Danieli Centro Recycling has completed an upgrade to the aluminium shredder line at Novelis’ recycling facility in Nachterstedt, Germany, enabling the plant to process a wider range of scrap materials while increasing recycled content in finished aluminium products.

The shredder line, originally supplied by Danieli and commissioned in 2014, was designed as a three-line system capable of processing used beverage cans (UBC), flexible aluminium scrap and heavy scrap. Over the past decade, changes in scrap availability and quality have created demand for greater processing flexibility, particularly as more complex post-consumer scrap streams enter the recycling market.

To address these challenges, Novelis once again selected Danieli Centro Recycling to modernise the installation. The upgrade focused on improving the line’s ability to handle scrap with higher levels of contamination, including organic materials such as coatings, plastics and other residues that can affect recycling efficiency and metal quality.

The project included modifications to both the primary shredder and the downstream processing systems, enhancing contaminant removal before the material reaches the melting stage. These improvements allow the facility to recover more usable aluminium from lower-quality scrap, helping Novelis increase the recycled content of its flat-rolled aluminium products while supporting its sustainability objectives.