Bunting-Redditch 2020 Review
By Paul Fears | 14 December 2020
To state that 2020 has been challenging would be an understatement. The global Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way people live their lives, and businesses have had to adapt.
Despite the difficulties, there has been plenty of positive news coming out of Bunting-Redditch. Throughout 2020, building work has continued on a major plant and office extension to the Redditch manufacturing facility. The project is nearing completion, with the extra capacity already in use to fulfil an increase in orders for equipment such as the SSSC Stainless-Steel Separator and the new ElectroStatic Separator.
The Start of a New Year
The year started with long-term employee Alan Why taking up the position of Bunting’s UK Sales Manager. Bunting-Redditch also joined the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) reflecting the importance of the metal recycling industry and an increased supply of metal separators to the sector.
In February, Bunting further expanded their sales team with the appointment of three (3) new Sales Engineers – Barry Drew, Michael Allen and Daniel Scott. The new engineers joined Bunting distributors from across Europe at the European Sales Conference. The two-day event included classroom and practical training on a wide range of magnetic separators and metal detectors.
The focus on the recycling sector continued in March with Bunting joining bvse-Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung (The German Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Disposal).
Bunting-Redditch’s recognised position as a leading global supplier of high-intensity magnetic separators for the mineral processing industry was highlighted by the completion of a complex Magnetic Disc Separator for a beach sands processing plant in Africa. Prior to despatch, Bunting’s mineral processing engineers conducted an extensive series of tests with the customer to confirm the performance.
The first of several new product announcements was made in April with the launch of two (2) new models of Permanent Overband Magnet. The Model PCB-C is a compact version of the standard model and the Model QBC features a quick-belt change design for arduous applications where there is excessive belt-wear. Both were designed in response to feedback from customers.
Pandemic Restrictions
In early May, Bunting launched the ElectroStatic Separator. This technology enables the separation and recovery of fine metals and works perfectly in conjunction with other metal separation equipment such as the Eddy Current Separator and HISC Magnetic Separator.
As the challenges relating to UK Covid-19 restrictions started to take hold, Bunting’s European Quality Assurance Manager, Denis Elkins, guided the company through a two-day remote audit by global certification body NQA. The audit focused on re-accreditation for Quality (ISO9001:2015) whilst also gaining first time accreditation for the Environment (ISO14001:2015) and Health and Safety (ISO45001:2018).
During the summer, Bunting built the largest-ever Electro Overband Magnet at their Redditch facility, weighing 13-tonnes. The Electro Overband Magnet was destined for installation in a gold mine in Northern Finland.
Despite the difficult business conditions, customers continued to place orders for specialist separation equipment. Following tests at Bunting’s Customer Experience Centre in Redditch and at the customer’s site, a UK metal recycling company ordered two (2) SSSC Stainless Steel Magnetic Separators. Tests showed the ability of the SSSC to recover weakly magnetic metals previously lost to waste. Manufacturing of the second 1.8m wide SSSC was completed in November.
In August, Bunting also joined the European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG) following a rise in magnetic separator and metal detector projects for the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Bunting’s focus on developing export business continued in September with the appointment of Dirk Mylich as their European Recycling Product Manager. The appointment reflected the ever-growing importance of environmental management in Europe and the necessity of using technology to successfully recover and recycle secondary materials such as metal and plastic.
Focus on New Product Development
The shipment of the first order for an industrial-scale ElectroStatic Separator took place in October 2020. The ElectroStatic Separator was the third stage in a metal separation process that included a Ferrite Drum Magnet (to separate strong magnetic metals) and a Rare Earth Roll Magnetic Separator (for the recovery of weakly magnetic metals). The ElectroStatic Separator recovered fine copper wire with a 95% purity, a material previously lost to waste.
The final new product launch of 2020 took place in November, introducing the stronger ElectroMax-Plus Overband Magnet. The enhanced air-cooled Electro Overband Magnet provided high magnetic strength whilst minimising the weight and size. This combination produces the highest weight-magnetic force ratio of any Bunting Electro Overband Magnet.
“Despite the challenges faced in 2020, business continued,” explained Simon Ayling, Bunting’s European Managing Director. “We continued to invest in our facilities, people, and new products; building the perfect platform for 2021 and beyond. We would like to thank all our employees, at both Redditch and Berkhamsted, for their hard work and support during 2020. Also, we would like to thank our customers for working with us during these times. As a company, we believe that working together makes us stronger. Let’s look forward to an exciting 2021.”
For further information on any of the news topics mentioned in this article or Bunting’s extensive range of metal separation equipment, please contact our technical sales team on:
Email: Gordon Kerr at GKerr@buntingmagnetics.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 1527 65858
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