Flotek provides specialist 24/7 hydraulic support to large recycling plants across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
For operators in metal, paper/cardboard and glass recycling, uptime is everything – when a baler, shredder or crusher stops, incoming material backs up and contracts are at risk.
Our role is to respond immediately – because we have the best fleet of hydraulic technicians who know the ins and outs of recycling equipment. We understand the realities of running big recycling operations: abrasive material, heavy loads, contamination, long shifts and limited opportunities for shutdowns. Our technicians are used to working safely in noisy, dusty plants, and coordinating repairs around live operations so you can keep material moving.
24/7 emergency breakdowns for large recycling plants
Flotek offers genuine 24 hour emergency breakdown service, every day of the year, for large recycling plants. This rapid response is invaluable when a critical machine fails without warning.
When you call us out, we:
Attend site promptly and liaise with your maintenance and operations teams
Make the area safe and quickly identify the root cause of the fault
Carry out robust repairs to get the line running again as soon as possible
Plan any follow‑up work or upgrades where a more permanent solution needs a shutdown window
Whether it is a failed cylinder on a scrap shear, a baler that won’t build pressure, or a hydraulic grab that has suddenly lost power, our focus is to minimise downtime while keeping people and equipment safe.
Hydraulic support for recycling plant equipment
Flotek works on the full range of hydraulic machinery commonly found in metal, paper/cardboard and glass recycling plants. Typical equipment we service includes:
Paper balers for cardboard, mixed paper and fibre grades
Scrap metal balers processing light and heavy ferrous and non‑ferrous scrap
Bale breakers feeding pulpers and sorting systems
Pulpers for paper and cardboard recycling lines
Screw presses and belt presses for dewatering fibre, sludge or process residues
Cutters and trimming systems in paper and packaging applications
Shredders handling metal, paper/cardboard and mixed recyclables
Hydraulic grabs on material handlers and cranes
Scrap shears for cutting beams, bar, plate and bulky scrap
Conveyors and feeders driven by hydraulic motors
Compactors for residual waste or specific recyclable streams
Crushers and hammer mills used in metal and glass processing
On this equipment, we diagnose and repair faults in:
Hydraulic power units and control manifolds
Hydraulic cylinders and motors
Directional, pressure and proportional hydraulic valves
Hoses, rigid pipework, fittings and accumulators
Persistent hydraulic oil leaks that create housekeeping and safety issues
We understand that many of these machines are custom‑configured or built up over time. Our technicians are used to working from existing plant documentation where available, and reverse‑engineering circuits when it is not.
Cylinder and seal repairs – Melbourne workshop
Hydraulic cylinders are central to many recycling machines – from baler rams and shear blades to grab arms, crusher doors and compactor rams. To keep these components reliable, Flotek operates a dedicated cylinder workshop in Melbourne for complete cylinder and seal repairs.
Our cylinder service includes:
On‑site removal and reinstallation of cylinders from difficult locations
Workshop strip‑down and assessment for wear, scoring, pitting and damage
Rod re‑chroming or replacement, barrel honing, and refurbishment of glands and pistons
Replacement and upgrade of seal packs to suit high‑pressure, high‑contamination conditions
Rebuild, pressure testing and documented return to service
By focusing on both seal quality and the underlying causes of failure – such as side loading, contamination, incorrect pressures or poor mounting – we help extend cylinder life and cut unplanned shutdowns.
Experience across metal, paper and glass recycling
Flotek works in all three major recycling sectors that rely heavily on hydraulics:
Metal recycling
We support scrap metal balers, scrap shears, hydraulic grabs, crushers, hammer mills and heavy‑duty conveyors. These machines operate under very high forces, impact loads and shock, so we pay particular attention to correct pressure settings, component selection and protection from overload.Paper and cardboard recycling
We maintain paper balers, bale breakers, pulpers, screw presses, belt presses, cutters and conveying systems. Clean, leak‑free hydraulic operation is important both for safety and for keeping fibre and finished product free from contamination.Glass recycling
In glass plants we work on crushers, hammer mills, hydraulic drives on conveyors and feeders, compactors and auxiliary hydraulic equipment. Because glass is highly abrasive, we focus on contamination control, seal selection and protecting hydraulic components from fine particles.
Across all three sectors, we work within your site safety systems and production schedules to deliver repairs and maintenance with minimal disruption to throughput.
Quality components – including Hydac
In addition to our service and repair work, Flotek supplies and installs quality hydraulic components into many of the recycling plants we support. This includes Hydac filtration products, power units (HPU), accumulators and associated hydraulic equipment.
In tough recycling environments, correct filtration and contamination control are critical. Properly specified Hydac filters help protect pumps, valves and cylinders from premature wear, reduce unexpected failures and extend service intervals.
If you run a large metal, paper/cardboard or glass recycling plant in Victoria and need a hydraulic partner who understands your machinery and can respond at any hour, Flotek Hydraulic Services is ready to help.
Trusted by leading recycling operators
Flotek is proud to support a range of major recycling operators and related facilities across Victoria. Some of the large plants and organisations we service include:
Onesteel Recycling (Infrabuild)
Cleanaway
Shred X
Visy
Innex
ELG Recycling Processes
Re‑Group
Our long‑term relationships with these and other clients are built on reliable 24/7 support, solid technical capability and a focus on improving plant reliability over time rather than just fixing the same faults again and again.
