Lassila & Tikanoja (L&T) is a multi-service company that promotes circular economy through practical measures. L&T is the biggest handler, collector, and transporter of beverage containers for Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy (Palpa). In Finland, more than two billion deposit beverage containers are returned annually. From return machines and collection points such as restaurants, different types of bottles and cans continue their journey toward recycling and reuse.
L&T operates in Finland and Sweden and is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. In 2024, the company’s revenue was €770.7 million, and it employed approximately 7,440 people.
Conveyors enhance the beverage container recycling process
Lassila & Tikanoja (L&T) has been responsible for recycling deposit beverage containers in collaboration with Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy (Palpa) for many years. At L&T’s Lotila recycling facility in Lahti, large quantities of bottles and cans arrive daily in large collection cardboard boxes from grocery store collection points and other sources.
Previously, the shipments were unloaded outdoors and transported one pallet at a time into the hall using a wheel loader, where they were stacked for further processing. This process required significant vehicle movement inside the facility and involved work phases that affected both efficiency and workplace safety.
L&T decided to invest in process improvements and built a new receiving area at the end of the hall. Here, shipments are unloaded directly into a covered space, preventing the cardboard boxes from getting wet in harsh Finnish weather conditions. As a result, packaging materials can now be recycled in better condition and with higher quality.
From the receiving area, the boxes are manually tipped and emptied into two separate openings, feeding Ferroplan’s custom-designed conveyors. These conveyor lines separate aluminum cans and plastic bottles into distinct processing flows. With this new solution, different work phases can now be performed simultaneously, eliminating delays caused by workers waiting for machinery or having to move out of the way of heavy vehicles.
“The new conveyor system has significantly improved workplace safety and streamlined the process. Previously, heavy machinery moved around the hall, and work phases progressed slowly. Now, multiple tasks can be performed at the same time without unnecessary delays,” says Jyri Kolehmainen, Site Supervisor at L&T’s Lahti recycling facility.
Key benefits of Ferroplan’s conveyor solution:
Improved workplace safety – Reduced heavy vehicle traffic inside the facility, significantly lowering the risk of workplace accidents.
Faster process – Beverage containers move directly to the correct processing area without unnecessary delays.
Increased efficiency – Less manual handling and a faster material flow result in cost savings and smoother operations.
Additionally, this upgrade supports L&T’s goal of increasing its positive climate impact by reducing emissions and enhancing material recycling efficiency.
This investment is a great example of how L&T and Ferroplan work together to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that drive the circular economy forward.
See the products that can help you improve processes and safety at work >>> www.ferroplan.fi