Sackers hits ‘record’ international trade figures

United Kingdom-based Sackers says it has seen impressive growth of 77 percent in international trade since 2016, averaging 21 percent growth every year.

Sackers are experts in processing scrap metal and sorting it into purer groups within ferrous and nonferrous categories, the company says in a news release. The goods are sold for recycling to manufacturers. Their international sales are made up mainly outside of the European Union, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong with a small amount going to Spain and Belgium.

The business attributes this success to having invested $3 million (euros) in 2008 in “one of the only metal shredders of its size” in the region, which can process large items of metal, including aircrafts and cars. This makes Sackers different than other metal buyers in the region and able to sell to the end user, of which the majority are international, the company says.

2018, Sackers invested $1 million (euros) on a cable granulator to accommodate the zero waste policy in China. The metal, including copper, is exported in the purest form, the company says. Sackers also set up its own shipping department to allow for control over cargo, which in turn offered better prices for customers, flexibility and responsiveness.

“We’ve been exporting for about 20 years and initially it was small-scale, but it became a priority for us when the steel works slowly shut down in the U.K. and our markets moved abroad,” says David Dodds, joint managing director. “This meant we had to start exporting on a bigger scale.  It gained momentum quickly and growth was quite exciting. As the international markets change, we adapt. China being the obvious one with its zero waste policy. We identified that early on and invested to give us a competitive edge. It helps that we have our own shipping department too, for flexibility and cost efficiencies. We are also exploring new international markets and technology to keep us well ahead of the game.”

Managing Director Adrian Dodds adds, “Equipment is the key to our success. We have made some big investments over the years and we are always reviewing new machinery and technology that will recover and sort as much material as possible. It usually involves a lot of travelling, but it’s worth it because in this market we can’t stand still and we have to invest not only to have that competitive edge to grow, but to adapt to legislation and requirements.  Even with our commercial waste, the equipment we have invested in allows us to recycle 92 percent of it and divert it from landfill.”