Exclusive deal sees recycled coir ‘logs’ from Rawson sold alongside other Maccaferri bio-engineering products

23/10/2000

Maccaferri Ltd, specialists in retaining structures, slope reinforcement and erosion protection, has secured an exclusive agreement with WE Rawson, manufacturers of fillings for bedding and other specialist fibre products. Maccaferri is to market coir logs manufactured by Rawson (known in the industry as Rawtex until recently) using waste coir material, a by-product from the manufacture of spring insulators for bedding mattresses.

The deal, which went live on 1 August, sees logs using recycled coir material from Rawson sold by Maccaferri as an addition to its range of bio-engineering products. The agreement has already produced a significant enquiry from Ireland.

Wakefield-based WE Rawson, established in 1895, is a leading manufacturer of fillings for bedding. During the manufacturing process, a significant amount of waste coir material is produced, which the company aims to recycle as part of an environmentally friendly manufacturing policy.

Three years ago, Rawson set aside a small area at its main production site in Yorkshire for the manufacture of bio-engineering products from waste material. Recognising that the company did not have the specialist marketing expertise in soil bio-engineering to actively promote the new products, the agreement was reached with Maccaferri.

Commenting on the deal, Kevin Gates, Sales and Marketing Director at W E Rawson, said: “We are experts in fibres and bedding, and as relative newcomers in the market for bio-engineering products, are still building up our expertise in this field. It made sense to come to an agreement with an expert in bio-engineering products to undertake the marketing of logs from recycled coir on our behalf. We are looking forward to a long and profitable relationship with Maccaferri.”

The recycled coir logs will be marketed by Maccaferri as part of its range of bio-engineering products, which also includes coir/straw blankets and matting. Used to create a stable bankside environment to rivers, ponds, lakes and reservoirs, coir logs allow a buffer strip of plants to establish, preventing soil erosion and helping to reinstate a stable waterside environment. The coir biodegrades as the new planting becomes established to provide a natural landscape of enhanced biodiversity.

“Soil engineering is an increasingly important aspect of our business and we are looking to maximise our opportunities in this area,” said Colin Evans, Sales & Marketing Director at Maccaferri. “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to market the Rawson coir logs within our expanding range of bio-engineering products.”

The UK arm of the Maccaferri Industrial Group, headquartered in Italy, Maccaferri Ltd specialises in gabions, geotextiles, geogrids and geomats. In addition to a full range of products for retaining structures, slope reinforcement and erosion protection, the company offers an in-house design and consulting service.

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