Cyclist Ellen McDermott, General Manager of KMK Metals Recycling Max Kyck, CEO Kurt Kyck, and Olympics-bound boxer Gráinne Walsh at the company’s summer lunch party to celebrate 45 years in business. Photos: Tom O’Hanlon

PHOTOS: Summer party at KMK Metals Recycling to celebrate 45 years in business

Published: Wed 26 Jun 2024, 5:03 PM

Last updated: Thu 27 Jun 2024, 10:33 AM

Over 150 employees, neighbours, friends and contractors gathered at KMK Metals Recycling's headquarters in the Cappincur Industrial Estate in Tullamore on Friday last, June 21, for a summer lunch party to celebrate the company's milestone of 45 years in business.

Although the sun failed to shine, there was ample space under cover in the company’s newest purpose-built outbuilding to comfortably hold the event, which was catered by David Smyth catering, The Ice-Cream Peddlar and the Little Coffee Hut.

A very creative and delicious cake made by Natalija Kozamekinaite, the partner of one of the company employees, created a wonderful centrepiece.

Left to right: Max Kyck, General Manager of KMK Metals Recycling, Christina Kyck-Murray, CEO Kurt Kyck and Edeltraud Kyck at the company’s summer lunch party in Tullamore to celebrate 45 years in business.

Each staff member was presented with a new Blaklader jacket, supplied by D&S Hardware, adorned with the company’s newly-designed 45 year anniversary logo. Guests at the lunch party were treated to music by employee Patryk Karaban, who brought in his decks to entertain everyone for a couple of hours.

Long-time contractors of KMK Metals Recycling such as Ravenhill Transport, Hyland Transport, Tullamore Steel, Tullamore Tyre Centre, electrician George Leahy and mechanic Joe Cleary also attended the lunch, as well as neighbouring businesses from the Cappincur Industrial Estate.

Tullamore boxer Gráinne Walsh, who recently qualified for the Olympics in Paris, and is sponsored by KMK Metals Recycling, made a guest appearance at the lunch party, much to the delight of attendees, as did talented cyclist Ellen McDermott, who is also among the local sports people sponsored by the company.

General Manager of KMK Metals Recycling Max Kyck and wife Joanne and children Jona and Evie pictured with Olympic boxer Gráinne Walsh at the company’s summer lunch party to celebrate 45 years in business.

A raffle was held among the company’s 150 employees with 15 top prizes of vouchers for local shops and restaurants.

Kurt Kyck, CEO of KMK Metals Recycling, made a short speech, thanking his staff for all their hard work: "You mean an awful lot to me and my family and just look at the amount of you here to celebrate with us. Good job we built this building as otherwise there would not have been enough space to hold us all!" said Kurt.

"I hope you all realise how much I appreciate what you do coming in to work every day. As a metals and e-waste recycling company we are carrying out very valuable work, recovering resources from discarded electrical waste. You should all feel very proud of being part of a recycling activity that will ultimately benefit the next generation.”

Left to right: Denise Brazil, Rachel Turner-Lowbridge, Natasha Martsuk, Michelle Cummins and Kim Allen at the KMK Metals Recycling summer lunch party to celebrate 45 years in business.

KMK Metals Recycling was founded by Kurt and Edeltraud Kyck in 1979, moving to the Cappincur Industrial Estate in 1985 with just six employees. The roots of the business were in metals recycling but over the years with improved regulation of the collection, recycling and disposal of WEEE and beneficial partnerships, the company has expanded massively.

Now employing a diverse workforce of almost 150 staff members KMK Metals Recycling collects and processes for recycling, approximately 80% of Ireland’s e-waste. It also has a premises in Kilbeggan.