BATTERIES
33recyclinginternational.com | January/February | 2025
closed loop for EV batteries to the
US-Mexico-Canada region by 2026.
IMPORTANT HUB
The company’s new factory in
Rotterdam focuses on the ‘young but
rapidly emerging’ market of EVs. For
Thomas Holberg, chief operating offi-
cer of the new facility, it is a ‘circular
investment’ with battery recycling
seen as essential for keeping pace
with increasing electrification.
‘For many years we have worked
closely with car manufacturers and
battery producers to understand their
needs and ensure that we remain at
the forefront of recycling technology,’
said Holberg during the official fes-
tive opening. A tour of the new recy-
cling ‘hub’ was a highlight of the
event.
The site covers 10 000 square metres
and is equipped to process up to 10
000 tonnes of material annually –
which represents roughly 40 000 EV
batteries. Holberg adds plans are
underway to double the capacity by
expanding on an adjacent site.
SK tes uses an industry leading inert
crushing and vacuum drying process
to recycle lithium and EV batteries as
well as battery production waste.
Following a 12-week testing phase,
the line is running smoothly.
‘It’s critical to align capacities at vari-
ous steps in the process while also
arranging a steady supply of material
to feed the recycling line,’ asserts
Joao Avelar, director of battery oper-
ations at SK Tes. ‘That’s probably the
trickiest part and something that will
be refined for months yet.’
KEY NICHE
‘We have two processes that are key:
shredding and drying,’ Mark Erwood,
business development manager at SK
tes, tells journalists. ‘All the equip-
ment is here to support that including
our extensive gas cleaning system.
Everything is designed to reduce the
risk of fire and keep all the gases con-
tained. It’s all about a clean and safe
working environment.’
Batteries are sourced from various
OEMs and hauliers across Europe. SK
tes can process different battery
types by chemistry and by batch to
ensure a homogeneous output. ‘We
don’t mix the various types,’ Erwood
emphasises.
Holberg adds that many car manufac-
turers are desperate to get rid of
their batteries. ‘They want a solid
recycling solution and we fill that
niche. Most of the material we pro-
cess now is waste from battery pro-
duction. I believe that, as the years
go by and the industry matures, more
waste batteries will find their way to
our site.’
FINE FRACTIONS
The RS 150 shredder used by SK tes
is one of Untha’s largest shredders
and is designed to deal with the
heaviest duty applications while pro-
ducing fine fractions. It can shred
more than five tonnes of material per
hour in a continuous process. For SK
tes, the machine that processes the
Fotobijschrift
KADERKOP
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The new SK tes hub will process 40 000 EV batteries per year. The recycler is mainly dealing with production waste at the moment.
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