Briqetting waste at source

Orwak matches a solution to meet application

SRS of Sommerville, Victoria is repacking meat under a supply contract to Coles stores and wanted to implement an efficient method of disposing of its recyclable waste, which is a steady flow of cardboard boxes. The aim was to have a fully automatic volume-reducing machine at the source of the waste - in the refrigerated wetroom where the unpacking is done. Many traditional types of equipment were looked at but most were ruled out by the requirements of the difficult location.

The solution came in the form of an especially modified Morinders Brickman model B900K which forms part of the Orwak range of products. To minimise the actual footprint it occupied, the power pack was elevated on a subframe above the press and electricals were upgraded to IP65 standard to cope with the room's moisture content. Boxes thrown into its 2 m3 feeding hopper activate the fully automatic briquetting process by way of photocells.

Resultant extrusions measuring 200 mm2 are dropped through a shute into standard wheeled 600 L waste bins for tipping outside of the production plant. At the current rate of 400 kg cardboard per hour, six days per week, it uses less than half of the Brickman's total capacity. Hygiene and safety concerns were easily met at this facility and the customer is pleased with the improved waste material handling achieved.