A RECYCLING specialist has exported its largest single shipment of scrap steel to mainland Europe.
J Denham Metals, based in Wingate near Hartlepool, and Bishop Auckland, has secured an export facility at Redcar Bulk Terminal, based on Teesside.
Ten jobs have been created as a result. Two within J Denham Metals, and a further eight staff by the firm’s sub-contractors.
The material, made up of scrap steel from engineering and manufacturing facilities across the region, has been loaded into a ship and exported to a steel works in mainland Europe.
John Denham, of J Denham Metals, which has been operating in the North East for over 50 years, said: “We see exports in bulk from the region as a crucial part of the ongoing development of our business, a natural progression.
“The deep water berth at Redcar Bulk Terminal is fantastic and will allow us to develop our markets worldwide.
“After the terrible news surrounding the closure of SSI last year, and all the ramifications that brought, it feels good to be able to bring some good news surrounding the topic of steel to the table.”
He added: “The development of bulk shipments will see some additional direct employment for us and significant indirect employment with our regional partners involved in the supply chain.
“The recycling ethos of the region’s manufacturing and engineering sector is encouraging, and we have found that if a balance between the rates paid for materials, quality of service, and improvements to a company’s green credentials is achieved, the critical mass required to make bulk exports is feasible.”
The bulk shipment is in addition to J Denham Metals’ containerised cargos currently being loaded for export to steel mills in Asia at its two facilities in County Durham.
J Denham Metals began making significant investment into its facilities to allow diversification into overseas markets after identifying that its end user was increasingly more likely to be overseas, rather than in the UK.
It has now established itself as one of the region’s most recognised players within the metal recycling arena.