Renewed shredder capacity across Europe from TSR, Galloo, Ragg, S. Norton and Derichebourg – who’s next?

Boosted by ever-strict environmental regulation and growing demand for higher quality ‘green’ steel, major European steel recyclers have been investing hundreds of millions of euros to modernise and ramp up shredder capacity.

The latest project – unveiled on Global Recycling Day – is a 6 000 horsepower shredder at French Derichebourg Environnement’s site in Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu, near Lyon. Total investment: EUR 45 million.

The shredder replaces one that had been in operation for 35 years. The switch required complete redevelopment of the 70 000 m2 site. According to the company, ‘the best available techniques’ for controlling atmospheric, water and noise emissions have been implemented. Located in one of France’s most important economic regions, the shredder handles end-of-life vehicles and e-scrap among other waste streams.

Smart sorting

The recycling lines consist of successive post-shredding sorting stages using the latest technologies and are capable of producing more than 20 different by-products. The by-products are then recovered at other sites within the Derichebourg Group. The site also operates a line for washing machines and dishwashers.

The facility at Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu is among 146 centres in France selected to complete the network of the eco-organisation Recycler Mon Véhicule, with which the Derichebourg Group has recently signed a national partnership to recycle end-of-life vehicles.

Bigger trend

The shredder ramp-up at Derichebourg does not stand by itself. The past two-to-three years have witnessed a renewed wave of shredder solutions rolling in across Europe.

In early 2024, TSR launched a new EUR 45 million shredder in Duisburg, with similar projects underway at its sites in Magdeburg and Amsterdam.

In November, Austria’s metal recycling major Ragg completed installation of a new 1 400 horsepower shredder plant at the company’s main facility near Innsbruck. Another major shredder upgrade was recently completed at S. Norton Group in Manchester, UK.

Meanwhile Belgian’s Galloo has said it will invest EUR 30 million in an advanced shredding plant at Harnes in northern France, to be installed by the end of the year.