TRIMET Aluminium opens new recycling plant in Hamm

TRIMET Aluminium, an aluminum manufacturer and processor, has commissioned a new sorting plant for aluminum scrap in Hamm. This facility will expand the company's aluminum recycling capacity and allow it to take over work steps that were previously carried out primarily by external partners. The plant can process up to 40,000 metric tons of scrap metal per year.

At the heart of the facility is the sorting plant, which analyzes the metal using laser detection and automatically separates it based on material composition. The system can examine up to 150 pieces per second and detect even small proportions of various alloying elements. The materials are then sorted and compacted for transport and melting.

Thanks to this more precise sorting process, TRIMET can now supply recycled raw materials for different aluminum alloys in a more targeted manner. This makes the supply of raw materials more flexible for aluminum smelters, foundries and recycling plants. At the same time, more recycled materials can be used, reducing the need for primary raw materials. 

"The success of the transformation of our industry also depends on whether we keep valuable raw materials in the cycle. Aluminum is ideal for this purpose because it can be recycled repeatedly,” said Mona Neubaur, NRW Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, during the opening ceremony. "Recycling makes us more independent, conserves resources, and strengthens North Rhine-Westphalia as an industrial hub. The plant in Hamm demonstrates what is possible, going from planning to operation in just over a year. This shows that when businesses, cities and states collaborate, progress is made swiftly.”