eFACTOR3: Combining the factors to formulate recycling success

When Hartmut Bendfeldt founded eFACTOR3 in North Carolina in 2008, he was certain there were ways the various equipment he was representing could be beneficial to the waste and recycling sector in North America.

Fifteen years later, eFACTOR3’s established track record, considerable growth and favorable stature within the North American recycling industry has confirmed Bendfeldt’s hunch.

As of this year, eFACTOR3 represents eight technology providers, has more than 20 on staff and, perhaps most importantly, has an appreciative and growing client base helping pave the way for a bright future for the customer-focused company.

Critical technology for critical sectors

Bendfeldt and eFACTOR3 started by representing European-made equipment used in both plastics recycling and waste applications, and the company has continued to focus on these sectors while offering equipment from a growing roster of technology providers.

Growth always was in Bendfeldt’s plans, but the way he’s added technology partners was courtesy of indirect effort, not intentional recruiting.

Shredder producer M&J Recycling, an eFACTOR3 technology provider, was quickly pleased not just with eFACTOR3’s volume of business, but with the way it conducted business.

One of Bendfeldt’s early M&J installations was in Bulgaria, and both M&J and the customer were highly pleased with the results. “Since then, equipment companies have reached out to us about representing them in the U.S.,” Bendfeldt says. “It has not been us recruiting, rather it has been the other way around.”

The relationships forged between eFACTOR3 and original equipment manufacturers have occurred at a critical time as both plastics recycling and waste conversion to energy have grown as corporate and governmental priorities.

The attention on plastic recycling and concerns about its reliance on fossil fuels play into the importance of eFACTOR3’s work. “As fossil fuel gets more expensive or potentially falls out of favor, we see a good future for recycling, waste and plastic,” Bendfeldt says.

He adds that his German roots can help ensure technology is deployed in a way that fits with North American best practices as a bridge between the two markets, citing the cleanliness of source-separated versus commingled streams as an example.

An active present and a bright future

The company represents eight equipment providers with technology including size reduction, materials sorting, washing, drying, extruding and pelletizing.

“We’re going to establish a complete demonstration line from bale to pellet, so we can simulate anything and everything in the plastic recycling world,” Bendfeldt says of eFACTOR3’s upcoming plans, which include a comprehensive test facility. Working with eFACTOR3 waste-to-fuels expert Richard Toberman, the company hopes to do something similar for its waste processing customers.

Making this considerable investment—the test facility could quadruple eFACTOR3’s square footage—is emblematic of why eFACTOR3 has earned the loyalty of its equipment suppliers and its customers.

Lou Martins, regional market head at M&J Recycling, is one such supporter. “Their commitment as a partner is key and their commitment to supporting a critical customer base that needs equipment to run 24/7 at mission-critical operations all over the Americas is of paramount importance,” he says of eFACTOR3.

After-the-sale support is just as vital as selling and installing. “When customers have an issue, they want ... someone who speaks their language in their time zone,” Bendfeldt says. “It’s the support and the components we can and do provide.”

Marcus Vogt, sales engineer at plastic recycling technology supplier KREYENBORG, says, “From the very first day, we have valued eFACTOR3’s dedication to our products. It’s more than just selling machines—it’s providing solutions and building close customer relationships as well as the excellent after-sales support.”

The company also does not rush into making a sale. “When a customer approaches [us], we take a detailed look at their inquiry and ask a lot of questions,” he says. “We may do a pre-engineering study that can help guide the customer in the right direction. We strive to achieve trusted adviser status—not just quoting equipment.”

Putting the customer first is the eFACTOR3 way of doing business, Bendfeldt emphasizes. “We will source equipment from outside our portfolio,” he says. “We are completely independent. ... We can offer and supply what really suits the client’s needs.”

The company’s dedication to its clients’ satisfaction are spelled out by Marty Danco of Forest City, North Carolina-based plastics reprocessing firm Verity Recycling LLC. “Hartmut has always been a true and loyal representative who has always given his client needs first priority,” Danco says. “He has incorporated it into the philosophy of eFACTOR3. We have had huge success with the MAS [extrusion] equipment he represents thanks in large part to the people he has behind him and their drive to see clients’ needs are met. ... Verity Recycling has been and will continue to be a loyal customer of eFACTOR3 and can be counted on as a strong reference point for anyone who has questions about their support and service.”

Bendfeldt is grateful for those relationships and excited about the prospects of forming more in the future. “Comments like Marty’s are a testament we have done a good job of serving the market and our clients properly. I am certain a test facility will only help us serve our clients even better.”