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Compactors

The Orkel agricultural and industrial compactors transform bulk products into round bales. Our machines are developed and manufactured at the Orkel headquarters in Norway, and shipped to customers world wide. Today, the Orkel compactors are present in 60 countries, baling more than 30 different products within the waste, industry and agricultural sector.

Compactors Archives - Orkel

Industrial compactors

The Orkel industrial compactors transform bulk industry- and waste materials into round bales, enabling weather tight storage and transport of your products.

Industrial compactors Archives - Orkel

Romanian Waste Management firm Iridex Group Export Import outgrew their waste storage solution, ultimately jeopardizing their environmental-focused reputation. But by pure chance, came to spot their future solution; Orkel high-density round bales using an Orkel Hi-X evo!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chitila, Romania</h2>



Outside the Romanian capital you will find the city of Chitila, an area with a central role in terms of Romanian industry and logistics. &nbsp;



Iridex Group Import Export, a subsidiary company of the larger Iridex Group, is one of the many companies you will find in this buzzing, industrialized area.



Iridex Group Import Export (from now on referred to as Iridex), was founded in 1990, and with more than 500 employees stationed across the country, it is apparent that Iridex is driven by entrepreneurial and market-oriented spirits.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Waste-Management-Iridex-5.jpg" alt="Six people in yellow safety vests posing in front of a tall pile of household, working on waste management" class="wp-image-1095"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Representatives of the Iridex team in front of one of Iridex' waste landfills.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Iridex: Area of Expertise</h2>



Among its many areas of expertise, Iridex is responsible for what they refer to as&nbsp;“the most important integrated waste management center in Romania.”&nbsp;The center is responsible for processing the waste of close to 1,000,000 inhabitants of the area, constituting about 1000 tons of municipal solid waste per working day, or approximately 120,000 tons every year!



Their recently upgraded plant, however, if operated at maximum capacity, can handle 240,000 tons waste annually, allowing the company plenty of room to grow.



And for this expansion-focused company, enhancement is a buzzword.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Waste-Management-Iridex-3.jpg" alt="A Hi-X evo compactor in an industrial location under a blue sky." class="wp-image-1093"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iridex baling waste with their new Orkel Hi-X evo.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Insufficient Waste Storage</h2>



After the process of waste sorting, an essential part of Iridex’ waste management is shipping the categories to waste-to-energy plants. One of their main customer groups are cement plants, who depend on efficient waste shipping to their incinerators for energy generation.



Iridex was accustomed to utilizing traditional waste balers to pack the waste material. However, two issues kept resurfacing;&nbsp;Storage capacity and storage quality.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Storage Capacity</h3>



For any plant with significantly sized incinerators, it is necessary to schedule an annual maintenance, pausing all operation. For Iridex’ customers, this means pausing all waste intake for weeks at a time.



For Iridex, this represents a challenge within waste storage. Storage limitation is especially crucial for a company who is a proud owner of what they call an&nbsp;“ecological landfill”; Landfills using modern technologies and processes to ensure environmental safety of the surrounding area.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Storage Quality</h3>



If you are not conserving optimally, prolonged storage of waste risks flyaway and runoff, threatening the reputation of any environment-focused business.



At Iridex’ plant, their small waste presses could no longer provide storage quality, jeopardizing the environmental security of the landfill. As the issues started accumulating, they soon found themselves in need of a solution to meet their waste sorting capacity.



That is when Iridex’ Waste Management Specialist and Chief of MSW Plant Stefan Mihai-Toader spotted a truck loaded with bales as it drove past him.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Waste-Management-Iridex-6.jpg" alt="A stack of white round bales." class="wp-image-1097"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iridex' stack of waste bales made using their Hi-X evo compactor.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Spotting the Solution</h2>



He swung around and managed to catch up with the driver, who turned out to be an employee of the agricultural firm SC Agromania. Being introduced to the Orkel compactor, Mr. Mihai-Toader immediately began his research leading him to contact the Orkel Sales dept.



After thorough consultation and considering the needs of Iridex, Iridex determinately ordered an Orkel Hi-X evo, making them one of the final Orkel customers in December of 2020.



A month passed, and <a href="https://www.orkel.com/products/hi-x-evo">their Orkel Hi-X evo </a>arrived safely together with an Orkel technician to complete the commissioning of their new compactor. And finally, on January 27th, 2021, Iridex’ first Orkel <a href="https://www.orkel.com/blog/waste-baling-with-orkel">high-density bale </a>was made.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Benefits of Baling Waste</h2>



Compaction Volume of the waste is being reduced significantly. 



Storage When compacted, the waste require less storage space. Bales can be stacked vertically, and stored anywhere, without polluting the surroundings. 



