Page 35 from: Recycling Technology edition 2026
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2026
‘Raising the bar step-by-step’
Company founder Wim (right) and his son Gio Capiau: ‘The pre-shredder consumes very little power
and the hammer mill needs only one run per batch.’
Cover story | Application
fractions and meet the industry’s rising stand-
ards,’ says Gio.
The company has invested a total of EUR 8
million in the new shredding equipment and
the upgraded downstream sorting line. The
latter will be completed by October 2025.
Partnership with Zato
Capiau’s decision to partner with Zato was
strongly influenced by recommendations
from colleagues in the recycling industry. ‘I
called Zato’s sales director Omar Della Gasp-
era and within a week he visited our yard to
see if they could help us. Long story short:
they could and we connected very well.’
Beyond the quality of the equipment, the
recycler highlights Zato’s customer service as a
key differentiator. ‘At Zato, they’re very proac-
tive in finding the right approach. They don’t
just deliver one-size-fits-all machines, but a
complete solution, tailored to the customer’s
needs. And that’s what you want as a recycler.’
What’s more, their after-sales support is
fantastic, notes Gio. ‘We even have a Whats-
App group with their team. If we have a
problem, they respond with solutions within
minutes. They don’t leave you on your own
and this really sets them apart from other ma-
chinery providers.’
Looking ahead
In the next five to ten years, Capiau Re-
cycling aims to set the benchmark for alu-
minium recycling in the Benelux region. The
goal is to be recognised not only by suppliers,
who bring in scrap, but also by foundries that
rely on consistent, high-quality recycled alu-
minium. ‘We want to be known as the place
to bring aluminium (production) scrap and,
equally as a trusted supplier for melting com-
panies,’ says Gio. ‘Step by step, we continue to
raise the bar.’
Author: Martijn Reintjes
and northern France. Suppliers include local
yards, industries and recyclers who separate
non-ferrous fractions from waste streams.
The company handles between 1 500 and
2 000 tonnes of aluminium scrap per month.
Material includes mixed aluminium, profiles,
castings and various grades such as Zorba.
Investing in shredding technology
Capiau’s commitment to innovation led to
the installation of its first major aluminium
line in 2019. However, slow-speed shred-
ders proved inefficient due to high wear and
limited capacity. Seeking a more durable and
productive solution, the company invested in
a new system, from Zato.
Safety and capacity boost
The new setup includes both a pre-shred-
der (Zato Blue Devil) and a hammer mill
(Zato Blue Shark). Gio: ‘The pre-shredder ad-
dresses, among other things, safety concerns
– particularly the risks of lithium batteries and
gas cylinders – by reducing the chance of ex-
plosions and handling unshreddables before
material reaches the hammer mill. It also sig-
nificantly increases capacity.’
The hammer mill delivers high throughput
and durability, ensuring efficient processing.
Together, the machines improve safety, boost
overall productivity and reduce energy use.
‘Energy-wise, the new system is much
more efficient,’ enthuses Gio. ‘In the past,
we often had to shred material three or four
times. Now, the pre-shredder consumes very
little power and the hammer mill needs only
one run per batch. This saves energy but also
time and space.’
Raising quality standards
With European smelters and end users
increasingly demanding higher-quality re-
cycled aluminium, advanced downstream
processing is required. That’s why Capiau’s
investment covers a total solution of Zato’s
pre-shredder and hammer mill combined
with the latest sorting technology from Tom-
ra. ‘This ensures that we can deliver cleaner
‘We even have
a WhatsApp
group with the
Zato team’
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