McKinstry
Advanced recycling plant designed to recover more valuable material and support McKinstry Group’s future growth.
Location
Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
Value
£16m
Application
Construction, Demolition & Industrial
Throughput
At least 60 tonnes per hour
Introduction
Kiverco designed, manufactured and installed a bespoke £16m recycling plant for McKinstry Group, capable of processing at least 60 tonnes of mixed waste per hour.
Combining robust engineering with advanced separation technology, AI-driven systems and integrated digital controls, the new facility is helping McKinstry recover more valuable materials, produce cleaner outputs and support the continued growth of its business.
The Challenge
McKinstry Group needed a new recycling plant to support the continued growth of its business and process large volumes of mixed construction, demolition and industrial waste.
As the company also operates a biomass business, recovering as much clean wood as possible was a key priority. As the McKinstry team put it, “wood is gold.”
The facility also needed to improve the recovery of other valuable materials, produce cleaner outputs and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Future flexibility was another important consideration. McKinstry wanted a plant that could adapt as waste streams, market demands and operational requirements changed, while providing greater visibility and control across the entire process.
The Kiverco Solution
Kiverco designed, manufactured and installed a bespoke £16m recycling plant at McKinstry Group’s site in County Antrim.
It is the largest project in Kiverco’s history and the biggest recycling plant of its kind in the UK and Ireland.
With wood recovery identified as a key objective, Kiverco developed a “wood-first” process that prioritises the recovery of clean wood for McKinstry’s biomass business while also separating a wider range of valuable materials.
The facility combines robust Kiverco engineering with advanced screening, separation and sorting technology, including:
- A 3D trommel
- Specialist screening equipment
- Magnets and metal recovery systems
- Ballistic separator
- Density separation
- Optical sorting technology
- AI-driven sorting technology
- Integrated digital controls
Each stage works together to separate mixed waste and recover cleaner, higher-value products.
Several bidirectional conveyors were incorporated into the plant to provide additional flexibility. These allow materials to be rerouted through different parts of the process, enabling McKinstry to target different or additional products as its waste streams and operational requirements evolve.
The plant’s integrated digital systems provide real-time information from across the facility. Operators can monitor performance, adjust the process and maintain a consistent flow of material through the plant.
The Result
- The new facility can process at least 60 tonnes of mixed waste per hour.
- The “wood-first” process maximises the recovery of clean wood to support McKinstry’s biomass business.
- Advanced screening and separation technology enables McKinstry to recover more valuable materials, create cleaner products and divert more waste from landfill.
- Bi-directional conveyors allow materials to be rerouted, giving McKinstry the flexibility to target different products as requirements change.
- Digital and AI-driven systems provide greater visibility and control, helping the team make informed decisions and optimise performance.
- Completed and handed over in 2026, the facility provides McKinstry with a robust, adaptable recycling plant designed to support its next phase of growth.
