Van Dalen Opens New Shredder in the UK

The Netherlands-based metals recycling company Van Dalen Metals Recycling and Trading plans to significantly increase its operating capacity in the United Kingdom by investing £6 million (US$9.3 million) in a shredder at its Sheffield, U.K., headquarters operations.

The investment also has been used to build a new nonferrous facility at the company’s U.K. operations and to expand its facilities in the southeast and tp create new roles in purchasing and operations.

Van Dalen, in business for nearly 65 years, currently operates 17 shredding and baling sites in the U.K. and in Northern Europe.

According to Van Dalen, the investment follows the company’s success in 2011, in which total capacity increased to 500,000 metric tons per year. The company says it hopes to double that figure during the next three years through a mixture of operational investments and strategic partnerships.

Overall, Van Dalen has seen its total annual production and trade grow to about 1.6 million metric tons per year, the company says.

Tom Bird, Van Dalen UK’s managing director, says, “Although market conditions have been challenging, we’ve had a really positive 12 months. Going forward, the shredder will transform our Sheffield facility, making it a state-of-the-art metal recycling center.”

Bird adds, “The focus on nonferrous operations will complement our existing success in the ferrous arena, helping us to grow volume and market share. In turn, we hope to provide further investment and job creation opportunities in the U.K."

The shredder was operational at the end of 2011 and will be opened in early 2012.