BASF targets precious metals at new facility

United Kingdom/Germany – The catalyst division of global chemicals giant BASF has started up an operation in the UK for the recovery of precious metals from industrial scrap materials.

BASF Metals Recycling Ltd held an opening ceremony at its new Cinderford manufacturing base, drawing more than 75 attendees including local and regional government officials, BASF management representatives and also Cinderford site employees.

A range of materials with recoverable metal content – including primarily spent automotive catalytic converters and electronic scrap – will be processed at the new 56 000-square-foot facility to recover, for example, platinum, palladium and rhodium. In addition, the facility will house an analytical services laboratory for measurement of precious metals content on behalf of customers.

The new facility has been built in close proximity to BASF’s existing metals recycling plant in Cinderford, which had previously operated under the name of Engelhard Sales Ltd. Now rebranded, the business has been expanded to include the new operation, which more than doubles BASF’s local manufacturing footprint and production capacity.

‘Through this investment, we are making a strong commitment to the Cinderford region, which will now serve as the hub of our European metals recycling operations,’ says Deon Carter, Senior Vice President of Precious Metals Services. ‘The precious metals recovered here will allow us to support BASF and other customers who are seeking a highly sustainable source of quality metals to support their production needs.’
Automotive catalytic converters account for more than half of the world’s annual platinum group metals (PGMs) mining output.