It’s the opposite to a new car production line – and the first of its kind in the country.

Used automotive parts specialist, Charles Trent, has launched the UK’s first reverse production line facility for vehicle recycling.

Instead of adding parts to a vehicle, it’s taking them out.

The new Poole-based 100,000 sq ft site strips old internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles down via two production lines at accelerated speeds.

It allows Charles Trent, which has secured a £5.5 million funding solution package from Lloyds Bank, to recycle 96 per cent of car parts.

The cutting-edge facility will recycle up to 50,000 ICE vehicles every year with the help of a 400 KW per hour solar power field and battery storage system.

The forecasted efficiency of the new facility means that Charles Trent is looking to add a further five sites to the market over the next five years.

They will recycle 300,000 vehicles per year – between 15 and 20 per cent of vehicles scrapped in the UK.

Closing the gap of the UK’s vehicle recycling needs just 20 reverse production sites to service 100 per cent of the demand.

Charles Trent operates across two sites and employs 220 staff with the new facility providing opportunities for 35 more people.

Founded in 1926, the fourth-generation family business has over 96 years’ experience within the vehicle management and auto recycling industry.

CEO Marc Trent, pictured, said: “After four generations of family ownership and close to a century of business operations, we’ve broken sectoral barriers like no others.

“Our revolutionary site will increase our operational efficiency and, importantly, show our commitment to lowering the UK’s carbon output.

“The cutting edge nature of our new site will also support our continued investment in clean energy solutions.

“The complexity of opening a facility of this magnitude required a strong level of financial knowledge and efficiency.

“Lloyds Bank has been unrivalled in this process and we are excited to be growing our relationship with their team.”

Mike Morgan, pictured left, Relationship Manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “We’re seeing the lasting effects of the pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine impact our automotive supply chains, with vehicle parts scarcely available.

“Charles Trent’s new site will combat these market issues while championing sectoral sustainability.

“Charles Trent is pioneering industry operations with ambitions to take vehicle recycling up a gear.

“It’s exciting to be a part of real change in the auto recycling industry and Lloyds Bank is proud to support businesses like Charles Trent who are setting the bar high for firms looking to cutting carbon and costs.”

As reported on Dorset Biz News, Charles Trent has embarked on a five-year growth plan predicted to boost turnover to a quarter of a billion pounds.

The company’s new 30,000 sq ft distribution centre at Holton Heath came on stream last year, the first of up to six other locations across the country.

Already among the UK’s top three vehicle salvage and recycling companies, Charles Trent invested £4m in the centre which is 14 levels high and has a top picking height of 13 metres.

Marc, 56, took over as MD from his father, John, in 1999.

At that time the company employed 20 people and had an annual turnover of £1m.

It’s now around £30 million.

Fellow Board members are brothers Neil, Salvage Director, pictured left, and Jonathan, Sales Director, pictured right.

Charles Trent also has a site in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Its range of services include used car parts sales, online motor salvage auctions, wheel & tyre sales, scrap car collections and exporting car parts.

The company ships to more than 60 countries worldwide with France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the USA among its top customers.