Conveyor Solution Helps Boost Ecogen Document Destruction Capacity

Confidential document destruction and shredding capacity at Hampshire-based Ecogen Recycling has jumped seven fold following a £90,000 investment in new technology. Core to this is the installation of a custom-made conveyor solution developed by waste recycling machinery specialist Middleton Engineering, feeding a state of the art AXO-704 shredder with prototype ‘hard head’ technology.

The Middleton solution, which is designed to optimise material feed to and from the shredder, incorporates a bespoke feed hopper and stand for the shredder, with two opposing slider-bed conveyors, inclined at 32 and 27 degrees, together with end hoppers and all electrical controls and interfaces.

The set up delivers a highly efficient solution capable of handling seven tonnes per hour and at the same time designed to minimise precious floor space. Locating the new facility adjacent to an existing baler and feed conveyor, supplied by Middletons in 2015, also ensures minimal material handling is required to load shredded waste into the baler.

Ecogen Recycling handles commercial waste recyclables from commercial clients in retail, manufacturing and distribution across the UK with a national collection service. Commercial Director James Lewis explains: “With demand increasing for our confidential document destruction service we decided to commission the latest AXO-704 shredder with a unique custom-made conveyor system from Middleton Engineering. This £90,000 investment has future proofed this part of our business taking shredding capacity from one tonne to seven tonnes per hour. That’s equivalent to 28 fully laden artic trailers a week.”

With the new facility in full operation Ecogen Recycling is currently processing around 100 tonnes a week of secure document shredding. This in turn is then baled and shipped to paper mills around the world for re-processing. Importantly the new capacity means that confidential waste can be sorted and shredded as soon as it reaches the company’s Hampshire depot - adding further confidence to clients who depend on the service.

“The new system has meant that we can sort paper all day and shred everything on site in a couple of hours,” says James Lewis. “We are no longer waiting for the machine to keep up; instead we now need to keep up with the machine. Our experience with Middletons has always been excellent and it’s all backed up by a service level agreement which helps minimise downtime - if Middletons can’t be with us the same day we know they will be here the following morning.”

Mark Smith, Engineering Director at Middleton Engineering said: “We have a long term relationship with the team at Ecogen Recycling and are delighted to have been involved in this latest initiative to increase document destruction capacity. Engineering challenges to help increase efficiency and throughput in the recycling sector are what we do best.”