WENDT CORPORATION has announced the sale of a WENDT M6090 shredding plant to Honduras-based INVEMA. Once installed, this will represent the first shredder in Central America and provide the company with a competitive advantage by creating a new premium product, increasing volumes, and opening new markets.
Recognizing both the environmental and economic benefits recycling could bring to Honduras, George Gatlin started the family-operated business with his father in 1994. Starting the company with three employees recycling aluminum cans, Gatlin has grown the company to 487 employees, including his son Andrew. INVEMA is now a recycling center for all non-organic waste and the largest plastic recycler in the region, supplying Coca-Cola in Honduras and El Salvador with 50% recycled content for all its plastic bottles.
Gatlin attributes the company’s success to always staying ahead of curve. “I’ve always wanted to be a step ahead,” says George Gatlin, INVEMA CEO. “I am a very competitive person and I believe competition makes you try to be better.” Gatlin recognized the opportunity for a shredder in the Honduras region not only for his company, but for the many people of Honduras that supply INVEMA with material every day. Gatlin adds, “We have to keep growing. Our suppliers rely on us for their livelihoods. They want to grow. They want to make more money. We must grow to keep providing the opportunity for them. Being the first shredder in the area is very exciting. It raises the bar on how we can continue to grow our company.”
INVEMA’s WENDT M6090 shredding plant features an infeed conveyor, industry leading Bowe Disc Rotor, WENDT AutoDriver controls, downstream system with single magstand, and 1,500 HP AC Motor with a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). Representing the first WENDT shredder with a VFD, the technology will allow INVEMA to maximize the shredder’s production while minimizing their operating cost by taking advantage of the drives ability to control the motors power consumption and peaks. This is especially important for INVEMA due to the high cost and limited availability of power in the region.
Gatlin says many factors went into choosing the shredder that would best fit their needs. “The fact that in this part of the world, where we had many different choices, and we chose WENDT speaks for itself. WENDT was one of the major brands out there used by many industries, with the best reputation,” says Gatlin. “Being new to shredding, WENDT has been super patient, cooperative with giving us information, looking at our needs, adjusting to what we need in power – it has been a great relationship.”
“WENDT continues our strategic growth initiative as we expand into new markets and regions with the first shredder to be installed in Central America,” said WENDT CORPORATION President Tom Wendt. “We look forward to the opportunities the shredder will provide to INVEMA as well as continuing to grow our relationship with the Gatlin family.”
INVEMA’s new auto shredder operation will be commissioned in Q4-2022 and be located outside of San Pedro, the largest industrial city in Honduras. INVEMA plans to process 5,000 tons per month with their new M6090 shredder and has plans for further expansion with additional processing equipment in the near future.
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