Wastepaper is a valuable secondary raw material

Recycling of cardboard, paper and cardboard packaging is the main topic at recycling aktiv

 With about 200 million tons of wastepaper in use annually, it is among the most important secondary raw materials globally. At the recycling aktiv demo trade fair, which takes place at the Baden-Airpark at the Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport from 11 to 13 June 2015, the organisers Geoplan along with the Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste (bvse) for the first time dedicated a special area of more than 1,500 m2 to the main topic ‘Paper, cardboard, cardboard packaging’ where the machinery for the processing of wastepaper will go through their actions.

Germany is the world leader in paper recycling. According to the Association of German Paper Mills (vdp) 16.5 million tons of wastepaper flowed into paper production in 2013. The utilisation rate is 74 per cent, which means that for every 100 tons of newly produced paper, 74 tons of wastepaper were used. The wastepaper return rate is a proud 78 per cent. This makes wastepaper the most important raw material for the paper industry in terms of volume. This means that less wood is needed for paper production.

Packaging paper and cardboard (up to 100 per cent) as well as newsprint (most newspapers are printed on 100 per cent recycled paper), for example, contain a high percentage of recycled paper. With repeated recycling, however, the fibres become shortened and must be removed from the cycle. For this reason, virgin fibres from higher quality magazines and fresh pulp must regularly be introduced into the cycle. The energy and water costs in the production of recycled paper is generally lower than in the production of primary fibres such as wood or pulp. This way the paper recycling industry makes an important contribution to environmental conservation.

The first step in reclaiming a high-quality secondary raw material is the separate collection and sorting according to specified wastepaper standards. Then a series of processing steps is necessary. The enormous increase in global demand for wastepaper and the associated higher prices make the separate collection ever more attractive. The importance of this recycling sector prompted the organisers of recycling aktiv to make the recycling of paper, cardboard and cardboard packaging a main topic at the fair.

The concept of live demonstrations convinces paper, cardboard and cardboard packaging exhibitors

Companies with a portfolio of services ‘around wastepaper’, ranging from paper delivery through plant feeding, sorting, pressing, bundling and storage to loading and securing loads, will present the performance of their plants and machines to the trade visitors through impressive live demonstrations on the special area of more than 1,500 m² located at the centre of the exhibition grounds. Die demonstrations are moderated professionally and guarantee broad visitor appeal.

For example, Aventek technologies GmbH from Osnabrück will put their horizontal channel baler Prima through its paces. This newly developed 10.5-ton machine needs drive power of only 15 kW at a press capacity of 60 tons and is therefore flexible to use wherever it is needed. Another advantage for small businesses is the fact that the machine is also available in a shorter design, which makes it easier to move and adapt to standard modules for their specific applications. When properly fed with suitable material, between four and six tons of paper, cardboard and cardboard packaging can be pressed per hour.

Aventek managing director Thomas Smit will be making his first appearance at recycling aktiv with his company. “The demo trade fair concept allows us to run and demonstrate our machine in real-life-like operation. No other fair in this field offers this opportunity.” Moreover, he was able to glean from the media coverage of previous events that the share of trade visitors was disproportionately high. “We are excited about the customer contacts, and the possibility to exchange views and information. I am convinced that the exhibition provides a very good overview and cross-section of the industry.”

Europress Anlagen und Maschinenbau GmbH from Lathen in Emsland will be taking part in the recycling aktiv for the umpteenth time. This specialist manufacturer with its extensive range for the recycling and waste management sector will demonstrate its balers in the special area set aside for paper, cardboard and cardboard packaging. In 2014, the company sent its completely redesigned innovative channel balers on tour through Germany to demonstrate them to potential customers on site at their premises. “Working machines make a more convincing case than words,” is the firm opinion of managing director Peter Poll. “Therefore, we have decided not only to continue this successful tour in 2015, but to supplement it by our participation in trade shows. And in this respect, recycling aktiv stands out as the only demo trade fair in the industry in which participation is virtually mandatory. We use our participation to present our solutions very specifically to a wider circle of interested parties in Baden-Württemberg, Alsace and Switzerland that we invite to the show.”

For Europress each press and each conveyor belt is made to order and tailored to the customer's needs. These high-quality capital goods deserve first-class service. This the company offers its customers from 2015 in a manufacturer-independent all-inclusive carefree package: A team of skilled technicians with four mobile service is available to service and repair the machines and equipment of customers throughout Europe 24/7. For this purpose, a service hotline has been set up and the stock of spare parts increased. At the show, Peter Poll wants to present himself and his company as a competent and reliable partner: “Even when we’re dealing with machines, people are still the deciding factor. Trade fairs create occasions and opportunities to meet and to talk to each other. Personal impressions count, especially in the Internet age.”