CLEANER, SMARTER TECHNOLOGY STEALS THE LIMELIGHT AT CIWM ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

PRESS INFORMATION

Issue Date: 12th November 2009

Two leading vehicle, plant and equipment companies have won top honours at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Environmental Excellence, which recognise and reward companies that have introduced successful measures to reduce their environmental impact through more sustainable management of wastes and resources.

Geesink Norba beat off stiff competition to win the Vehicle of the Year award, while Penny Hydraulics collected the top prize in the Plant & Equipment of the Year category. The winners were announced at an event held at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane yesterday. The awards were hosted by entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor Deborah Meaden and the judges included Simon Chapman, chief economist at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), Trevor Hay of the Health and Safety Executive, and John Ingham, environment editor of the Daily Express.

Geesink Norba won the Vehicle of the Year award, sponsored by Hopkinsons Fairdeals, for its plug-in electric refuse collection vehicle range. Launched in May this year, following six years of testing in Sweden, the vehicles use electric power to operate the lifting, crushing and compacting systems. Developed to meet three key objectives; reducing diesel consumption and carbon emissions and cutting energy costs for operators. Initial results indicate that diesel fuel savings of 27.5 percent are being achieved, and Gee4sink Norba is also offering its Ecomonitor system on all plug-in electric vehicles to record and analyse performance, enabling the fine-tuning of engines to maximise fuel savings.

Collecting the Plant & Equipment of the Year award from sponsors Heil Europe was Penny Hydraulics. The Penny Hydraulics HS400/V12 and TP2000/FV1200 tracked mobile cranes were developed in partnership with Hinowa to address demand for load handling capabilities in applications where conventional equipment cannot easily be used. As well as being designed to help eliminate manual handling where possible, particularly for specialist load handling in off-road and rough terrain applications, the carbon footprint of the machines was also considered at the design stage, with weights being lowered by as much as 40 percent to reduce the amount of raw materials required.

Steve Lee, chief executive of the CIWM, said: “When it comes to reducing environmental impact, the waste industry must lead by example and these winners demonstrate the

innovation in design and manufacturing of the vehicles, plant and equipment that play such an important role in improving the efficiency and environmental footprint of our industry.”

ENDS

More information on all the winners can be found at http://www.ciwm.co.uk/pm/818 and high resolution photographs of the award winners are available by emailing pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk

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