The Reiling Group, a Germany-based recycling company, has acquired the flat glass recycling company Simeko, which is based in Poland. The deal is the culmination of several months of work for Reiling, which had been seeking to expand its business in Poland.
Reiling says that while Simeko is a small operation, handling less than 10,000 metric tons of glass per year, it has good potential as two new glass tanks producing flat glass were commissioned in Poland earlier this year.
The company adds that the Simeko plant will be upgraded to meet the quality requirements of the glass industry.
Reiling, along with its Polish subsidiary DSS Recykling, recycles more than 100,000 metric tons of flat glass per year for use by the European glass industry. Reiling also operates recycling plants for flat glass in Gladbeck, Lauenburg, Marienfeld, Osterweddingen and Torgau, Germany; and in Næstved, Denmark.
Marc Uphoff, managing director, president and owner of the Reiling Group, says, “Demand for recycled flat glass continues to be high as the shards are not only used in the flat glass industry but also as a substitute for hollow glass shards and of course [as] primary raw materials in the container glass and mineral wool industries.
“Following our clients on their way is part of the corporate strategy,” Uphoff continues. “Therefore, I consider our expanded commitment in the Polish market to be meaningful for both economic and environmental reasons.”