At CP Group, we don’t just manufacture machines; we engineer solutions through innovative material recovery facilities (MRFs) and sorting machinery. With over 30 years of operating a MRF in San Diego, we bring extensive expertise to our customers and our partnerships. When you work with us, you gain access to a dedicated team known for its integrity, MRF operations background, and exceptional customer service. Our Customer Experience team exemplifies this commitment to your success, and our Field Team is extremely knowledgeable, innovative and dedicated to our customers.
We understand that today’s MRFs, which feature increasing levels of automation, require considerable investment. At CP, we aim to ensure our customers know how to best use and service this equipment to maximize their investment over the years.
As the Director of Process Improvements at CP Group I bring a unique perspective to this mission. Before joining CP in the spring of 2023, I gained valuable insights as a Senior Recycling Manager at Republic Services, where I focused on optimizing the company’s MRF network through various process improvement initiatives, resulting in significant gains in efficiency and throughput. Having been a customer of CP for 20 years, I leverage both my experience and that customer perspective to enhance our clients’ success.
My tenure in the industry has exposed me to the evolution in MRF technology. Today’s systems are more technologically advanced, featuring multiple optical units, advanced control systems and artificial intelligence. My team and I can teach you the tricks we’ve learned along the way, often by trial and error, to get the best performance out of these tools.
Our dedicated operations team members specialize in performance diagnostics, leveraging advanced tools and expertise to analyze the operational efficiency of your recycling system. Our data-driven analysis and comprehensive assessments provide actionable insights to enhance system productivity, minimize downtime and optimize resource recovery—all targeted to reduce operating expenses and increase revenue.
We are committed to operational excellence, ensuring your recycling facility performs at its best. My team and I get involved with new projects when they enter the delivery phase, with CP’s project managers and the post-sale team reporting to me through their department heads. Once a project is awarded, we are involved with you from day one. But we also help established MRFs optimize their operations.
Optimizing System Performance
With new system installations, we complete the commissioning process with your team. During this process, we work with your on-site team (operations and maintenance) to instill a strong understanding of how to operate the system. But, sometimes, it’s such a leap in technology or within the controls system that you might not have a good understanding of what your next question should be. We allow you to operate the system for a time and get to learn it, checking in regularly to answer your questions and offer expert advice. Additionally, with our geographically distributed field support team, we are always close by or a phone call away if you ever need assistance.
For established CP customers, the optimization process often is initiated by staffing changes due to turnover. Other times, a combination of several things, such as assistance with preventive maintenance (PM), changes in inbound commodity characteristics and challenging the system by overloading it, contributes to the need to optimize.
In the case of staff turnover, we retrain on the processing and engineering sides. We evaluate how each component in the system interacts with another one, making system adjustments as needed. This is classroom and “on the deck” training, with a strong emphasis on real-life, hands-on training. Then we train you on the HMI, or human-machine interface, walking your MRF’s staff through the entire library of opportunities they have within the system’s controls. We suggest changes and explain how your system will benefit. When your operations team implements the changes, they typically adapt more quickly and gain a deeper understanding of how the system reacts.
LRS recently used our retraining services, with Mark Molitor, Vice President of Post-Collection Operations, saying, “The level of detail covered during the training was exceptional, providing valuable insights into maintenance coverage and the upcoming maintenance schedule. The CP team demonstrated an impressive depth of knowledge about the equipment, effectively answering our detailed questions and incorporating real-life examples from our facility. This hands-on approach greatly benefited our operators and maintenance technicians.
“Our maintenance team gained a clear understanding of their performance in executing preventative maintenance tasks and intervals,” Molitor adds. “Simultaneously, the operations team received enhanced insights into process flow, material characteristics and processing recipes. This engaging approach greatly enhanced the learning experience for our operators and maintenance technicians.”
In other cases, we perform a full audit of the system after hours that involves removing belly pans and guards to inspect the inner workings of the equipment. We provide an itemized report, supported by pictures and videos, of wear items that need attention and required repairs. We also note where your MRF’s staff is doing a great job.
We then deploy a team to do the repairs and PM, which is followed by system optimization, showing the operators how to use the HMI and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system to make the system enhancements.
The CP team can also make other recommendations. For instance, if you are operating an older optical sorter, we could recommend replacing it with an MSS Optical Sorter or adding one in a beneficial location, including the estimated costs and ROI. We also could suggest replacing older screens with a CP Auger Screen™ and consider rearranging some equipment for optimal performance.
Sometimes, a minor investment can yield a big improvement. For example, one of our customers was looking to optimize operations, and together we introduced an MSS Optical Sorting unit, which streamlined their workforce by allowing for a more efficient headcount across two shifts while also significantly enhancing commodity recovery. As a result, commodity revenue increased, achieving a remarkable ROI in under two years.
The Role of Maintenance in System Optimization
At CP, we know a well-maintained system performs better, which is why we have a team to help MRFs get caught up on repairs and PM.
My team recently assisted a MRF facing significant staff turnover, which hindered their ability to optimize system performance. We spent three days with the new management team, helping restore capacity and quality to guaranteed levels. Prior to my visit, CP dispatched our maintenance team to address overdue PM tasks, enabling the MRF to catch up effectively.
When PM and cleaning are neglected, your system is affected. Throughput and quality decrease. At CP, we understand that finding and retaining service technicians can be difficult, and we’re here to help by providing proactive PM. Through regular inspections, predictive maintenance and scheduled repairs, we ensure the continuous and optimal performance of your recycling equipment.
Our goal is to minimize downtime, extend machinery life and maximize operational efficiency by identifying potential issues before they escalate. Our highly skilled technicians are dedicated to safeguarding the reliability and longevity of our clients’ recycling systems.
American-Made and Supported
CP equipment is manufactured in the U.S. at facilities in San Diego, CA, and Nashville, TN. We maintain an extensive parts inventory, providing replacement parts overnight in many cases. Service technicians answer questions and guide you through the needed repairs. Service visits are scheduled as needed to ensure customer success.
Each customer has one primary service contact who can be reached during the day. For after-hours emergencies, CP has a 24/7 hotline that is truly 24/7.
The point is, we’re there to help you optimize your investments in terms of throughput, recovery and quality.
At CP, we understand the need for reliability in MRF operations. Our Customer Experience team is here to ensure that occurs for all customers, and we appreciate your trust in us.
Mark Henke,
Director of Process Improvements
CP Group
About CP Group
CP Group (www.cpgrp.com) is a leading provider of material recovery facility design, integration, and optimization services. The company specializes in advanced sorting technologies and automated processing systems that maximize material recovery rates while minimizing operational costs.
This article was originally published on October 13th, 2025, in Recycling Today.
