Aluminum Conference | Trimet to Expand Aluminum Recycling Capacity in Germany, Targeting a 20% Increase to Reach 80,000 Tons

Trimet Aluminium SE is in the final stages of expanding its recycling facility in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. This project will not only boost the plant's production capacity but will also significantly reduce CO2 emissions by upgrading its energy supply. The use of aluminum alloys produced from recycled waste will help the company achieve a better ecological balance, benefiting the final products of the processing industry.

Dr. Andreas Lützerath, a member of the Trimet executive board, commented, "To meet our climate targets, the industry requires sustainably produced materials. The demand for recycled aluminum is set to continue rising. We are addressing this demand by expanding our range of recycled materials and enhancing their ecological quality."

As reported by the aluminum conference, the expansion includes installing additional tilting rotary furnaces and a wheel-based aluminum liquid distribution caster, which will increase melting capacity and improve energy efficiency. This enhancement is expected to raise the recycling plant's capacity by approximately 20%, reaching an annual production of 80,000 tons of recycled aluminum.

A major focus of the expansion project is on upgrading the energy supply to make the remelting of light metals more environmentally friendly. "Our aim is to become the most eco-friendly aluminum recycling plant in Europe," Lützerath explained.

Trimet relies on renewable energy sources. Prior to the expansion, the factory had installed solar panels across 3,000 square meters on the roofs of its production and storage workshops, supplying most of the plant's energy requirements. Now, the facility is fully self-sufficient in its power supply, harnessing the remaining energy needs from the furnaces' waste heat. Heat exchangers and two power plants use Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology to transform waste heat into electrical energy, which not only powers the processing plant but also supplies energy for the company’s internal fleet. All forklifts within the factory have been converted to electric drive.