The RWM Show 2020 was set to take place this month at the NEC in Birmingham. Unfortunately, given current circumstances, the show has been postponed until next year. This week’s journal post takes a look back at the machinery and themes highlighted at the 2019 show.
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RWM Show 2019: Plant’s Place in a Circular Economy
The Recycling and Waste Management Industry has been growing exponentially over the last decade. In 2019, the industry has seen immense growth. Society’s mindset has shifted towards a more sustainable future. Even those industries associated with wasteful attitudes towards the Earth’s resources, like the Heavy Machinery and Construction Industries, have seen technology and practices introduced aimed towards developing greener solutions. The RWM show 2019, which took place at the Birmingham NEC on the 11th and 12th September, highlighted the efforts of the Recycling & Waste Management Industry on the fight against global waste. Key themes of the show included the rise of the circular economy and the use (and re-use) of lithium ion batteries across a range of applications.
With global warming and the predicted climate crisis becoming increasingly discussed pressures on the global economy, it’s no wonder that Industries are focussing on green solutions. The key subject of the RWM show this year seemed to be the idea of a ‘Circular Economy’. A Circular Economy is an economic system designed to eliminatewaste by reusing and recycling resources used in any given industry. The key underpinning of the economic system is that all ‘waste’ should become resources for another project. The resources used for any given project will then be reused again for a further project, and so on. The idea of a Circular Economy is in opposition to the current Take-Make-Waste model, as it aims to find a long-term solution for the world’s waste problem.
Much like many other economic models proposed, putting practices into place to support a circular economy would take time. Further, some areas of society and industries may be able to adapt quicker to support a Circular Economy than others. That is not to say that those industries that may not adapt quickly to circular practices cannot make strides towards building structures and methods to start implementing aspects of the economic structure. In fact, aspects of the circular economy are starting to be utilised in the development of Plant Machinery. Developments are specifically seen in the fuel sources used to power machinery. 2019 saw the introduction of machinery and concept machinery using traditional waste products, such as methane, as fuel. However, the RWM exhibition showed how much the Plant Machinery Industry can contribute in the creation and sustaining of a Circular Economy across a range of industries.
Molson Green, a sector of one of the UK’s largest Heavy Equipment Suppliers, were one of the key exhibitors at the event. With a wide array of machinery on display in the outdoor demo zone, the company showcased the importance of Plant in a Circular Economy. Among the more anticipated machines were the Sennebogen 817E Material Handler, Terex Finlay 863 Heavy Duty Screener, and range of NPK Demolition Grabbers.
The Sennebogen 817E Material Handler, introduced to the market in 2018, has an operating weight of 17, 200 kg and a range of up to 9 meters. The machine also has the benefit of incorporated green technology. This technology allows for fuel saving and quiet operation. Working in EcoMode can save the operator 20% of fuel, switching the engine off automatically when not in use. The machine’s cab can be elevated by 2.4 meters, allowing for an unrestricted view of the operator’s working area. The cab is hydraulically elevated as standard, with sound insulation and adjustable seat for operator comfort. In addition, the machine includes a four-point claw support undercarriage for stability, nonslip access stairs, and easy maintenance options.
The Terex Finlay 863 screener is a compact forward-facing screener, able to work in aggregates, sand, gravel, and topsoil. The screener is fully self-contained and can process material at a rate of 280 tonnes per hour. Furthermore, the screen box angle can be hydraulically adjusted between 14° and 18°, while the discharge end can be raised hydraulically by 500mm. The compact nature of the 863 makes it ideal for contract screening.
Much of the machinery exhibited at the RWM exhibition was focussed on the process of managing and recycling waste. The screeners, crushers, and material handlers that were on display in the demo area all aid the process of recycling waste materials. It could be argued that the machinery on display aids other industries in achieving the goal of a Circular Economy. However, some could posit that the next step is for the Plant Machinery Industry to adopt practices of a Circular Economy within itself.
Read more about how the Plant Machinery Industry can adopt these practices here.
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