The companies will be supplying equipment to a customer in Atlanta.
Waste Robotics, based in Quebec, has announced a partnership with Bermuda-based Torxx Kinetic Pulverizer for deployment of their equipment to a materials processor in the Atlanta metro area.
Waste Robotics will supply three WR-2 C&D sorting robots to sort construction and demolition (C&D) waste and various types of green waste at the facility. The company says the robots are able to recognize hundreds of different materials, including organics, plastics, papers, woods, bricks, concrete and metals. Among other things, they can accurately determine the quality of the wood and the differences between aggregates and plastics, the company says.
In addition, Torxx will supply a kinetic pulverizer to the customer. Torxx says its pulverizer smashes input material together at high speed. This pulverizes hard materials and tears softer materials into a fluff, which the company says creates a smaller output than traditional technology.
"By combining two innovative technologies, we enable our end client to sort and prepare C&D recycled material to meet specific market needs,” says Eric Camirand, CEO of Waste Robotics.
“The ability to control the quality of the end product with robotic sorting and our size reduction technology is key to market end products” says Peter Everson, CEO of Torxx Kinetic Pulverizer.
See a video of Waste Robotics’ WAR technology below:
See a video of the Torxx Kinetic Pulverizer in action below:
Several ways MRFs can improve throughput and uptime without making investments in new equipment.
The inbound material stream at material recovery facilities (MRFs) is vastly different in 2019 from what MRFs experienced just a decade ago. For instance, MRFs about 10 years ago may have desired to bale an old newspaper (ONP) fiber grade more than mixed paper, yet the ONP grade has been dwindling to extinction in recent years. Also, with single-stream facilities, contamination is a regular concern and varies from community to community.
Adding optical sorters or automated equipment could be a solution to these problems, but some MRFs are strapped for cash and that’s not an answer. During the MRF Operations Forum Oct. 22 in Chicago, Mark Henke, senior manager of recycling at Phoenix-based Republic Services, and Jim Marcinko, vice president of recycling operations at Houston-based Waste Management, offered some of their suggestions for what MRFs could do to improve both throughput and uptime when there’s not existing capital to improve.
Improve throughput with no money
All MRFs need to produce good quality material and equipment can certainly help to improve the quality of that material—yet sometimes it’s not possible to make a big investment in a new optical sorter or screen. “Not everybody can have [a brand new system] and you still need to produce quality,” Henke said.
In MRFs, a 3-to-5-year-old system isn’t designed to handle current material streams or quality specifications, he said. Also, screens and other pieces of equipment diminish in quality over time and wear down with contamination.
Henke shared a few ways MRFs can improve their throughput levels without capital investments:
• Collaborate with mills and end markets: Henke said it’s important today for MRFs to know their end markets. “It’s not just knowing where you’re taking the material; know what their final product is,” he said. “What is the recipe [mills] need? What can they tolerate? What is a deterrent to them? Be their partner. And make sure they understand what you’re up against as an operator on inbound quality.” He suggested MRF operators to tour mills to get to learn their needs better and invite them to visit the MRF as well.
• Sorter placement is key: Have a solid plan on where to place each sorter. Henke suggested MRF operators have sorter responsibility charts to layout each station and where everyone should go. In addition to machine separation, it’s important to have good quality sorters on the line. He advised MRF operators determine where each sorter works best. He said that might mean moving sorters around occasionally so that they don’t get bored, too. “Take sorters to their optimal location so they can do their jobs,” he said.
Improve uptime with no money
A number of issues cause downtime at MRFs—mechanical failures, scheduled maintenance, operational issues and even things such as employees going out to a company lunch or needing to take time off. Downtime is going to happen, so it’s important that MRFs work as efficiently as possible outside of these occurrences.
“Uptime is everything,” Marcinko said. “If a conveyor belt isn’t moving, we’re not generating anything out of the back end.”
