History of Helesi
In the early 1990s, Mr. Sakis Andrianopoulos the Company’s Chief Executive, identified an opportunity in the emerging waste management industry and formed Perivallontiki AE, a Greek company offering waste management consulting services to local authorities. Perivallontiki AE quickly expanded its business supplying Greek municipal authorities with specialist vehicles, waste containers and other waste management equipment. In 2003, Perivallontiki AE entered the waste management services sector in Greece, offering waste container washing services, mechanical street sweeping and waste collection services.
After observing increasing customer demand and market trends driven by environmental and legislative changes for replacing metallic waste containers with plastic ones, mr. Sakis formed a Greek company, ‘‘Hellenic Environmental Systems Industry AE’’ (‘‘Helesi ’’).
Helesi's first production facility was built in Komotini, Northern Greece and began operations in July 2000. Since then more than €33.5 million has been invested in this facility, €11.7 million of which has been funded through government grants, to build moulds based on the latest technology to increase production capacity and automate the production process. Helesi is now equipped with one of the most modern plastic injection-moulding factories in the world.
Recognizing the importance of compliance to EN 840 standards, Helesi has committed significant resources to product R&D and is one of only nine companies worldwide that produce the full range of EN 840 standardized waste containers. EN 840 is the EU Directive that sets out the required standards for waste containers used within the EU.
Helesi began exporting in 2000, establishing relationships with distributors mainly in Germany and, from 2001, Italy. In 2002 it began distributing in the UK, Irish and Spanish markets, and also started distributing its products in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa. From 2003, Helesi commenced selling into several countries in South-Eastern Europe, such as Romania and Bulgaria, quickly acquiring a significant market presence.
In 2004, increased demand from the UK and Irish markets for two-wheeled bins led to the decision to form Helesi UK, a wholly owned subsidiary which owns the Group’s second production facility, located in Bradford.
In 2004, Perivallontiki AE and Urbaser, one of the largest waste management operators in Europe, formed a joint venture to provide waste management services during the Olympic Games of 2004 in Athens. A significant portion of these services were subcontracted to Helesi. One year later, Helesi was also awarded the contract for the supply of waste bins to the city of Turin and the 2006 Winter Olympics.
In May 2006, Helesi Italia Srl was incorporated as a limited liability subsidiary company in Italy, as part of the process to establish a third production facility.
In May 2006, Helesi PLC was incorporated in Cyprus to act as the group holding company. Since then, Helesi PLC has acquired and controls Helesi AE and its subsidiaries, Helesi UK and Helesi Italia, thus forming the Helesi Group.
In November 2006, Helesi PLC entered the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange, raising €15 million (net).
In 2007, Helesi PLC acquired the complimentary bisiness of "Perivallontiki".
In 2008, Helesi PLC completed the three year, €87 million investment programm, in line with budget estimates included:
- The €25 million new plant to produce pallet boxes and food containers in southern Italy
- The new plant for production of wheeled bins at Komotini in northern Greece.
