TRIMET Aluminium SE has officially opened a new aluminium scrap processing and sorting facility in Hamm, Germany, strengthening its recycling capabilities and expanding its access to secondary raw materials.
The facility, inaugurated by Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, is designed to process up to 40,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap per year.
At the centre of the plant is an automated sorting system using laser-based LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) technology. The system can analyse up to 150 pieces of scrap per second, identifying alloying elements including silicon, copper, iron and magnesium. Following analysis, air pulses separate the scrap into specific material fractions, while a scrap press compacts the sorted material into transportable bales.
According to TRIMET, bringing these processing steps in-house allows the company to sort recycled aluminium more precisely according to alloy composition. The material can then be directed more specifically toward different applications and production processes. 
The Hamm facility is also intended to support the integration of recycled raw materials into the production planning of TRIMET’s aluminium smelters, foundries and recycling operations. The company says the new plant will strengthen its raw-material base while supporting the supply of aluminium products with higher levels of recycled content and reducing reliance on primary raw materials.
Source: TRIMET Aluminium SE with additional information added by Glass Balkan
