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Heart of the innovative concept: vertical balers from HSM. 330 of the HSM V-Press 860 and HSM V-Press 1160 max balers compact paper, cardboard and film at 180 points of collection – megastores and logistics and administration centres in nine European countries. The investment for the balers is paid off within a very short period. The concept, said Andreas Back, Head of Quality Management, Environment & CSR at Hornbach, has increased the recycling quota dramatically: “A lot of residual waste has become recyclable material.”

The objective was a waste management concept that foresaw waste separation and a container registry for more transparency. Additionally, the journeys within the incoming goods areas of the DIY megastores and garden centres were to be optimised so that employees could work more effectively. Disposal of the recyclable material was to become independent of a recycling partner. It quickly became apparent to Andreas Back and his colleagues at the Hornbach Headquarters in Bornheim (Palatinate/Germany) that for this concept, compaction machines were required which could press the recyclable material directly into marketable bales, whilst simultaneously taking up as little of the valuable space within the incoming goods area as possible. The machines should have a high pressing power, a long service life and the manufacturer must have a close-knit service network available to them. Andreas Back: “In the event of a repair, we need a solution within 24 hours, anything else would hold up operations and cost too much money.”

Those responsible at Hornbach tested a variety of baler models from various manufacturers in a DIY megastore. In doing so, they very quickly saw “clear differences” in ease of operation, quality and lastly, the price, reported Andreas Back. The “highest quality” and the “best price-performance ratio” were exhibited, in his opinion, by the HSM presses. Back: “We simply had a very good impression. The complete package at HSM was right.” The vertical balers from HSM had a high pressing power, required little space, were simple to operate and were “very unobtrusive” in continuous operation. Hornbach subsequently equipped its stores in nine European countries and several of its logistics centres with baling presses from HSM. Currently Hornbach has over 330 HSM presses. The employees in the incoming goods areas of the individual stores fill the machines with the packaging material, press it and store it in bales. Once a week, one of the Hornbach lorry fleet (“Recyclable Material Liners”) collects the valuable product and takes it to a transshipment centre where the recyclers take it over. “Recyclers value the Hornbach material due to its high quality and the degree to which it is sorted”, reported Andreas Back.

“With hindsight we can say that it was absolutely the correct decision to go with the vertical baler and HSM, and to be the pioneers within the industry with our concept. We are going to develop this even further.”