Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and former Home Secretary and fellow Sheffield MP David Blunkett have launched metal recycler Van Dalen’s investment in its Sheffield facility.
Van Dalen is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year and has installed a state-of-the-art ferrous shredder and non-ferrous facility to expand its domestic and export capabilities.
Nick Clegg said: “Van Dalen is a real Sheffield success story. This investment is great news for Sheffield’s economy and the wider region. As we build a new economy from the rubble of the old, the Liberal Democrats are determined to make sure prosperity is shared across the whole country, not just London and the South East. Companies like this will be at the heart of that recovery and I am proud to see it go from strength to strength.”
David Blunkett added: “This imaginative investment is not only in line with the history and tradition of steel and reprocessing in Sheffield, but is an example of how, despite the recession, jobs and economic activity can be created. The investment over the last seven years and the extra jobs are extremely welcome at this moment in time as an example of how responsible businesses can recycle metals for modern reuse.”
Van Dalen is a family-owned business and has 13 facilities across the Netherlands and Belgium and six sites in the UK.
Van Dalen UK managing director Tom Bird said: “The UK business is running extremely well following a strong performance 2011. The installation of the shredder in Sheffield transforms our site into a complete metals recycling facility. Going forward, we are focused on further growth, not only around the Sheffield region, but the UK generally.”