Marcinko shared a few ways MRFs can increase uptime without investing in new equipment:
• Determine realistic production capacity: To ensure efficiency, Marcinko said MRF operators need to know the material stream composition, and they also need to know what the mills and end markets want from these commodities. He said production requirements differ depending on the stream’s composition. While operating faster will create more bales to sell, it might be more worth it to slow the line to create a cleaner bale. He said knowing the exact levels of contamination can help operators know whether they need to slow down the line to create a cleaner end product.
• Gather data: Be consistent with taking notes on what is causing jams on the line and track how long downtime is needed for lunch and breaks. Marcinko said it’s helpful to track where jams occur to prevent them from reoccurring in the future. “If you don’t have data, it’s all speculation,” he said.
• Set employees up for success: To reduce the chance of turnover, provide maintenance and operators with tools for success, Marcinko said. He suggested giving operators iPads to check off preventive maintenance tasks to make that process easier. He also said it’s good to track teams to measure their performance and to give each team goals to meet under deadlines. Additionally, he stressed the importance of providing employees with a clean workplace they can be proud of. “Efforts like this lead to better success and longer term employees,” he said, which reduces downtime caused by turnover.
Scrap and scrap substitute costs decreased 9 percent in Q3 2019.
Charlotte, North Carolina-based electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaker Nucor Corp. has announced consolidated net earnings of $275 million, or 90 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019. The company reported consolidated net earnings of $386.5 million, or $1.26 per diluted share, for the second quarter of the same year and $676.7 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2018. Third-quarter 2018 earnings include a noncash impairment charge of $110 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, related to its natural gas well assets, as well as a benefit of $24.8 million, or 6 cents per diluted share, related to insurance recoveries, the company notes.
Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $1.16 billion, or $3.78 per diluted share, through the first nine months of 2019 compared with consolidated net earnings of $1.71 billion, or $5.35 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2018.
"After a brief summer rally, plate and sheet market conditions softened in the third quarter,” says John Ferriola, Nucor chairman and CEO. “Excess inventory throughout the supply chain has resulted in continued destocking by our customers. However, spending in the nonresidential construction market remained at healthy levels during the third quarter, and we delivered continued strong performance from our metal buildings, piling, joist and deck divisions; as well as improved performance in our rebar fabrication divisions," he adds.
He expresses confidence in the company’s business fundamentals and long-term strategy, adding, “Our strong cash-flow generation through the cycle underscores the benefits of our low and highly variable cost structure, as well as of our highly diversified business model. Looking to 2020 and beyond, Nucor is uniquely well-positioned to build on our competitive advantages and extend our long track record of shareholder value creation."
Nucor's consolidated net sales decreased 7 percent to $5.46 billion in the third quarter of 2019 compared with $5.90 billion in the second quarter of 2019. It also decreased 19 percent compared with $6.74 billion in the third quarter of 2018.
Average sales price per ton in the third quarter of 2019 decreased 5 percent compared with the second quarter of 2019. It decreased 13 percent compared with the third quarter of 2018.
A total of 656 million tons were shipped to outside customers in the third quarter of 2019, a 3 percent decrease from the second quarter of 2019 and a 7 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2018.
Total steel mill shipments in the third quarter of 2019 were similar to total steel mill shipments in the second quarter of 2019, while they decreased 8 percent from the third quarter of 2018. Steel mill shipments to internal customers represented 21 percent of total steel mill shipments in the third quarter of 2019, which compares to 19 percent in the second quarter of 2019 and 20 percent in the third quarter of 2018. Downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the third quarter of 2019 increased 5 percent from the second quarter of 2019 and were similar to downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the third quarter of 2018.
In the first nine months of 2019, Nucor's consolidated net sales decreased 7 percent to $17.46 billion compared with $18.77 billion in the first nine months of 2018. Total tons shipped to outside customers in the first nine months of 2019 were 20.05 million tons, a decrease of 5 percent from the first nine months of 2018, while the average sales price per ton decreased 2% percent.
