Helping to increase recycling rates across the world has seen a family-run aluminium processing firm triple its turnover.
Hixon-based Jesse Brough Metals International (JBMI) has developed new processes to re-use metals and other waste - and it has exported the technology to places like Australia, Iceland and Thailand.
Three years ago the company turned over around £10 million, but bosses expect that to increase to £35 million this year.
The firm, which employs 60 people, recycles the waste produced by aluminium and other industries that would otherwise end up in landfill.
Managing director Miles Brough, son of founder Jesse, says the company's success is down to diversifying its services and increasing exports of its recycling technology.
Mr Brough, who co-owns JBMI with his brother Ashley, said: "We predominantly recycle things like aluminium dross, which is like slag - things that otherwise would have ended up as landfill. The idea is to convert all the waste materials into useable products.
"The aluminium waste is melted down and other metals are added, and we market the resulting alloys to a number of industries, including automotive firms and die cast companies."
JBMI, which is based at Hixon Industrial Estate, near Stafford, numbers car manufacturer Toyota and Triumph Motorcycles among its clients.
Mr Brough added: "Recycling aluminium is our core business, but about three or four years ago we started to get involved with other waste materials destined for landfill, such as automotive and quarry waste.
"We found that instead of throwing them away, if you mix them with other things you could make useable products for industries like construction and aggregates."
The company has embarked on an expansion programme to market its recycling technology around the world.
Mr Brough said: "Of course the UK isn't the only country in the world that generates waste from metallurgical industries.
"We were approached by a big aluminium manufacturing firm in Australia and we built a plant for them to recycle all their waste, and we've done the same in countries like Thailand and Iceland.
"It seems that the world is really quite keen to use the technology we've developed.
"We're now focusing on the Middle East and Eastern Europe as potential markets."
Mr Brough said the firm's expansion strategy has produced dramatic results.
He said: "Three years ago our turnover was around £10 million, last year it was £25 million and this year we're expecting £35 million."
JBMI's success has seen it named one of the best family businesses in the UK.
The firm triumphed in the £5 million to £25 million turnover category in a competition organised by private bank Coutts.
Roger Pedder, who chaired the judging panel, said: "As a successful second generation business, the evaluation committee members were impressed by the sheer passion of the family for the business, the enthusiasm and drive of the family leadership, the rapid growth and success of the business and the family's ability to build a strong market position in a changing niche market."
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Source: The Sentinel
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