Transport Due to reduced volume, the waste is easier and more efficient to transport. The wrapping makes sure that the waste stays within the bale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Baling 800kg Waste Bales</h2>



The Iridex plant is usually sorting from 22-25 tons of waste every working hour. At the end of their production line is the Orkel compactor, where most processed waste is baled for optimal storage and transport.



Since initiating the waste baling, Iridex has managed to bale well over 3000 bales each month, approximately 800 kilograms per bale! The best part is that they view themselves as still in the implementation stage!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Waste-Management-Iridex-4.jpg" alt="A person in a yellow safety vest posing with a &quot;thumb's up&quot; in front of stacked round bales, working on waste management" class="wp-image-1101"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ing. Mihai-Toader Stefan, Iridex' Waste Management Specialist and Chief of MSW Plant.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cleaner Perimeter</h2>



Mr. Mihai-Toader confirms that their high expectations of the machine have been met;&nbsp;“The possibility for us to store RDF for medium and long periods has been a huge improvement to our waste handling.”



He continues:&nbsp;“Due to the fact that the bales are sealed, the perimeter of the sorting station is cleaner, there is less wastewater, fewer unpleasant odors, and easier handling and transport, which the environmental authorities appreciate.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Expansion</h2>



Despite Iridex Group Import Export currently being in the implementation stage, they are not rejecting the possibility of needing another Orkel compactor.



Additionally, The Orkel team was thrilled to hear that some of Iridex’ sister companies are curious on the Hi-X evo.&nbsp;“I’ve already recommended Orkel technology on a few occasions!”&nbsp;he finishes.



The Orkel Team is excited on your behalf and wishes Iridex all the luck for the future!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Waste-Management-Iridex-1.jpg" alt="Waste management with Orkel: A Hi-X evo compactor in an industrial location under a blue sky" class="wp-image-1089"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Orkel Hi-X evo, located at the end of Iridex' production line.</figcaption></figure>

Waste Management Improvements in Romania

Baling Household Waste with the Hi-X

A revamped compactor designed for baling rougher waste materials such as household wastes.
Answering to market demand, the Hi-X evo is the latest in waste baling tech. The Hi-X evo is equipped with unique features allowing the machine to handle rougher materials, such as MSW (municipal solid waste) or plastics, where the material consists of irregularly shaped particles. Applying Orkel high-density technology, this compactor model is currently compatible with over 25 different materials and is still expanding to new areas of use.
We take great pride in offering highly customized machines, tailor-made to cover all needs. The Hi-X evo bale diameter is ø115&#215;120 cm, optimized for transportation in trucks and containers.

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Support 2

View sales team

Sales Manager, industry

Miriam Gjønnes Karterud

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Orkel technical brochure English

Documents

Click the &#8220;+&#8221; icons for more information about each stage in the high-density baling process.

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Orkel Hi-X_evo_7

Feeding 
Your material is fed into the feed hopper on the compactor, which transports the material safely up the elevator and into the bale chamber using a proven conveyor system.

Compaction 
The material is compacted to maximum density based on hybrid chamber technology. The Orkel technology avoids spillage of material to ensure minimal loss of resources.

Inner wrapping 
After successful compaction, a wide film is wrapped around the bale to maintain shape and density before the bale exits the chamber towards the wrapping station.

Outer wrapping 
The compacted material is transported to &#8211; and safely placed &#8211; on the wrapping table, where it is tightly wrapped in plastic film into a compact, sturdy bale, ready for transport once it securely rolls off the table.

The High-Density Baling Process

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Orkel Hi-X_evo_1

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Orkel Hi-X_evo_3

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Orkel Hi-X_evo_2

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Orkel Hi-X_evo_4

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Orkel Hi-X_evo_5

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Orkel Hi-X_evo_6

Important Functions

The new X-generation of Orkel compactors, including the Hi-X evo, is designed with innovative features to increase the productivity and management of your baling operation.

Generation X

Compatible with our latest smart tech solution, Orkel Precision enables waste management precision for every X-generation compactor owner. Implementing the complete package, you have a Production Management Tool, a Bale Traceability Tool, and a Bale Content Tool at your disposal.

Orkel Precision

The X-generation of Orkel compactors include an implemented weighing system, saving your bale data for later analysis and fine-tuning of your baling operation.

Weighing System

The intuitive touch screen allows for easy operation and supervision of the machine. Features such as the wide viewing angle, screen brightness, and screen contrast offer optimal readability even in direct sunlight. Setting the machine to run automatically you are freed from manual labor, enabling you to shift focus to supervision and fine-tuning of the machine to accommodate to your needs.

