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Tor Hammer has been involved since the start: "An old machine outside the office door gave us the idea.
On an industrial estate in Grinder, Solør, there is a unique company that does something no one else does: Dismantling old construction machinery for the sale of used parts. Entrack AS specialises in dismantling and reselling components from excavators, wheel loaders and dumpers. This makes them an important player in the reuse economy in the construction industry. Tor Hammer, who has been with the company since its inception, takes us through its history, challenges and successes.
From contractors to parts trading
- "It all started with Torbjørn Kvesetberg and Boris Nilsson, two contractors who worked together on construction projects in both Norway and Sweden," says Hammer.
- At a construction trade fair in Italy, they made good contacts and found favourable prices on parts, which gave them the idea for Entrack. The company was founded in 1976, with Swedish capital from Nilsson, and initially focused on selling new parts for construction machinery.
But then, at the end of the 1970s, something happened that would give the company an extra firm footing.
- We had an old machine standing right outside the office. One day, a customer came and asked if he could buy parts from the chassis. We sold it, made a good profit, and then we thought: There's an opportunity here," says Hammer.
3000 harvested machines
After this, Entrack began systematically purchasing harvesters for dismantling. Today, between 40 and 70 machines are harvested each year, depending on availability. In 45 years, the company has harvested almost 3,000 machines.
- The machines are drained of all hazardous fluids such as oil, diesel and AC gas before we start dismantling them. Rubber, plastic and other waste is sorted for recycling, and the parts we take care of undergo a thorough condition check," explains Hammer. "What's left is sent onwards in the recycling process and turned into nails.
The parts are stored systematically, with an index that is meticulously kept by hand.
- "There are no digital systems here," laughs Hammer, "Each machine is given a number and we have a paper file where everything is logged. In addition, an incredible amount of information is stored in the heads of those of us who work here.
Used parts in the heat - and the cold
Today, Entrack has more than 3,000 pallets of parts in heated storage, in addition to 1,500 pallets in cold storage. Parts that are particularly in demand include belt drives, hydraulic cylinders, pumps and swing motors.
- «We have an entire »cabin field' behind the wall here," says Hammer, showing off old cabs that can be reused. "A new one often costs hundreds of thousands of kroner. "Here we have cabs for a number of different machines and models at a fraction of the new price. But otherwise, undercarriages for crawler excavators and tyres for wheel loaders are always popular. Volvo parts are particularly sought after, but we also have a large selection of parts for all the major brands such as Cat, Komatsu, Hitachi to name a few. In addition, we also have many variants of attachments such as Rototilt and Engcon," says Hammer."Although Entrack primarily sells to the Norwegian market, they also export to Europe.
- "We work closely with operators in Sweden, Denmark and Finland, but we also have customers as far away as Spain," he says.
A green industry - without scrappage fees
Recycling has always been a mainstay of Entrack's business, but recently they also received formal recognition through Eco-Lighthouse certification.
- The fact that we reuse so much is crucial for the environment. Some machines that come in are damaged by fire, but we still manage to salvage a lot. Unfortunately, the construction industry doesn't have a system like the automotive industry - there's no scrap deposit," says Hammer.
He believes that better recycling systems in the industry could make a big difference.
- Many old machines are exported, but this often requires that they can be used. The current system means that recycling is completely dependent on business models like ours. If we don't take care of the machines, they often just sit there.
New sales and repairs
Entrack sells used parts worth NOK 15 million a year, and its large inventory also gives it an advantage in the second-hand market.
- We can take in logging machines in exchange for new ones, and with our large parts inventory, we can refurbish used machines without the cost being too high," explains Hammer.
- "We have both a machine shop and a hydraulics workshop, so we can repair and refurbish parts before they are stocked for sale or installed in second-hand machines," says Hammer.
Knowledge and experience - the backbone of Entrack
It's not just the parts that make Entrack a special company. The knowledge of its employees is a crucial factor in its success.
- We have people here who have worked in the company for decades. I've been with the company from the start, and to help me with sales I have Øyvind Hansrud and Tormod Sandlie, who also have many years of experience. In addition, we have four experienced employees who work with dismantling and warehousing," says Hammer.
With a strong team and a unique position in the market, the future looks bright for Entrack AS.
- "As long as there are construction machines, there will be a need for used parts. And we'll be here to supply them," concludes Tor Hammer.