Within the waste and recycling industry, there is an ever-growing demand for cleaner, more efficient ways to recycle everyday products within the circular economy. Due to technological advances, electric machinery has become a popular choice to improve sustainability and push the drive for net-zero carbon emissions.

Over the past 21 years, the UK has had an average of GBP 23 billion worth of exports of electrical machinery and equipment per year. In addition to this, within the waste and recycling industry, there are approximately 300 significant fires per year. With more of these machines in the demand for protection, Fireward are always evolving and adapting our technology to support protecting electrical heavy plant and machinery. Fireward was born within this industry therefore, we must ensure that our systems provide them 24/7 protection.

Fireward were recently at Countrystyle’s Ridham Dock facility to install a fully automated Dry Powder system on a Solmec 5020 Electric Material handler (supplied by EH Hassels). This machine will reduce emissions and help provide a cleaner operation. As companies within the Waste and Recycling industry now have a responsibility for 'going green' the equipment used must be sustainable. The zero -emission Solmec is an ideal example of the type of heavy plant required.

We usually use dry powder and wet chemical simultaneously as they are extremely effective when it comes to large fires in hot engine bays. However, as this machine is fully electric there is no need for the cooling properties from the wet chemical. Dry powder has powerful fire knockdown features, which makes it the perfect suppressant agent for this machine.