Member Article

Hartlepool’s Niramax reach international export target ahead of schedule

Hartlepool-headquartered recyclying firm Niramax Niramax, which named by law firm Ward Hadaway as one of the top fifty fastest growing firms in the North East, has exported more than 60,000 tonnes of SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel) to one its clients in Denmark.

The landmark amount was reached after a series of regular monthly shipments from Hartlepool and marks the end of the first year of a three-year contract with Akata Bio Energy to supply 180,000 tonnes of processed SRF to be used as high-energy fuel in cement kilns.

Niramax MD Frank Antropik, who has over 150 staff at Hartlepool and Washington, said: “The Akata shipments have been very successful and a significant achievement for our workforce.

“We have made a substantial investment to meet the demands of the alternative fuel market which helps divert as much waste as possible away from landfill into more productive use.

“We are very proud to see our strategy working so well, particularly as our £5 million investment in a German-made Refuse Derived Fuel plant has just been increased with a further £1.3 million upgrade to meet demand.

“We work hard to sustain the growth of Niramax and at the same time pioneer new ways of keeping waste out of landfill. The Akata contract is a great example of how effective that formula is.”

Kris Baker, UK manager for Akata, said quality and reliability were a key factor in Niramax’s favour.

“They have been ahead of schedule so often I now know that if it is a Niramax shipment I do not have to be worried. They were the only one to demonstrate such remarkable consistency.

“We need to be certain that the specification of the SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel) is high enough for the cement kilns it will be heating and that the delivery is completely reliable.

“Niramax is the only supplier to consistently exceed those standards. We see this as a long-term relationship and look forward to working with Niramax for the next two years and onwards.”