Orthometals-Implant Recycling

After a decade of working with OrthoMetals in Australia to help them “spread the word “ about their terrific process and helping out with logistics, OrthoMetals have decided to fully transfer the logistical management to Gerard Robbers.

Austeng will now step into the background and wish OrthoMetals all the best for their continuing journey and opportunities they provide to the sector.

See full text of Orthometals announcement at this link and below:

“Dear Orthometals client,

I’d like to start out by saying we hope all is well, and that you have had some time to recover from all of the challenges that Corona brought us.

During the Corona period, instead of travelling, we used our time to reflect and innovate our processes. I think many companies have used this “break” to do the same thing. This opportunity was a silver lining during a very difficult time.

For over a decade, we have been working together with Austeng Engineering. Ross, Lyn, and their dedicated team have put a lot of effort into spreading the word and showing people all of the advantages that come from our unique recycling process. We can’t thank them enough for all the hard work they have put in.
In 2019, Austeng hired Gerard Robbers to do all the logistical work in the Eastern states, and handle the explosive growth in the logistic demand that came with all the crematories joining our solution. Gerard continued to expand his activities for us. At the moment, Gerard is doing 75% of our collections. To keep our logistical costs under control, we decided to move our logistic centre and warehousing from Geelong to Sydney last year.

Over the last few months Ross, Gerard and myself have had some conversations about the future of the management of the collections. With the balance shifting to Gerard, Ross decided that it is time to give Gerard the opportunity to completely run the logistical management for OrthoMetals. As we have integrated all the collections in our software system, we will support Gerard with planning his trips from The Netherlands. Ross, Lyn, and the Austeng team will take a step into the background but will be available when they are needed. They will also be a familiar face and can answer all your questions at future shows and conferences.

This new change means that the contact information will also change- Gerard will be available for all questions.

As from now, please use the following contact information if you’d like to reach us:

Gerard Robbers (logistics and direct representation)
Mail: Gerard@orthometals.com
Mobile : +61 (0) 419361348
Based: Tahtra NSW

In The Netherlands, Gerard will be supported by Maaike Rolfes, who will take care of the invoices and payments.
Maaike Rolfes (Invoicing, payments and support)
Mail: Maaike@orthometals.nl
Based: Meppel, The Netherlands

We would like to thank you for the trust you have given our company, and we are convinced that with these changes, we will be able to maintain our service at the highest level.

I hope we can all enjoy travelling soon again and that we can celebrate this change in person one day soon.

Until then,
Kind regards,

Hidde Verberne “

OrthoMetals is an exciting new development in the area of recycling metals after cremation. It solves the problem of disposal of metals after cremation as well as not wasting the value of the material. This is a way of improving the environmental credentials of your organisation without cost and effort and in line with the goal of being more environmentally friendly as not only does it decrease land fill but also the need to re-mine certain metals generally.

The system developed by OrthoMetals BV ( a Netherlands based company) is an environment-friendly turn-key solution to the collection and recycling of orthopaedic implants and the metals from crematoria. This system is now used throughout Europe.

Basically, the local cemetery collects all metals after cremation and places them in bins provided which are then collected by Austeng personnel and returned to our premises. The metals are then subsequently sorted by OrthoMetals and aggregated in a way that they are able to be on sold at a profit. Once sorted the materials are re-melted to prevent the end product from being recognised and re-used as an implant.

Orthometals retain the necessary certification and documentation to reassure that all orthopaedic implants and metal remains following cremation are recycled in the most appropriate manner complying with existing local legislation. Please find attached three articles that appeared in ACCA News providing further background. Since these articles all crematoria in Victoria, as well as numerous crematoria in NSW and Qld (including all InvoCare sites) South Australian and Western Australia have all come on board.

Austeng provides the logistical support to collect the wheelie bins, consolidate the metal and then ship to OrthoMetals for processing. Please find also attached “Metals after Cremation Recycling Program” that outlines the steps involved in more detail.

A full accounting by OrthoMetals will be given detailing metals collected, proceeds and deductions (e.g. shipping, sorting & Austeng’s collection costs and OrthoMetals administration costs). The balance will be forwarded to each organisation. One of the approaches of the OrthoMetals recycling concept is to encourage the return of a substantial part of the proceeds (after deduction of costs) to client related charities.

OrthoMetals Announcement

Orthometals – Implant Recycling