£2m strategic investment fuels RE:Group for further growth
A Hull-based oil recovery and fuel manufacturing business is poised for further growth following an investment of nearly £2m.
RE:Group UK Ltd, which collects and processes aqueous and oily waste and manufactures environmentally sound industrial fuels, is commissioning an innovative processing plant at new premises on Air Street in the Sculcoates area of the city.
Supported with a significant grant from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growing the Humber fund, the investment has, to date, created five new jobs, with a further 19 posts expected to be created over the next two to three years as the plant’s production capacity is developed.
The new environmentally friendly process, which RE:Group says is an ‘industry game changer’, will radically improve the processing of waste oils, by facilitating a far greater recovery rate, removing the need for the use of chemicals and providing a more commercially competitive product. The plant will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2015.
The new 1.7 acre Air Street location will allow the company to consolidate operations through creating a physical link with two of its other sites in Hull’s industrial heartland around the River Hull: a tank storage area on Bankside and fuel production facility at its other Air Street premises.
The new location is also home to Clipper House, a 3,200 sq. ft. newly restored Edwardian building, which becomes RE:Group’s new head office.
The company, which has extensive experience in waste oil management and hydrocarbon recovery, currently handles more than 50 million litres of marine and industrial oil each year and sells advanced fuels under its RE:Fuel brand to sectors such as brewing, food production, aggregates and abattoirs.
Employee numbers have steadily increased to 48 since the company started with two staff in 1996 and include engineers, tanker drivers, industrial chemists and production staff.
Managing director Paul Waine said: “This is a significant and strategic investment for RE:Group giving us the increased capacity to develop our customer base through providing innovative hydrocarbon based products.
“We are grateful for the support we have received from both the Humber LEP and our bankers Lloyds in funding this exciting development.“
He said that the continual investment in laboratory facilities and in research and development had been key to the company’s growth.
“We are a technology-led business with innovation in processing, manufacturing and product development being a central element of our strategy. Our UKAS-accredited in-house laboratory facilities allow us to stay one step ahead in a highly competitive market.“
Until 2002, the Air Street site was occupied by vegetable oil producer Seatons, part of the Croda Group, before being purchased by J R Rix and Sons Ltd.
RE:Group now occupies a total of 4.65 acres including a site at Ann Watson Street, Stoneferry, which deals with waste oil collection and processing. It also has an additional collection depot in North Lincolnshire, after entering into a joint venture with Lincolnshire Waste Oils.
Clipper House, which will accommodate the majority of RE:Group’s employees, has been named after the Horse Clippers Arms, which once stood nearby.
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