What Ken Mills Engineering does

Ken Mills Engineering Ltd (KME) is a UK-based, privately held designer and manufacturer of industrial recycling and agricultural processing machinery, founded in 1980 and headquartered in a purpose-built facility in Littleborough, Rochdale. The company operates a fully vertically integrated model with no outsourcing: in-house capabilities span 3D design, fabrication, Bystronic laser cutting, CNC machining, sheet metal work, hydraulic systems design and manufacture, electrical control system design and assembly, fitting, testing and on-site installation.

KME's product portfolio is organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture across four core families: Materials Reclamation Facilities (MRFs) for dry mixed recyclables incorporating conveyors, glass screens and integrated partner technologies such as CP Manufacturing ballistic disc screens; Aries Twin Ram Balers and a broader baler range (T15, T40, T50, T70) handling cardboard, paper, plastics, RDF/SRF and metals; Haylage, hay, straw and animal bedding rebaling systems including the Delivery Drum dust extraction unit (>95% dust/mould spore removal) and the 2024-launched Form Fill & Seal automated packaging line; and Textile Recycling machinery including bale breakers with metal detection and dedicated textile balers (T40 RCL, T60, T200). Differentiated technical components include the Accent 470 automatic wire tie, walking-floor feed systems and configurable pressing forces of 70 or 115 tonnes.

The business sells bespoke turnkey projects (concept design through to installation and commissioning) alongside standardized balers and shredders, via direct enterprise field sales and inside-sales quote requests. Pricing is quotation-based, with the Aries Twin Ram Baler starting at approximately £80,000 and full MRF projects materially higher. Revenue is generated through hardware sales, installation services, aftermarket support, refurbishment of second-hand machinery and system integration, serving waste management operators, local authorities, MRF owners, equestrian and farming customers, agricultural processors, textile recyclers and select industrial buyers across at least 15 countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Chad and the Falkland Islands.

Name

Ken Mills Engineering

Legal name

Ken Mills Engineering Ltd

Website

https://kenmills.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Recycling and Material Handling Machinery

NAICS

Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Hay & Bale Handling Equipment (IMAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Farm Milling, Grinding & Feed Processing Equipment (Hammer Mills, Rollers) (AFAAAJAD), Bulk Handling & Conveying for Processing Lines (Augers, Elevators, Conveyors) (AFAAAJAJ), Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH), C&D Sorting & Processing Facilities (C&D MRFs) (EUAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Industrial baling machinery
• Material recycling facilities
• Haylage rebaling systems
• Waste handling equipment
• Textile recycling machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Littleborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Manufacturing: Design, manufacture and sale of baling presses, shredders, conveyors, MRF systems, and agricultural processing machinery. One-time hardware sales with project-based engagement from concept through installation.
2. Installation and Aftersales Services: Full delivery, installation by own experienced staff, and ongoing aftersales support and backup service.
3. System Integration and Turnkey Solutions: Complete turnkey solutions from initial concept design through to full design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of recycling and agricultural facilities.
4. Refurbishment Services: Full refurbishment of existing machinery alongside new machinery sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ken Mills Engineering Ltd (KME) designs, manufactures, and installs industrial baling presses, twin ram balers, shredders, conveyors, and bespoke Material Reclamation Facilities (MRFs) for the waste management sector, along with haylage rebaling systems, textile processing machinery, and dust extraction equipment. The company delivers complete turnkey solutions from initial concept design through in-house manufacturing to installation and aftersales support, serving customers globally from its UK facility.

Product overview

Ken Mills Engineering Ltd (KME) is a UK-based manufacturer of industrial waste recycling and agricultural processing machinery. Their portfolio is organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on turnkey systems for Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs), balers, and haylage/textile processing. Core product families include: Twin Ram Balers (Aries series with 70/115 tonne options), MRF systems integrating sorting conveyors, glass screens, and material separation technology; Haylage/Hay/Straw Rebaling Systems converting large bales to 20kg sealed packs; Textile Recycling Machinery including bale breakers with metal detection, balers (T40, T60, T200 series), and bagging presses; and support equipment including shredders, conveyors, dust extraction drums (Delivery Drum removing >95% dust), and Form Fill & Seal packaging. All products are designed, manufactured, and assembled in-house at their UK facility with capabilities spanning electrical systems, hydraulics, fabrication, laser cutting, and CNC machining.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KME Agri: Agricultural machinery division specializing in haylage, straw, and animal bedding processing systems.

