Standardised systems based on experience
Mechanical recycling processes follow basic patterns. Some machine combinations are therefore regularly requested, assembled and arranged in almost always the same way – at least that is the experience of BRT HARTNER. “We have been supplying the recycling industry with professional stationary machines for over 30 years now,” explains Sebastian Plaewe, Team Leader Sales Stationary Systems at BRT HARTNER. “Over the course of this time, we have seen many enquiries return in almost identical form. This applies both to small frontends consisting just of a pre-shredder with an overbelt magnet and a conveyor belt as well as to sophisticated sorting lines.” The company has therefore decided to use the experience gained to develop standardised system solutions with a precise scope of services and at a predefined price: “This minimises the planning effort considerably, which of course has a significant impact on costs. At the same time, our customers receive a fixed price right from the start. This means a high degree of planning security for their calculations. Certain costs – such as those for transport and civil construction – naturally depend on the country in question and must be determined individually.”
Scalable and modular concepts
Many of the system solutions presented are modules and processing lines that can be integrated into larger processes. This applies in particular to the frontends. These small systems are available with a pre-shredder, a bag opener or bale dewirer and can be ordered either with an additional conveyor belt or directly with an overbelt magnet, rotary loading for double-sided container filling and various screening systems, depending on requirements. On the other hand, some processing lines are offered with different throughput rates and can be set up parallel to one another as needed. “This principle is common practice nowadays, especially with large systems, as it has a positive effect on plant availability – after all, only one line is shut down during servicing or maintenance work and not the entire system. Scalability was therefore very important to us.” For example, plant sizes of 150, 250, 500 and 1,000 t of municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment capacity per day are available for biological drying with the CONVAERO system or refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production with the Eggersmann FUEL process. “As in a construction kit, throughput volumes such as 650 or 1,250 t can be put together on a modular basis.”
Different solutions for different input streams
From fine compost processing to small systems for separating mixed paper into paper, cardboard, cartonboard packaging and composite materials to processing lines for light weight packaging and mixed construction waste, the system solutions cover a wide range of applications. Several approaches are often presented for one input stream. For MSW, for example, BRT HARTNER not only provides various concepts for mechanical pre-treatment, but also solutions for biological drying and the production of substitute fuels. In the case of RDF, a further distinction is made between classic – i.e. purely mechanically produced – RDF and RDF with dried biomass for an even higher calorific value. Despite the already large selection, Plaewe has already announced that there will be even more systems. “Many of the concepts can also be realised with other machines from our extensive range. For example, front ends with our BRT HARTNER BOS bag openers especially for biowaste or our BRT HARTNER EWD device dismantler are also possible. The combination possibilities are almost endless. We have started with the particularly popular systems and will continue to gradually expand the range.”
An offer for plant manufacturers
BRT HARTNER is internationally recognised for its stationary recycling machines. The company offers a wide range of solutions for opening, shredding, sorting, dosing and mixing various types of waste streams. These machines were previously all for sale individually. With the introduction of the system solutions, BRT HARTNER is now opening up a new business segment. Executive Manager Andre Berlage emphasises that this is not intended as competition for traditional plant engineering companies: “Through our dealers, we offer a large number of small systems for recycling centres, waste disposal companies and collection points that would not be of interest to plant engineers in terms of order volume. In addition, we also offer complete plants – but for good reasons, hardly any customers venture into these large-scale projects without a plant engineer as general contractor. These plant manufacturers often ask us for several machines as a full package. With our standardised systems, we want to make the planning easier for them as well. They also have fewer points of contact and only request one complete solution.” Plaewe adds that it is more about closing a gap in the market: “Essentially, we want our systems to offer cost-efficient and quickly implementable solutions for precisely those customers who need more than a single stationary machine but do not yet require a customised plant.”
