The Gilzer company PRAT has been a familiar face in the regional recycling sector for a quarter of a century. On the occasion of the 5th anniversary, we spoke with the owners father and son Van Loon about the working method and the growth.

As the name polymer recycling and trading implies, PRAT is mainly concerned with the recycling of plastic. Joep van Loon, who runs the company together with his father Jack, explains: "Every year we make about 2 million kilos of post-industrial plastic reusable here, which we collect from the plastics processing industry. This may include cutting waste from the production process. of plastic packaging or rejected products, such as broken garden chairs.

or spheres, modified customer-specifically if required. This material is then used to make new products. "PRAT therefore deals with customers who supply plastic and customers who purchase plastic. This is not always the same customer, sometimes PRAT also trades the plastic." Hence the T in the name ", says Joep.

Robust and flexible

Considering the seemingly enormous amount of plastic that is processed every year, PRAT appears to be a major player. Still, according to Joep van Loon, that is not so bad. "We are not a giant, but rather a small, robust player in the market." That is also the main reason that PRAT has been doing it for 25 years, says Jack van Loon. "We have always made a conscious choice to stay small and limit ourselves to what we are good at: recycling plastic. We outsource everything that comes with it, such as transport abroad or storage. Not just because it is more profitable. is, but also because we only want to do what we are good at. "Joep continues:" It is precisely because we have little overhead that we can work competitively. Small assignments and urgent jobs that are of no interest to our larger colleagues, come our way sooner. "A clear working method, but does this never affect flexibility? A clear working method, but does this never compromise flexibility? Joep: A clear working method, but does this never compromise flexibility? Joep:

"No, actually not. Sometimes we get more demand than we can handle, but then we deploy on-call workers. We have the advantage that we work with several separate machines instead of one large one. That is slightly more expensive, but that allows us to do so. accept more different assignments. And if it really doesn't work out, we will always help you find a different solution."

On to the 50

PRAT is optimistic about the future. Joep concludes: "Plastic waste will remain there for a long time, so we are in the right place. In this respect, the mechanical recycling of plastic, which we do, is the most sustainable way of processing in our opinion. If we just continue as we have done for the past 25 years, then we can continue to do it for a long time. As long as we enjoy it, because that is ultimately the most important thing. "