EW Swiers & R Grainger See Demand Increase

Tyre recycling’s growth is illustrated by the story of a relatively new company’s plans to expand its operation with a new pre-shredder. The father-daughter partnership of EW Swiers & R Grainger Tyre Disposal and Rubber Chip, started early last year when they set up a tyre shredding facility at Ruffort, on the outskirts of York, North Yorkshire. A year ago, the company took delivery of a shredder to produce 20mm chips, stripping out the wire, for the Equine Market. Within the year the company has met 80 per cent of its targets.

Swiers comments “We feel we were getting positive signals of increased demand about 12–14 weeks ago, so we ordered an additional pre-shredder from New Zealand that will increase our throughput three fold, thus meeting our current demand for the Equine Market.”

Though the expansion in capacity gives the company reason to be cheerful, Swiers is realistic about the company’s prospects in the next year: “Looking to the future we do not see a problem selling our chip but it seems to be more difficult and time-consuming sourcing waste tyres. We have experienced considerable local support but the tyre supply is less than straightforward and we are on a fast learning curve, but after 40 years in the Wholesale Meat Business the problems are the same. We are looking forward to 2009 with eagerness and anticipation.”

Predominately used for All-Weather Equine and Ménage Riding Surfaces, the company’s product is resistant to freezing, while the rubber chips help to drain any surface water, meaning that little maintenance is required. Rubber chips provide a softer landing for horse and, in the event of something going awry, the rider.