The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per ton used in the third quarter of 2019 was $299, a 9 percent decrease compared with $330 in the second quarter of 2019 and a decrease of 20 percent compared to $374 in the third quarter of 2018. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per ton used in the first nine months of 2019 was $328, a decrease of 9 percent from $361 in the first nine months of 2018.
Preoperating and startup costs related to the Nucor’s growth projects were approximately $28 million, or 7 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2019 compared with approximately $21 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2019 and approximately $11 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2018.
In the first nine months of 2019, preoperating and startup costs related to Nucor’s growth projects were approximately $68 million, or 17 cents per diluted shar, compared with approximately $19 million, or 5 centa per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2018.
Overall operating rates at Nucor’s steel mills decreased to 83 percent in the third quarter of 2019 as compared to 84 percent in the second quarter of 2019 and 92 percent in the third quarter of 2018. Operating rates for the first nine months of 2019 decreased to 85 percent as compared to 93% percent for the first nine months of 2018.
Nucor says its liquidity position remains strong with $1.94 billion in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as of Sept. 28 and an untapped $1.5 billion revolving credit facility that does not expire until April 2023.
In September 2019, Nucor's board of directors declared a cash dividend of 40 cents per share payable Nov. 8 to stockholders of record as of Sept. 27. This dividend is Nucor's 186th consecutive quarterly cash dividend, a record the company expects to continue.
As expected, the performance of the steel mills segment in the third quarter of 2019 decreased compared with that of the second quarter of 2019. Plate and sheet market conditions softened in the third quarter, and excess inventory throughout the supply chain has resulted in continued destocking by our customers.
The profitability of the steel products segment in the third quarter of 2019 improved as compared with the second quarter of 2019 as nonresidential construction market conditions remained strong. In addition, efficiency initiatives implemented at our rebar fabrication and metal buildings operations are enhancing the performance of those businesses.
The operating performance of the raw materials segment in the third quarter of 2019 decreased as compared with the second quarter of 2019 because of further margin compression in Nucor’s direct reduced iron (DRI) businesses. In early September, our DRI facility in Louisiana began a planned outage that is expected to last until mid-November.
Nucor's earnings in the fourth quarter of 2019 are expected to decrease as compared to the third quarter of 2019. The company says it expects earnings in the steel mills segment to further decrease in the fourth quarter of 2019, as lower steel prices at the end of the third quarter, which we believe have bottomed, impact our fourth-quarter results. The profitability of the steel products segment in the fourth quarter of 2019 is expected to decrease slightly from the third quarter of 2019 because of normal year-end seasonality, Nucor says.
The performance of the raw materials segment is expected to decline in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with the third quarter of 2019 because of the impact of our Louisiana DRI plant's planned outage continuing until mid-November – as well as expected further margin pressure throughout our raw materials businesses.
The project, dubbed “Project Wolverine” by New Way Trucks, will initially create 100 jobs.
New Way Trucks Inc., a Scranton, Iowa-based refuse truck manufacturer, has announced it will be expanding operations to a 152,000-square-foot facility located at 1 Wolverine Drive in Booneville, Mississippi.
New Way Trucks says it worked closely with the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to secure this “strategic site.” The project, dubbed “Project Wolverine” by New Way Trucks, will initially create 100 jobs.
“We are thrilled to be working with the team from Booneville, Prentiss County and the state of Mississippi, who have already made us feel at home,” says New Way CEO Mike McLaughlin in a news release.
New Way says it plans to start operations within the next three months. Once operational, the company will begin manufacturing its Cobra and Viper rear loaders, with other products to follow. New fabrication equipment is being scheduled for delivery and installation at the new site.
