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Trimet invests in recycling technology

More efficiency in aluminium recycling

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At the Aluminium trade fair, Trimet Aluminium SE will present a broad range of products and services. One focus is aluminum recycling. The materials specialist has invested in the modernization of its recycling plants in Gelsenkirchen and Harzgerode to ensure more productivity, save resources and protect the environment.

Trimet produces about 235,000 tons of recycled aluminum annually. Recycling is becoming increasingly important, especially in view of new application fields and the increasing demand for aluminum. In its recycling plants, Trimet focuses on new processes that improve productivity and energy efficiency. This year and next, the family business is investing in the high single-digit million euro range in both technical equipment and environmental protection measures.

In Gelsenkirchen, Trimet will install a new rotary drum furnace, which is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2018. With a capacity of around 40 tons, it will replace two existing furnaces. The new burner technology reduces the furnace’s energy requirements by 15 percent, while also increasing the proportion of recovered metal. The intelligent loading technology also enables quicker filling, increasing the quantity of material per melting process. The Harzgerode recycling site will receive a new hearth shaft furnace in  September 2018, which also features innovative burner technology. The furnace with a melting capacity of three tons per hour is more productive and requires less power than the previous generation of furnaces.

“Aluminium recycling is becoming increasingly important,” says Thomas Reuther, member of the  management Board of Trimet Aluminium SE. “It conserves natural resources and improves the energy balance of products. We are also making an important contribution through efficiency enhancements in aluminium processing.”

In addition to production technology, Trimet is investing in further improvements to environmental and occupational safety at both locations. In Harzgeorde, the storage bins for scrap metal will be completely covered by mid-2019. This protects the raw materials from atmospheric influences and eases the impact on the surrounding residential area. New extraction systems will further reduce dust emissions, which are already below the legal limits. In the spring of 2018, Trimet had already roofed over the storage areas of the Gelsenkirchen recycling plant and equipped them with a new exhaust system.

Company Info

Trimet Aluminium SE

Aluminiumallee 1
45356 Essen
Germany

Telephone: +49 201 3660

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