TRIMET backs ‘intelligent’ recycling technology

TRIMET Aluminium has invested in the modernisation of two of its recycling plants in Germany to boost its annual aluminium production, which currently includes more than 200 000 tonnes of recycled metal.

‘Recycling is becoming increasingly important, especially in view of new application fields and the increasing demand for aluminium,’ the company says. It has decided to upgrade its facilities in Gelsenkirchen and Harzgerode to maximise productivity in a sustainable way.

This year and next, the family business is investing several million Euros in both technical equipment and environmental protection measures. ‘You don’t get “off-the-shelf” products from us, but custom-made alloys,’ Trimet points out. These are used in the automotive sector as well as the packaging and construction industries.

Recovering more with smart tech

In the Gelsenkirchen plant, TRIMET is installing a new rotary drum furnace which is expected to be in operation by the end of the year. With a capacity of around 40 tonnes, it will replace two existing furnaces. The new burner technology reduces the furnace’s energy requirements by 15%, while increasing the proportion of recovered metal. The ‘intelligent loading technology’ enables quicker filling, increasing the quantity of material through the melting process.

The Harzgerode recycling site is about to unveil a new hearth shaft furnace which also features ‘innovative burner technology’. The furnace, with a melting capacity of three tonnes per hour, is said to be more productive and require less power than the previous generation.