The damage to the factory (Credit: Peter Cissek, Otz)
The explosion occurred on Monday 21 June in Pössneck, Germany, but the company said it aims to repair its machine to start working again in 10 to 12 weeks.
Otz reported on the incident at the factory, which injured two employees and caused damage to the facility. The news outlet stated that the explosion occurred at around 9am on Monday 21 June, with one of the two employees injured only starting work at the facility that day. The 32-year-old man suffered “severe” burns and was taken by medical helicopter to the Jena University Hospital, though is said to be in a stable condition, whilst his 48-year-old colleague suffered slight injuries, and was taken to Thuringia Clinic in Pössneck.
According to Managing Partner of Shredex, Mario Greiner, the explosion occurred due to a “dust explosion” in a shredder attachment, with the company’s Andreas Steiner and another colleague putting out the fire with fire extinguishers in a few minutes, before volunteer fire departments from both Pössneck and Krölpa, consisting of 31 firefighters, arrived to make sure the fire was out. Police then began an investigation into the explosion.
Firefighters investigating the factory (Credit: Otz)
Otz noted that the building’s damage includes a part of the outer, western wall “pressed […] to the outside” due to the force of the explosion. Fortunately only seven employees were present within the site at the time. Otz also commented that the site was inaugurated on 20 June, and was set to be able to shred 200 and then later 400 tonnes of toner cartridges per month.
Steiner told The Recycler that he expects that repairs to the machine will be concluded in around 10 to 12 weeks, when it will be able to operate again.