By compacting textiles with a horizontal baler, NewRetex reduces logistics costs
Sought a way to streamline logistics
NewRetex, based in Denmark, collects and sorts textile waste for recycling and reuse. To improve logistics efficiency, the company adopted the Mil-tek E819 baler, which now compacts the textiles by up to 75%. This not only frees up storage space but also reduces transportation expenses and minimizes NewRetex’s environmental impact.
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Turning textile waste into a resource
The textile industry ranks among the most harmful to the environment. Recycling its waste is difficult though, due to the low value of unprocessed textile materials.
NewRetex driving change in textile sustainability
NewRetex, a Danish company, is tackling this issue head-on. It collects used textiles from sources like municipalities, industrial laundries, manufacturers, and retailers. After a detailed sorting process, the textiles are sent off for recycling, where they’re given new life as fabrics, yarns, and other materials – pushing the industry toward a more sustainable future.
NewRetex’s challenge: Effectively reducing the volume of sorted textiles
NewRetex runs a highly streamlined and advanced sorting operation.
When textiles arrive, they’re first registered and manually pre-sorted. After that, they move through a sophisticated automated system equipped with sensors and robotics. This technology identifies key characteristics—such as color, size, and material type – allowing for accurate categorization into groups like dark polyester or light cotton.
This detailed sorting process increases the potential for recycling a larger portion of the material.
Despite the efficiency, NewRetex faced a logistical hurdle: loose textiles occupied a significant amount of space. As a result, transport became a major cost factor, with trucks unable to carry high volumes per trip. To cut costs and optimize transport, they needed an effective way to compress the textiles.
Implementing a horizontal baler from Mil-tek
Following discussions with Mil-tek, NewRetex selected the E819 horizontal baler to handle their textile compaction needs. The decision was based on several key advantages:
- High throughput, ideal for managing large volumes of textile waste
- Space-efficient design, fitting perfectly into NewRetex’s facility
- Continuous loading and automatic start, enabling smooth, uninterrupted operation
- Powered by an electric motor, removing the risk of oil-stained textiles – unlike traditional hydraulic systems
- Cost-effective pricing, making it a smart and practical investment
4:1 compression ratio boosts efficiency and cuts costs
Eighteen months have passed since NewRetex installed the Mil-tek E819 baler.
Now fully integrated into their operations, the baler receives textiles directly from a conveyor belt, streamlining the process.
The machine compresses the textiles to just 25% of their original volume – a 4:1 reduction. This dramatic decrease in bulk means more material can be loaded per trip, making the entire value chain more economical.
Fewer transport runs also mean a notable drop in CO2 emissions, supporting both environmental and financial sustainability.
2,000 textile bales and counting – NewRetex pushes sustainability forward
Over the past 18 months, NewRetex has compressed around 2,000 tightly packed bales of sorted textiles, all set for recycling.
Integrating the baler into their workflow has greatly enhanced efficiency – the machine operates reliably and has shown itself to be a smart, impactful investment.
The E819 remains central to NewRetex’s ongoing efforts to drive sustainability and reshape the textile industry for the better.
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