USA Success Continues for Lamp Recycling Specialists

Balcan Engineering’s (UK) success in the United States of America continued this month as North American recycling company, Lighting Resources Inc, began to use its fourth Balcan-supplied recycling system.

Lighting Resources Inc., which provides a range of recycling services across California, Indiana, Arizona, Texas, Florida and Tennessee, has been using Balcan lamp recycling systems since 2011. In December, the 26 year old company, received its fourth machine from Balcan.

The custom built, Balcan MP8000 lamp recycling system, which can handle up to 5,000 linear tubes per hour, left Horncastle, Lincolnshire, for Lighting Resources’ Phoenix facility in November. Managing Director Alistair Rinfret made several trips to the company and commissioned the plant at the end of 2015.

Balcan Engineering designed and manufactured the world’s first lamp crushing machine in 1980. Since then, the company has grown into one of the world’s leading suppliers of lamp recycling systems, helping companies around the world become more efficient in lamp recycling and processing over 250 million lamps each year.

The Balcan MP8000 will allow Lighting Resources to safely recycle spent lamps in Phoenix, rather than sending them onto California or Texas.

Lighting Resources has previously ordered three Balcan machines to help it to service a wide range of light recycling contracts for electrical contractors and maintenance companies, environmental management companies, government departments, municipal and state agencies, consultants and brokers, and demolition and excavating companies, as well as private and publicly traded companies.

“The Balcan equipment is world class.  It provides a consistently cleaner by-product that supports beneficial reuse.  When we market these end by-products, Lighting Resources can boast that our glass, end caps and phosphor powder are nearly identical across the U.S.  Another advantage is the replacement parts and equipment repair are well supported by Balcan.  Often replacement parts can be procured from the U.S. more quickly than importing them, which reduces down time,” says Ron Hughes, VP Sales & Customer Service of Lighting Resources. “The technology is superior and safety is paramount. Balcan equipment can be configured several ways which is another advantage as space is limited in some cases.  We researched a few others but concluded that Balcan was the best choice for us.”

Rick Miller, Operations Manager at Lighting Resources Greenwood, Indiana added: “Alistair and his team are always responsive to our needs, even though they are in a different time zone, you can always count on an immediate and truthful response.”

Unlike some other machines, the Balcan MP8000 recycles all elements of the lamps safely, with the metal end caps and glass separated and cleaned. The mercury bearing phosphor powder is collected in drums whilst the toxic mercury vapour is drawn through an activated carbon filter ensuring that only clean air is released into the atmosphere, safeguarding users and the environment.

Alistair Rinfret believes that America could be a growing market for the company. “We have an excellent working relationship with Lighting Resources and can see a need for more lamp recycling systems as American companies continue to move to LEDs, which means there will be more spent lamps and bulbs which will need to be recycled. Energy saving initiatives and legislative efforts in the US are also driving sustainable and responsible disposal.”

Balcan Engineering has become a world leader in its field thanks to its hard-wearing, high-quality and easy to maintain range, which allow operators to meet international regulations and maximise their environmental credentials. It is a system designed by lamp recyclers for lamp recyclers.