“Our products are in high demand, and a new Mississippi facility provides a strategic advantage that will benefit our customers and extensive dealer network,” says New Way Trucks Executive Vice President Johnathon McLaughlin. “A fourth manufacturing facility will allow New Way to establish a new industry standard in efficient, time-critical solid waste equipment deliveries meeting the demand of our dealers and end users.”
The site was selected for its ability to meet several needs of the company. The Booneville facility is nearly move-in-ready and met capability requirements with overhead cranes, lighting and sufficient power. Located on 40 acres of land, there is room for on-site expansion if needed. Workforce availability was another determining factor in the final decision. New Way will begin the hiring process soon, with job listings being posted on the company’s website. The refuse truck manufacturer has also partnered up with the local job networks and Northeast Mississippi Community College to recruit top talent in the area.
MDA and the state of Mississippi have been supportive throughout the entire process by assisting New Way Trucks in achieving its expansion goals, the company says.
"The addition of New Way Trucks to the Booneville business community shows industry leaders around the country that Mississippi is the place where manufacturing companies seeking a top-notch, skilled workforce and supportive business environment can expect to enjoy years of growth and success," says Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says. "Leaders at the state and local levels are dedicated to strengthening communities through economic growth, as evidenced by New Way's commitment to create 100 jobs in Prentiss County.”
More information about the expansion’s progress will be released at a future date.
BIR Plastics Committee Chairman says he believes the longer term prospects for plastics recycling are promising.
Henk Alssema of Netherlands-based Vita Plastics and chairman of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) Plastics Committee said, “The alarm bells are ringing louder and louder” for plastics recyclers amid worrying economic developments and wider uncertainties. Alssema made his comments during his introductory remarks at the committee’s meeting during the Bir World Recycling Convention Round-Table Sessions in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 14-15.
While many companies have been beset by problems that include high stock levels, Alssema insisted he is “more positive” about longer term prospects for the plastics recycling sector. Many major companies are now incorporating larger quantities of recycled plastic into their products, he said, and progress has been made in plastics recycling technology, particularly in chemical recycling.
Guest speaker Rob de Ruiter, senior business developer at TNO in the Netherlands, shed more light on some of these latest technological advances. Having insisted that mechanical recycling continues to play an important role, he focused on other options, such as solvent-based dissolution and thermochemical conversion. Based on current circumstances, he said he expected pyrolysis to be “a big factor in the future.”
De Ruiter highlighted the growing involvement of major companies in the recycling sphere, as evidenced by the recent announcement of a Dow/Fuenix partnership covering the supply of pyrolysis oil feedstock made from recycled plastic to be used to make new polymers.
While some of the emerging recycling technologies might take many years to achieve commercialization, de Ruiter assured delegates: “It needs time, but it’s unavoidable that we go in this direction.”
BIR Plastics Committee board members also reviewed the latest key developments in their own countries and regions. Sally Houghton of the Plastics Recycling Corp. of California reported that, in the days prior to the meeting, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have mandated minimum postconsumer-recycled content in plastic beverage containers. She described the decision as “surprising.”
For the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the report submitted by Mahmoud Al Sharif of Sharif Metals International spoke of “good” scrap prices but slightly slow demand.
Clément Lefebvre of Veolia Propreté France Recycling said market conditions are “not the best,” but he added that “good prices” are being offered for good quality.”
China has been showing less interest in pellets from Eastern Europe, and prices have been heading sharply lower, said Andrei Mihai Sofian of Rematholding Co. SRL in Romania.
China Scrap Plastics Association Executive President Steve Wong of Fukutomi Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, said current market conditions in Southeast Asia are “some of the most challenging ever.” He added that margins have contracted, with many recycling operations either going bankrupt or struggling to survive.
The BIR is compiling a list of plastics recycling operations—both mechanical processors and otherwise—which it aims to send to the governments of all Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries to assist them in making informed decisions about what materials can move to those facilities. BIR Trade & Environment Director Ross Bartley called on anyone with company listings or other relevant data to supply them to BIR ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline.