German recycling firm TRIMET Aluminium SE announced last week the installation of a new rotary furnace at its plant in Western Germany.
Per the company, the new furnace’s 40-ton capacity will be more than sufficient for replacing a pair of the three older furnaces on the site. In addition to the new furnace, Trimet upgraded the exhaust system of the plant’s secondary smelter.
“Around 90pc of the aluminium in circulation is recycled, and the total quantity of recycled light metal continues to increase as a result of increasing demand,” explained Trimet Chairman Philipp Schlüter. “So it is only logical for us to consistently invest in expanding our capacities and modernising our plants.”
Trimet’s new furnace features a self-controlling burner system that alternates between pure oxygen and air when mixing fuel, which reduces energy consumption while increasing the proportion of recycled aluminium. The furnace also incorporates intelligent charging technology, which allows for more rapid filling and a bigger melting capacity per smelting cycle.
“The employees have put their heart and soul into the planning and remodeling with a great deal of flexibility,” boasted plant supervisor Jens Meinecke. “We are proud of this, because only in this way could everything be carried out smoothly without interrupting operations. At the same time, we are all happy that we can now concentrate fully on remelting aluminium scrap into high-quality products.”
Trimet’s Gelsenkirchen plant produces both standard and bespoke aluminium alloys from recycled aluminium for a wide range of customers. Per the firm, the lion’s share of scrap aluminium originates from customers as well. The plant, with a labor force of about 100 individuals, recycles scrap aluminium without loss of quality is returned to customers who utilize it in various industries, including automotive, electrical, and machine-building applications.