Orkel Touch Control System

The hopper of the Hi-X evo is developed to transport rough material into the elevator, while minimizing the risk for overflowing. The angle of the hopper’s rear end is steeper, increasing efficiency.

New Feed Hopper Design

The elevator has its angle reduced by 30 degrees. This ensures a secure flow of material up the elevator and into the chamber. This reduces the risk of blockages.

Reduced Elevator Angle

The film tying unit is lifted 20cm, which results in a larger passage between the elevator and the chamber, enabling rougher fragments to pass.

Larger Passage into the Chamber

The moving direction of the feed hopper, the elevator, and the sub-conveyor can be reversed from the display unit in order to easily resolve any upcoming blockages.

Reversable Belts

The elevator bottom has a hydraulically operated hatch, offering a swift solution for the operator if excessive amounts of material gathers in this area.

Hydraulically Operated Elevator Access Hatch

The Hi-X evo is equipped with an air cleaning system that blows loose material away from critical areas of the compactor, preventing unnecessary standstills.

Air Cleaning System

Waste Management Specialist and Chief of MSW Plant

“The possibility for us to store RDF for medium and long periods has been a huge improvement to our waste handling.”
“I’ve already recommended Orkel technology on a few occasions!”

Ing. Mihai-Toader Stefan

RDF storage with the Hi-X evo (Mihai-Toader Stefan)

Technical Details

Waste baling made easy with the Orkel Hi-X evo compactor

Baling agricultural plastics in Norway | Orkel Hi-X evo compactor

The Hi-X evo compactor is a specialized waste baler for storing rough waste materials, such as unprocessed household waste.

Hi-X evo Compactor - Orkel

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Hi-X evo

Orkel

After years of waste build-up of landfill sites on the islands of the Azores, the regional government finalized a solution allowing the community to remove the local landfills once and for all. The solution? Baling the waste into clean and sealed round bales using an Orkel Hi-X compactor, designed to handle sorted and chopped household waste!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Challenging the Small Island's Traditional Infrastructure</h2>



The Azores, a small group of islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, has experienced significant economic growth since the end of the 1990s, bringing with it the advantages and the disadvantages of increased productivity and employment.



The island communities are thriving, however, one issue becomes apparent as their infrastructure is under pressure; How will the communities manage the growing amount of waste?&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Landfill-to-Round-Bales_7-1.jpg" alt="A Hi-X compactor in a concrete facility, with loose landfill waste in its feeding table and heaps of loose waste in the foreground." class="wp-image-999"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Storing waste in bales instead of in open containers assures that no waste is lost during prolonged storage.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">7.000 Tons of Waste</h2>



Up until 2017, in order to remove waste from townships and private properties, the Azores was dependent on creating landfills on each of the inhibited islands. According to the Portuguese Environment Agency, the average Azorian produces more waste than the average Portuguese mainlander does: A total of over 7.000 tons a year on the island of Faial alone!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Landfills</h2>



Ever-expanding landfills and an unsustainable waste management strategy is harmful in many ways to a community. Harmful gases, toxic runoff, and loss of vital habitat are merely three examples.



As a result, the Azorian regional government sought to find a solution to remove the many landfill sites. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Landfill-to-Round-Bales_4-1.jpg" alt="A colorful heap of landfill waste on a concrete flooring in foggy surroundings." class="wp-image-997"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Due to its vast agricultural sector, the Azores is dependent on rich soil and clean water, to which landfills poses a serious threat.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Facil Inova Lda.</h2>



Facil, an abbreviation of “Fornecedores Açoreanos de Comércio e Industria Lda”, is a 60-year-old company located on São Miguel island of the Azores. Today, Facil is a holding company while Facil Inova Lda is the group company that provide sales and services on the nine Azorian islands. 



Currently, Facil Inova Lda has 3 business areas; industry, construction, and renewable energy, and approximately 40 employees across the islands. Little did they know they were soon contributing to removing Azorian landfills.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Landfill-to-Round-Bales_3.jpg" alt="Technicians wearing yellow safety vests gathered in front of a black and yellow machine." class="wp-image-987"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New operators are trained by Orkel technicians to ensure efficient baling operations.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Solution</h2>



To improve their waste management strategy, the regional government initiated a collaboration with the local firm Facil Inova Lda. 



The regional government built an incinerator on the island of Terceira intended for the waste segment. A waste management boat was transporting waste from other islands to the incinerator facilities on Terceira, however, they soon discovered the negative aspects of transporting loose household waste across sea.



“This transport had negative effects on a hygienic level, since the waste was transported in containers with hermetic limitations.” which Pedro Bizarro, Sales Director of Facil Inova, expressed. 



