Scrap Local looks back on how the Fuchs grab helped shape the company’s first year at its Darwen scrapyard.
As the yard grew, new machinery, including the Hyundai Powerhand and Liebherr Powerhand, with continuous improvements to Scrap Local’s digital platform, strengthened recycling accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.
Together, these developments have helped establish a modern, fast-growing recycling operation in the North West.
As Scrap Local celebrates one year at its Darwen scrapyard, the team is looking back at the early milestones that shaped its journey, with the arrival of the Fuchs grab standing out as one of the key steps that helped the yard move from its early foundations to a more capable, organised operation.
Before the Darwen site opened, Scrap Local operated entirely from a small office in Haslingden. The business began as a digital platform built to connect drivers with trusted scrap yards nationwide, a system developed in-house by a small, dedicated team and refined over several years.
As the network expanded, so did the platform. Tools for tracking vehicles, managing leads, handling payments and coordinating with agents were introduced.
This growing digital infrastructure soon became one of the company’s biggest strengths.
When the opportunity to open a scrapyard in Darwen appeared unexpectedly, founder Martin Handley recognised the potential to combine the company’s digital capabilities with hands-on recycling operations.
The site allowed Scrap Local to process its own vehicles while continuing to operate its nationwide agent network, blending physical recycling with digital management in a way that set Scrap Local apart.
In November 2024, Scrap Local officially opened the gates to its Darwen scrapyard. Shortly after opening, the company obtained its first major machine: the Fuchs grab.
This arrival marked an important shift, transforming Scrap Local from a purely digital platform into a fully operational recycling facility.
The early days at the yard were full of learning and adjustment. Processes were created from scratch, from depollution routines to vehicle flow and daily safety practices; there was naturally trial and error as the team refined their methods.
The Fuchs grab became the backbone of day-to-day operations. It enabled the team to lift, crush, and process vehicles effectively for the first time, giving structure to the yard and forming the foundation for everything that followed.
As the team gained confidence, workflows became smoother and more efficient.
The Fuchs grab allowed Scrap Local to depollute more vehicles each day, load crushed shells into bulkers, and maintain a steady pace of work.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Scrap Local’s digital platform was evolving in parallel.
As on-site operations grew more complex, the system expanded to record:
And much more.
This development also positioned the company ahead of Mandatory Digital Waste Tracking (MDWT) regulations coming in 2026. Scrap Local already has the infrastructure to record the full lifecycle of every vehicle, ensuring complete traceability from collection to final recycling.
As volume increased, so did the need for more advanced machinery. The early reliance on the Fuchs grab worked well, but the company soon sought more precise equipment.
The arrival of the Hyundai Powerhand brought a new level of accuracy and control. Instead of crushing whole vehicles, operators could now remove wiring looms, catalytic converters, dashboards, seats, and windscreens individually, resulting in cleaner material separation and higher recycling recovery.
Even as the yard adopted more specialised equipment, the Fuchs grab continues to play an essential role today. After the Powerhand has separated valuable and recyclable components, the Fuchs is used to load the remaining shells into bulkers efficiently, keeping the recycling process moving at pace and ensuring a steady workflow across the yard.
Later, the Liebherr Powerhand further expanded the yard’s capabilities, offering strength, reach, and efficiency while supporting Scrap Local’s commitment to sustainability.
Today, the Darwen yard operates as a streamlined, modern facility where machinery, digital systems, and skilled staff work hand in hand.
Vehicles are depolluted, dismantled, and recycled with precision, supporting both environmental goals and operational efficiency.
Every vehicle processed contributes to the circular economy with metals and materials re-entering manufacturing chains and reducing waste and carbon emissions.
The Fuchs grab represents an important chapter in Scrap Local’s journey.
It symbolises the early ambition and determination that shaped the company during its first year of physical operations.
One year later, Scrap Local continues to invest in machinery, strengthen its digital systems, and build its reputation as one of the North West’s most forward-thinking recycling businesses.
With innovation, sustainability, and efficiency driving its next chapter, Scrap Local remains committed to making vehicle recycling simpler, faster, and more accessible for everyone.
For more updates on Scrap Local’s machinery, yard developments, and recycling insights, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
A selection of common questions about Scrap Local’s recycling processes, machinery, and digital systems.
We have hundreds of scrap car buyers waiting to buy your scrap car.