MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: From Waste to Value with Lars Laursen
At Antares Offices, we strive every day to cultivate and maintain a lively, welcoming and collaborative atmosphere. As more and more people are coming back to the office, we want to make sure that our members —new and old— get to know one another. From the local freelancers, to bigger businesses and everyone in between, we really do have the best members and we want to give them the spotlight they deserve!
So without further ado, we’re excited to introduce you to Lars Laursen. Lars is the General Sales Manager of M&J Recycling, a company that specializes in the design and manufacture of heavy-duty shredding equipment. With more than 1,000 installations worldwide and continued focus on R&D and innovation, M&J Recycling is one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial waste shredders for the recycling industry. Read below Lars’ full interview.
Let’s start with the basics. Who is M&J Recycling and what is your role in the company?
M&J Recycling is a Danish company founded in 1857, who provides size reduction technology for Waste-2-Energy facilities, recycling facilities, landfill etc. on a global scale. Our office in Thailand is our regional hub, from where we support liaising and developing our footprint. My role as GSM is to commercially develop our business in Asia Pacific according to the set vision and strategy by M&J Recycling for this market area.
Can you tell us a little about the history of M&J Recycling? When was it founded, what sparked it, etc.?
Founded in 1857 by two Danes – a blacksmith and a merchant. In its infancy, during the second half of the 19th century, the core products at M&J were steam engines, steam boilers, forged and cast goods for mills and various other foundry products, such as iron windows, memorial crosses, kitchen ranges, stoves and furnaces, as well as household utensils and agricultural tools.
As time passed, the production of steam engines became the company’s key activity with this part of the business soon accounting for approximately 75% of sales. Soon after the turn of the century, competition in the market for steam engines heightened, not only from other steam engine producers, but also from manufacturers of kerosene engines and suction-gas plants. So, in parallel with the decline of steam engine sales, the company began to expand its interests M&J sold its last steam engines in 1925.
Gradually a new focus emerged, namely the production of diesel engines. This continued for about three decades, with the last diesel engine produced in 1960. Thereafter the void in production was filled with various activities, ranging from the manufacture of a ‘diffusion trough’ for use in sugar extraction, to the manufacture of ‘environmental’ equipment such as water- and air-purification technology.
The company took its first major steps in the waste industry in 1979, when it started to produce decanter centrifuges for wastewater sludge treatment, sold under the brands NIRO and later also GEA/Westfalia. Since then its portfolio has diversified and several changes to management and company structure have taken place. M&J Industries entered the waste shredder market in 1988 and its focus on this sector has increased throughout the past two decades.
Who would benefit most from your products and services?
That would be both private and public companies. Our typical customer group would be landfill owners, incinerators, recycling facilities and cement companies.
What was the biggest challenge that you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
When we first wanted to enter Asia, we did this from Europe. The transition from having a EU based mindset to having a local mindset has been the biggest challenge as this relates to the full company and not just individuals.
How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected you and your business – positively or negatively?
In many ways it has brought us more business. Our line of business is deemed essential services. Hence all our customers have been operational independent, which has strangely enough given us more opportunities. The challenge has been to drive our business effectively outside Thailand.
What made you choose Antares Offices as your home base for your company?
The service level, location, design have all been heavily contributing to the choice of Antares Offices.
How can readers get in touch with you?
E-Mail, Phone or drop-in.
We would like to thank Lars for taking the time to tell us a bit about himself and how M&J Recycling is helping businesses reduce the size of waste materials effectively and reliably.
If you would like to be featured in our Member Spotlight, please send us an email at enquiry@antaresoffices.com or discuss with one of our staff, today!