An Inside Look at the WHEN Recycling Expo '07

They came from New York state and from Ephrata, PA. They hit the road for the trip to York, PA, from Culpeper, VA. They came from North Carolina and Minnesota. They came from all over to attend the WHEN Recycling Expo.

For first-timers, it’s quite apparent that all the equipment and machinery at the core of the WHEN Recycling Expo indicates that the manufacurers mean business. The big boys’ toys were seen skittering, loading, lifting, grinding, splintering, spewing, shredding, pulverizing, and all manner of things that waste hauling equipment is meant to do.

Attendees enjoy the many exhibits at the WHEN Recycling Expo

Some attendees come to Pennsylvania’s York Fairgrounds to buy. Others to sell. But there’s one thing there’s absolutely no question about: Everybody came to look.

A good part of the looking is cool and calculating. It’s a reasoning appraisal of equipment to determine whether it will suit the needs of a potential buyer. For others, the observation has a gawking quality because onlookers are bowled over by the sheer size of the equipment, and their varied skills. Still others soak in the pure entertainment value of these behemoths showing off their particular talents.

That’s just the attendees.

For vendors, most of whom arrived days ahead of visitors, the WHEN Recycling Expo was an opportunity to present equipment and services in a venue that’s rarely available in the industry.

The Bandit Beast 4680 track-mounted recycler gets a workout during Thursday afternoon demonstrations.

One comment echoed frequently among vendors: ‘There aren’t many opportunities for people to see this kind of equipment actually running, let alone give people a chance to make side-to-side comparisons.’ Overall, vendors who displayed at the WHEN Expo were pleased with the facility and how they were able to actually demonstrate what their equipment could do.

If you didn’t make it to the WHEN Recycling Expo in York, PA, then you really missed out in seeing an impressive display of machines in operation. The show has really grown from last year with the addition of a tub grinding area as well as additional static displays of equipment. There were also more support equipment operating and on display that are used in many of your operations.

A Volvo front end loader dumps a load of concrete into the Pioneer Fast Trax crusher.

Waste Handling Equipment News staged its inaugural WHEN Recycling Expo South to fill heavy equipment needs in the Southeast. This extension of a successful annual York event was held Dec. 5-6, at Spence Field in Moultrie, GA. But make no mistake, the WHEN Recycling Expo South stands on its own merits.

As with YORK, attendees and exhibitors both were treated to a unique aspect of the industry — To hear and smell the equipment in use, and to talk to manufacturers one on one.

With huge pieces equipment situated in a variety of locations — with wood chip mountains sprouting here and there, and machine-driven music emanating from grinders and crushers, concrete rubble of all sizes and the ever-present water truck on hand to quiet the dust — WHEN Recycling Expo South presents both ends of the industry spectrum a common venue.

With darkened safety glasses, bottled water and obligatory bags to carry brochures and spec sheets, nearly 2,000 people spent two days looking at an impressive gamut of waste handling equipment presented by some 150 exhibitors at the second annual Waste Handling Equipment News Recycling Expo in York, PA. The Expo drew serious shoppers from a large geographic area, and that’s exactly why vendors love the show.

Some attendees compared horsepower, others initiated or finalizing deals. Still more planned for the future, but very few were simply kicking tires. With schedules in hand, most scouted the grounds for a feel of what was there, then made stops to meet dealers, watch demos and become more acquainted with equipment worth a second look.

Attending these shows can be of great benefit to your company for many reasons including staying on top of current technology, looking at ways to increase your companies profit level, finding out better ways of handling material, even looking at new avenues of adding to your business profit lines. For those that operate a recycling business, you know that the end product you produce and sell has a fixed market value. Anything that you can do to improve your business efficiency will add directly to your bottom line.

Coming to the WHEN Recycling Expo South will offer that opportunity to add to your bottom line.

There will be interesting designs on displayed, and a wide array of things relevant to this market that you needed to make sure you walked the booths to explore and meet with the technical people available in the booths. It’s the chance to learn by talking to the vendors that can assist you in your business.

WHEN Recycling Expo South, Dec. 12 - 13, 2008, at Spence Field in Moultrie, GA. If you’re serious about your business, then we can’t wait to see you there.