Spar Österreichische Warenhandels-AGAustropressen Ensures Efficient Processes at SPAR’s Modern Logistics Center

Recycling Operations at the SPAR Distribution Center – Powerful and Reliable

The SPAR distribution center in Marchtrenk is a key logistics hub supplying Austria’s food retail sector. Covering approximately 32,000 m² of warehouse space, goods for 280 SPAR stores are picked and prepared for delivery. Around 500 employees work in logistics, with more than 850 people employed at the site overall. Approximately 70 million items are picked annually.

Packaging materials generated in the warehouse, along with returned goods from individual stores, must be reliably processed and prepared for onward transport – around the clock, seven days a week. Cleanaway Österreich GmbH provides waste management services at the site and has relied on Austropressen’s equipment technology for decades.

A Complete, Integrated Solution from a Single Source

Austropressen supplies a complete system for processing recyclable materials at the SPAR distribution center in Marchtrenk. Two APK-E55 channel balers, each equipped with a 45 kW drive, form a perfectly coordinated system together with specially manufactured conveyor technology. Each baler is equipped with a nine-meter-long, one-meter-wide chain belt conveyor, including a loading station for roll containers.

Integrated personnel safety systems complete the installation. The entire configuration is tailored to the operational requirements of a modern, high-traffic logistics center running multiple shifts.

One Solution for Cardboard, Plastic Film and Deposit-Return Packaging

In daily operation, the system primarily processes cardboard and plastic film. Cardboard throughput reaches approximately 1,000 kg per hour. With bale weights of around 500 kg, this results in one truckload per day.

Plastic film is processed at approximately 100 kg per hour. The resulting 400 kg film bales are transported away weekly. The high compaction ratio maximizes truck utilization and ensures cost-efficient use of transport capacity.

In addition, cans and PET bottles from Austria’s deposit-return system (EWP) are processed at the site. The total annual volume amounts to approximately 4,500 tonnes. Bales weighing around 350 kg are produced from this material stream, with a full truckload weighing approximately 20 tonnes.

Austropressen APK-E55 – High-Performance Technology in Detail

The Austropressen APK-E55 combines high pressing force with well-engineered technology designed for continuous operation. With a pressing force of 550 kN and a 45 kW drive, the channel baler is designed to process a variety of materials. Its theoretical throughput capacity is 390 m³/h.

Automatic compression channel control adjusts the pressing process to the material being processed. Sensor-controlled shutdown when no material is present supports energy-efficient operation. The patented cutting system and automatic clearing function reduce material blockages and help ensure reliable, uninterrupted operation.

Replaceable HARDOX floor plates and specially developed hydraulic units with integrated oil conditioning contribute to the machine’s long service life. The equipment incorporates proven components from Rexroth/Parker and Siemens.

The fully automatic five-wire vertical bale tying system, featuring Austropressen’s DRILLFIX 2.0 tying system, ensures reliable bale strapping while minimizing wire consumption.