After suggestions from Facil and proposals from Orkel, a cooperation was formed with high-density baling technology as the solution.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Landfill-to-Round-Bales_2.jpg" alt="A Hi-X compactor inside a concrete facility with landfill waste piled in the background." class="wp-image-985"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Hi-X compactor is designed to compact household waste into sealed, clean round bales.</figcaption></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Negative Impacts of landfill sites</h2>



<ul>
<li>Releases methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to air pollution and global warming.</li>



<li>A landfill threatens the local biodiversity, destroying the habitat of local fauna.</li>



<li>A landfill contributes to groundwater pollution, as highly toxic chemicals are formed when constituents dissolve and enter the groundwater.</li>



<li>Decreases soil fertility, altering the soil content due to toxic substances and decaying organic material, preventing potential future agriculture.</li>



<li>Impacts human health, due to air- and water pollution and potentially disease-carrying pests.</li>



<li>Causes negative visual impact, as a landfill ruin the natural landscape and appeal, often reducing nearby housing prices.</li>



<li>Claims vast areas, hindering&nbsp;communities a more beneficial use of space from potential stakeholders.</li>



<li>Remains a problem for future generations, as waste buried in landfills breaks down at a very slow rate.</li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Benefits of Round Bales</h2>



<a href="https://www.orkel.com/products/industrial-compactors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Choosing an Orkel compacto</a>r offered several benefits for the Azorian waste market. 



Bales allow seamless handling and transport, providing <a href="https://www.orkel.com/blog/waste-baling-with-orkel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">organized waste management</a>. Furthermore, storing waste in bales assures that no waste is lost during prolonged storage, and essentially removes the leakage of hazardous gases and toxic runoff.



Moreover, baling waste with high density will reduce the total volume of the waste, lowering the required storage space on Terceira. Quoting Mr. Bizarro; “[High-density baling] increases the calorific value of the packaged material when it is incinerated, which is a great benefit for us!”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Landfill-to-Round-Bales_5-2.jpg" alt="Black round bales lying on their round side with a heap of colored landfill material in the background." class="wp-image-1005"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">High-density round bales provide a number of benefits, like improved handling and transport.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Positive Results of Baling</h2>



As the waste management strategy strengthens, the threat from landfills are slowly perishing. 



Unpleasant odors and toxic runoff are a thing of the past, as all generated waste are sealed in airtight bales before being destroyed. 



The Azores has two <a href="https://www.orkel.com/products/industrial-compactors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orkel Hi-X compactors</a>, one on São Jorge and one on Faial island. Using these compactors, the Azorian waste is compacted into high-density bales before they are transported directly to the facilities on Terceira or placed in storage for later incineration. 



On both islands the opportunity for prolonged storage reduces the number of trips made by the waste management boat. Long term, this will limit ship traffic amid the Azores’ vulnerable marine life, and reduce the cost related to frequent waste transport. Despite the recent improvements, the collaboration is showing no signs of stopping: 



“As the local government is planning on extending the local waste management, we are foreseeing the need for more Orkel compactor technology” reveals Sales Director, Pedro Bizarro.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Landfill-to-Round-Bales_1.jpg" alt="Five people standing in the shade of a Hi-X compactor with blue skies and white round bales in the background." class="wp-image-983"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The team at Facil together with Orkel technician, Atle Erik Rekstad (to the left).</figcaption></figure>



Orkel is looking forward to future collaborations, with an even greater environmental impact, together with Facil Inova and the Azores!

From Landfill to Round Bales on the Azores

A versatile compactor designed for baling finer waste materials such as RDF and SRF.
Providing Orkel customers across the world a reliable and high-performing compaction, the Hi-X represents a resource-efficient and user-friendly alternative for storage of sorted and finely chopped waste types. Applying Orkel high-density technology, this compactor model is currently compatible with over 25 different materials and is still expanding to new areas of use.
We take great pride in offering highly customized machines, tailor-made to cover all needs. The Hi-X bale diameter is ø115&#215;120 cm, optimized for transportation in trucks and containers.

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Orkel Hi-X_7

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Orkel Hi-X_1

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Orkel Hi-X_2

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Orkel Hi-X_3

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Orkel Hi-X_4

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Orkel Hi-X_5

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Orkel Hi-X_6

The new X-generation of Orkel compactors, including the Hi-X, is designed with innovative features to increase the productivity and management of your baling operation.

[High-density baling] increases the calorific value of the packaged waste material when it is incinerated, which is a great benefit for us!

Pedro Bizarro

Calorific value (Pedro Bizarro)

Orkel Hi-X compactor for baling waste

The Hi-X compactor is the leading waste baler on the market, providing mobility for baling of finer waste materials such as RDF or SRF.