Sicut to manufacture recycled plastic railway sleepers in the UK

Sicut Enterprises has confirmed it is bringing the manufacture of its recycled plastic composite railway sleeper, Ecotrax, to the UK.

It says the move will help address the significant challenges facing the UK and European railways as a result of the reduced quality and increased cost of imported hardwood and the European wide ban on the use of creosote treatment from December 2017.

The production of Ecotrax from locally sourced plastic waste will deliver much-needed margins for plastic reprocessors, says Sicut, enabling more UK waste material to be converted into valuable products for local and export markets rather than relying on shipping waste to Asia or sending to landfill.

William Mainwaring, Chief Executive of Sicut, said: “With the rising UK and European demand for Ecotrax, local manufacture is the only solution that will deliver customer expectations on lead time, volumes and pricing.

“The UK has the raw material and the manufacturing capability to meet local demand and the manufacture of Ecotrax in the UK will provide a boost to the plastic recycling industry, which in some areas is on the verge of collapse.”

Currently, Ecotrax is being manufactured in Texas, but the move will hopefully bring investment, new advanced manufacturing, green jobs and local regeneration to the UK.

“Sicut hopes to conclude commercial discussions with selected partners and be able to announce detailed plans for the UK manufacture of Ecotrax in the coming weeks,” Mainwaring added.