Preston Plastics has invested £2 million in a new Intarema plastics-recycling machine at its operation near Garstang, to help double production.

The Austrian-made machine is the biggest of its kind in the world; it will allow Preston Plastics to recycle new materials such as heavily printed packaging waste, as well as improving quality, efficiency and overall consistency. The Lancashire firm is the first company in the UK to have the state of the art technology.

The investment also includes a new industrial shredder, two fountain blenders and special IsoCool chillers that re-circulate and cool the water used in
the recycling process.

Managing director Edgar Wallace said: “This new machine gives us nearly three-times the capacity we had previously. It means we can continue to meet the increased demand we are seeing from the plastics industry, both in terms of volume and the types of plastic being recycled — diverting thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill and incineration.

Constantly investing in new technology ensures that we remain at the cutting edge of the plastics-recycling industry. These are exciting times for the business, as we plan for the future.”