FEATURE
Integrated solutions- Covex Floating Lagoon Cover and Lamaru Floating Solar Systems working together on a lagoon, combining emissions, odour and algae reduction with renewable energy generation.
Global innovation, local roots
How a Yarm firm is transforming agriculture and industry with innovative environmental solutions
WORDS: PAUL FRASER
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Teesside-based business is positioning itself as a vital link to world-class environmental technologies.
Headquartered at Atlas Wynd in Yarm, Backshield Environmental Services is building on its established expertise in waste management by expanding into environmental and renewable technologies.
While continuing to provide comprehensive waste management and recycling services to hospitality, commercial and industrial clients, the company is introducing innovative solutions that support the UK ' s transition to a more sustainable future.
Over the past 12 months, Backshield Environmental Services has secured exclusive UK partnerships with technology developers from Chile, Spain and Italy, bringing proven environmental solutions to the UK market.
Central to the company ' s environmental portfolio is Covex ®, an innovative floating cover technology developed in Chile. Designed for slurry, digestate, wastewater and industrial lagoons, Covex provides up to 98 % surface coverage, helping operators reduce odour, ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions while supporting regulatory compliance and improving environmental performance.
Covex ' s unique modular design derives its stability from an integrated ballast chamber rather than additional plastic. Each unit weighs just 63 grams, while competing systems typically require
significantly more HDPE to achieve stability. As a result, Covex delivers effective surface coverage while using approximately 74 % less HDPE per unit.
Paul Palmer, sales director at Backshield Environmental Services, said: " The installation process is remarkably simple. The units arrive pre-ballasted and self-install upon contact with the liquid surface, naturally floating together to form a seamless barrier."
For farmers, wastewater operators and anaerobic digestion facilities, Covex can reduce odours by up to 90 %, minimise evaporation and help prevent algae growth by blocking direct sunlight.
Backshield Environmental Services recently completed the first UK Covex installation, at Hill Farm in Chelmsford, Essex, demonstrating the commercial viability of the technology in British operating conditions.
Building on this success, the company has also secured the exclusive UK distribution rights for Lamaru ® Solar, an advanced floating solar platform engineered in Spain by Landatu. Lamaru creates the floating structure upon which conventional solar panels are installed, enabling renewable energy generation on reservoirs, lagoons and other underutilised water assets.
Les Illingworth, managing director of Backshield Environmental Services, said: " We believe there are significant opportunities across the North-East and wider UK market. By combining technologies such as Covex and Lamaru, organisations can reduce emissions, improve environmental performance and generate renewable energy from existing assets."
Alongside its partnerships with Covex and Landatu, Backshield Environmental Services is also working with Italian solar manufacturer Sunerg to support the deployment of renewable energy technologies across the UK.
From odour and emissions reduction through to renewable energy generation, Backshield Environmental Services is providing practical environmental solutions that help organisations maximise the value of their existing assets while supporting a more sustainable future.
For more information about Covex Floating Lagoon Covers, Lamaru Floating Solar Systems and Backshield Environmental Services ' comprehensive range of waste management and recycling services, call 01642 720340, email info @ backshieldws. co. uk backshieldws. co. uk
* Covex ® and Lamaru ® are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Backshield Environmental Services is the exclusive UK distributor for these technologies.
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