Products and services

• Aries Twin Ram Baler Fully automatic twin ram baler with 70 or 115 tonnes of pressing force, producing high density waste bales up to 700kg. Handles cardboard, paper, plastics, metals, textiles, RDF and SRF materials. Used in waste management and recycling operations.
• Material Reclamation Facilities (MRFs) Bespoke Material Reclamation Facilities designed and manufactured to meet customers' precise requirements for processing arrays of materials including Dry Mixed Recyclables, plastics, card, paper, steel and aluminium cans, and glass. Served to waste management operators and local authorities.
• Haylage Packing / Rebaling Systems Agricultural machinery for reprocessing large round or square bales of haylage, hay, and straw into smaller airtight 20kg sealed packs. Includes walking floor, bale breaker, weigh conveyor, bagging press, and robot stacking options. Used by farmers and equestrian facilities.
• Textile Bale Breaker Pulls apart tightly packed bales of recycled textiles allowing sorting and repackaging into bags/bales of desired volume. Includes metal detection and rejection capabilities for removing contaminated textiles (zippers, buttons, studs, staples). Variable speed control and walking floor feed. Used by textile recycling plants.
• High Efficiency Dust Extraction Drum (Delivery Drum) Pneumatic conveying and dust extraction unit that removes over 95% of dust and mold spores from straw, wood shavings, paper, hay, and other bedding materials. Used as a component in haylage and animal bedding processing systems.
• Form Fill & Seal Systems Forms bags from a roll of film, fills with chosen material and seals. Available for small and large bag production (1kg to 25kg) for haylage, hemp, wood shavings, straw, textiles, shredded paper and card. Produces up to 200 bales per hour. Compatible with biodegradable film.
• Balers and Baling Presses Extensive range of balers for use on plastic, foam, cardboard, paper, aluminium, RDF and other materials. Includes semi-automatic horizontal balers (T15, T40, T50, T70), twin ram balers, RDF balers, and can balers. Used in waste management and recycling operations.
• Shredders Waste shredders for size reduction in recycling processes. Includes straw shredders for animal bedding production. Used as components in MRF and haylage systems.
• Conveyors Waste conveyors designed and manufactured in-house for integration into MRF systems and standalone installations. Used across the waste and agricultural product portfolio.
• Animal Cardboard Bedding System Generates absorbent low dust animal bedding from clean cardboard. Includes shredder, dust extraction, and bagging press producing up to 70 bales per hour at approximately 20kg weight. Used by equestrian and livestock bedding producers.
• Shavings Baler and De-Dusting System Stand-alone bagging press for wood shavings with de-dusting unit. Produces up to 120 packs per hour at up to 20kg bale weights. Used by equestrian bedding and animal bedding producers.
• Specialist Bespoke Machinery Custom bespoke machinery designed and manufactured to meet specific customer requirements, including bottle piercing machines and spring testing machines. Used by industrial customers with unique processing needs.
• 2nd Hand / Refurbished Machinery Refurbished machinery options alongside new equipment sales, offering full refurbishment services for existing balers and other equipment. Used by customers seeking cost-effective pre-owned equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 20 bales per hour throughput with twin ram baler
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• SMART - Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 May 2025SMART membership enables networking with US textile recycling industry. Association represents secondary materials and recycled textiles sector. Rejoined as member in 2025 after previous membership.
• Blue Machinery (Scotland) LtdstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2020Partnership with Blue Machinery (Scotland) Ltd on MRF projects. Collaboration includes equipment from some of Europe's leading manufacturers. Blue Machinery operates as partner for KME equipment in Scotland region.
• CP Group / CP ManufacturingcoreTechnology or Integration · 21 August 2018Partnership for glass screening systems in MRF installations. CP Manufacturing supplies glass breaker and separation equipment as part of KME's complete MRF solutions. Glass screens supplied as standard in KME-designed recycling facilities for glass removal.
• CP Ballistic Disc ScreencoreTechnology or Integration · 21 August 2018CP Ballistic disc screen integrated into KME MRF systems for fibre separation, automatically separating small fibres from containers and 2D from 3D materials. Film Vac system also integrated for plastic film removal.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Machinex: Canadian designer-manufacturer of sorting and recycling systems, including MRFs and balers; comparable as a turnkey recycling systems provider competing for the same MRF and baling contracts that KME targets.
• CP Manufacturing (CP Group): US-based designer and manufacturer of MRF systems, balers, and material sorting equipment — directly comparable as a turnkey recycling systems competitor and an existing technology partner of KME for glass screening and ballistic separation in MRFs.
• Harris Waste Management Group: Manufacturer of balers, shear/baler/loggers, and MRF equipment serving the waste and recycling industry; closely comparable to KME's Aries Twin Ram Baler and MRF product families with similar target customers in waste management.
• Marathon Equipment: Manufacturer of vertical and horizontal balers, compactors, and recycling systems; comparable to KME's standard baler range (T15, T40, T50, T70) and the broader waste and recycling customer segment.
• International Baler: US manufacturer of baling equipment and material handling machinery for the recycling industry; directly comparable to KME's baler portfolio and customer base in waste and recycling applications.
• JMC Recycling Systems: UK-based manufacturer of balers, compactors, and recycling equipment; direct UK/European competitor to KME's baler and recycling systems product line for waste management and distribution customers.
• Untha Shredding Technology: Manufacturer of industrial shredders and size-reduction equipment for waste, recycling, and bulky waste; directly comparable to KME's shredder product line and overlapping recycling industry customer base.

Broad incumbents

• TOMRA: Global leader in sensor-based sorting for recycling and waste; a broader incumbent that competes for MRF system contracts where KME is a bespoke systems provider, particularly as recycling automation becomes more sophisticated.
• Krone: German agricultural machinery OEM with a strong hay/forage baler and processing line; comparable to KME's haylage rebaling systems, though Krone serves a broader range of farming applications at a larger scale.
• Kuhn Group: Global agricultural machinery manufacturer with hay/forage processing equipment; comparable to KME's KME Agri haylage rebaling and bedding systems, though Kuhn operates at much larger scale across broader crop production.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KenMillsEngLtd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1z7SCCOfj3iqNfwcA7m9sA?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/KenMillsEngLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenmillsengineeringltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ken Mills Engineering