A £750,000 investment in a new glass beneficiation plant is set to provide a significant boost to a Middlesbrough recycling specialist.
The new plant enables Ward Recycling, which employs 140 people across the UK, to take sub 12mm mixed glass and convert it to non-sharp product for use in water filtration, shot blast and decorative aggregates.
The company is adding two new clients a week and it expects to produce 25,000 tonnes of recycled material in 2013, adding a further £2m in sales and creating up to 10 new jobs for the area.
The expected growth follows support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and Teesside University in working towards and successfully securing BSI PAS 102, the quality accreditation for processed glass used in secondary end markets.
“It’s been a hectic six months, but we are now finally in a position to take advantage of the investment and increase capacity,” explained Paul Stonehouse, Sales and Marketing Manager at the glass plant.
“Securing BSI PAS 102 opens up a whole host of new markets for us and, basically, is a public endorsement that our product is safe to re-use and of an excellent quality.”
MAS Advisor Jim Barr, whose organisation revealed in February that it found 62% of manufacturing SME sales to grow between then and the end of June, highlighted the importance of SMEs seeking assistance with diversification.
“When you are investing sizeable sums of money into a project, there can sometimes be a temptation to rush in and make quick decisions so you start to see the funding pay off,” he said.
“This is where we come in and act as a sounding board for a manufacturer and, working with the management team, draw up a strategy or solution to help it achieve its aims.”
Companies can take advantage of a free review by MAS identifying key priority areas and funding available for improvement projects focused on increasing efficiency, developing new products, strengthening supply chains and boosting sales.
For further information, please go to www.mymas.org or follow on Twitter at @mas_works.
