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Dear Readers!
At the end of the year, it is never a bad idea to take a look back at what has been achieved and to try and predict what may happen in the coming year. 2014 was a turbulent year in many ways. The current conflicts in Europe and other parts of the world continue to affect the global economic climate. Chancellor Angela Merkel laconically summed up the situation at the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, commenting that it was ‘impossible to overlook the fact that the current geopolitical tensions were not good for growth’. Against this backdrop and despite all the crises, we are very pleased to see that REMONDIS has enjoyed steady growth this year and strengthened its position on the global market. This can, on the one hand, be put down to the realignment and strengthening of our scrap metal activities and our maintenance and services division. On the other hand, REMONDIS has succeeded in expanding its regional presence and extending the reach of its networks both in Germany and abroad. This year, the company has also focused on intensifying its operations in core regions, i.e. in the regions it is expecting to experience long-term growth.
Since the Solidarnosc era, Poland has developed into a kind of model EU member state with great prospects for growth and a genuine enthusiasm for the European ideal. In this positive economic climate, REMONDIS has not only managed to maintain but also to expand its position on the Polish market – and this can all be put down to the quality of its services and its ability to invest. Examples of this can be found in Stettin, Gliwice and Opole as well as in this issue of the REMONDIS aktuell magazine. Let us attempt to predict what may happen in 2015. Discussions are currently being held in Germany about passing a new recyclables law. We must wait and see just what challenges we will have to face. According to a report published by the Fraunhofer Umsicht Institute, carbon emissions could be reduced by 1.6 million tonnes if absolutely all recyclable waste in the country were to be collected and recycled. This would be the equivalent of a good 6% of the German government’s target to reduce its emissions by at least 40 percent by 2020. REMONDIS, as the biggest water, recycling and industrial services company, is ready and prepared to contribute towards achieving these goals.
Healthy growth and sustainability will continue to be two sides of the same coin at REMONDIS in 2015. As always, we will drive our business forward to further stabilise and expand our company divisions. Such growth is only possible with well qualified and highly motivated staff and with satisfied customers and partners.
We would like to use this opportunity to say a big ‘thank you’ to you all and to wish you a very happy Christmas and all the very best for 2015.
Yours
Egbert Tölle
Responsible for all waste management activities
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Every year, more than 140,000 engines and around 75 million components and gearbox parts are manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Berlin – a facility owned by the Daimler Group. For the production processes to run smoothly, it is essential that there is an effective waste management system in place throughout the plant. As general contractor, REMONDIS is responsible for all logistics activities there as well as for the subsequent recycling of both the recyclable and residual waste materials – a job it has been carrying out since 2007. The contract between the Mercedes-Benz plant in Berlin and REMONDIS has now been extended for a further five years.
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Founded in 1902, the Mercedes-Benz facility in Berlin is the Daimler Group’s oldest plant. Today, it employs around 2,500 people who produce high quality engines and components for the Mercedes-Benz vehicles
Working for car manufacturers all around the world
For many years now, REMONDIS has worked together with well-known automobile manufacturers all around the world – whether it be in China, Turkey or Berlin. Besides producing the V6 diesel engine – one of the cleanest and most innovative of its kind – the Mercedes-Benz plant in Berlin focuses on developing and manufacturing components and parts for the various Mercedes-Benz engines using state-of-the-art and environmentally-friendly technology. With the final products having to meet a wide variety of requirements, a whole range of environmental and budget issues had to be taken into consideration to find the best possible waste management system for the various production processes.
Residual chemicals are unavoidable when producing engines. REMONDIS Industrieservice ensures they are collected and recycled safely.
Daimler sets really high standards both when it comes to the fuel consumption of its engines and to the waste management activities at its company, examining carefully how resources are handled. This was just one of the reasons why REMONDIS succeeded in winning a tender and becoming Daimler’s general waste management contractor in 2007. Prior to this, the various materials had been collected and recycled by a number of different companies. Since having been awarded the contract, REMONDIS has been responsible for all recyclable and residual materials generated by the plant in Berlin. Moreover, it is also in charge of the in-house logistics system for recyclable and waste materials at the neighbouring Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde plant.
A case for the REMONDIS network
“Collection and logistics activities in two shifts, more than 120 different types of recyclable and residual materials, the highest standards of recycling: REMONDIS’ Berlin branch runs the in-house waste collection centre at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Berlin, collecting all hazardous and non-hazardous materials generated by the many production processes. One of their main activities is to sort and produce bales of materials such as plastic film,” explained Jürgen Opitz, REMONDIS key account manager responsible for Daimler Benz.
High standards in all areas of business
Several different REMONDIS companies are involved in the activities at Daimler’s Berlin plant, providing their specialist know-how and expertise. Whilst REMONDIS’ company, Wertstoff Union Berlin (WUB), collects and recycles cardboard and card, Rhenus Data Office is responsible for ensuring all confidential files and data storage devices are destroyed correctly. REMONDIS Industrieservice’s task is to manage the collection and recycling of chemicals and solvents found, for example, in paint, glue and cleaning agents. TSR plays a key role when it comes to recycling the scrap metal. Here, it deploys a special machine to crush metal filings which not only makes the ferrous and non-ferrous metals more compact, it also removes any water. By doing so, the company is able to store greater volumes in the special containers than would normally be the case, a far more efficient way to transport the materials for further processing.
A success story with a promising future
The production of more than 140,000 engines and around 75 million components and gearbox parts in Berlin generates an impressive volume of materials: every year, REMONDIS handles over 300 tonnes of plastic film and plastic, 220 tonnes of paper, card and cardboard as well as 250 tonnes of other recyclable and residual materials ensuring they are sent to the most suitable recycling or processing facility. This cooperation work in Berlin is truly a success story with those responsible at Daimler regularly giving REMONDIS the best possible reviews when assessing the quality of its services – a great incentive for the next five years.