believe in a ‘Seeing Is Believing' attitude at exhibitions,” explains Dave Hills, Bunting's Head of Sales. “When customers visited our stand we did not want to just talk about how a Magnetic Separator performs, we wanted to show it. Our HISC was seen separating stainless steel and printed circuit boards from non-magnetic materials. On our Twin Pole Overband Magnet, visitors were able to feel the magnetic force trying to rip steel out of their hands when they placed it under the magnet face.” Bunting says the HISC, which was launched at RWM 2015, has been successful in the plastics sector, removing small weakly magnetic stainless steel.
Bunting also had smaller Magnetic Separators on display, including Plate Magnets and Tube Cartridge Magnets.
Herbold Meckesheim, the machine and plant manufacturer from Germany, presented its equipment ranging from a simple wet granulator to a turnkey industrial washing line, as well as components for the optimisation of existing washing plants.
Meanwhile, Germany-based Steinert promoted magnetic and sensor sorting systems. It supplies electromagnet drums, eddy current separators and induction, X-Ray and near-infrared (NIR) sorting systems.
Craemer UK, a manufacturer of plastic wheelie bins, containers and plastic pallets supplied to local authorities as well as many other industries, exhibited its wheelie bin portfolio.
Oldbury-based Plastic Omnium Environment launched the M4, the latest addition to its range of underground and semi-underground waste disposal container system, which is aimed at local authorities and property developers.