US firm Redwood Materials has acquired German battery recycler Redux Recycling as part of its European growth strategy.
Redux’s facility in Bremerhaven handles around 10 000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries per year and its location at the port, one of the largest and most important import harbours for vehicles, is a major advantage. Redwood will be gaining easy access to electric vehicle packs and batteries from across the continent.
Redux specialises in recycling electric vehicle and e-bike batteries, stationary storage systems and consumer devices. Its proprietary technology enables it to extract valuable materials from the batteries, including cobalt, lithium, nickel and manganese, with a recovery rate greater than 95%.
‘Their expertise in mechanical separation allows us to recover high-purity metal concentrate,’ Redwood says. The company relies on hydrometallurgy, which complements Redux’s pre-treatment and mechanical separation capabilities.
The US recycler observes that Europe continues to be the fastest growing EV market globally: ‘This acquisition will provide us with a well-established EU presence to quickly expand operations.’ Additionally, it will help increase capacity for battery recycling and work closely with established industry partners across Europe.
The takeover adds about 70 experienced technical staff, including chemical engineers, metallurgists and material scientists, to Redwood’s existing team in Europe.
