Equipment Report

Metso introduces black mass processing system

Metso Oyj says its newly introduced black mass recycling technology has been designed to support the circular economy and respond to growing battery minerals demand.

Battery black mass recycling is becoming an important means to complement virgin battery metals supply and reduce the carbon footprint of the battery supply chain, the Finland-based equipment and processing technology provider says.

Metso says its new battery black mass recycling process complements the company’s existing line of battery minerals technology offerings, which includes concentration and hydrometallurgical processing systems.

“The demand for battery minerals is increasing sharply with the ongoing transition to clean energy sources,” says Don Simola, director of battery chemicals technology at Metso. “For example, an electric car battery weighs approximately 200 kilos [441 pounds] and is made of several metals.

“To cater for this demand, the world will need to produce more minerals and metals, but we also need to strive to close the loop and extend the life cycle of these valuable materials through efficient recycling.”

Metso’s hydrometallurgical black mass recycling process has been designed to treat mechanically separated and shredded batteries for recovering battery raw materials, including nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese and copper.

“With Metso’s technology, the critical metals can be sustainably extracted from black mass and reused in new battery production or in other applications,” Simola says. “Recycling of black mass from batteries with Metso’s process can reduce up to 60 percent of embedded carbon compared to use of virgin materials.”

The process is based on Metso’s VSF X Solvent extraction technology and is complemented by OKTOP reactors, Larox PF filters, Dual Media and LSF filters and thickeners and scrubbers. The process can be tailored according to feed materials and desired end products with a possible phased approach for adding more equipment for the recovery of less valuable materials, Metso says.

“With the launch of the battery black mass recycling process, our offering for the battery minerals value chain covers 90 percent of the end-to-end production process,” says Mikko Rantaharju, vice president of hydrometallurgy at Metso.

Wastequip revises cloud software

Wastequip, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based waste and recycling-related equipment producer, has released the newest version of its Wasteware cloud-based software.

The software release includes expanded functionality for the management of waste services and related assets, along with an integrated customer relationship management (CRM) tool.

Management features in the new version allow haulers and municipalities to set up and maintain zones for scheduling trash service days, enable GPS tracking and service verification and provide the ability to manage cart deliveries and pickups, Wastequip says.

Also new in this version of Wasteware is a two-way communication feature that Wastequip says allows the hauler or municipality, as well as end customers, to set up waste services, schedule maintenance tasks and view service verification.

“This information not only allows haulers and municipalities to run their business more efficiently but also allows end customers self-service access to account- related information,” Wastequip states.

Wastequip says Wasteware is a vendor-agnostic cloud technology solutions suite designed for the waste and recycling industry that provides solutions for project, asset and inventory management, maintenance, service verification and customer service.

“We look forward to introducing additional features, data visibility and reporting in 2024 to help our customers streamline their operations,” says Mike Marchetti, chief technology officer at Wastequip. He adds that the company continues to expand Wasteware to provide key features and functionality to the industry.

In addition to Wasteware, brands in the Wastequip portfolio include Toter, ConFab, Amrep, Galbreath, Pioneer, MountainTarp, Wastequip WRX, Wastebuilt, ContainerPros and Accurate.

Cutmetall expands operations to US

The Cutmetall group of companies, based in Bamberg, Germany, has announced its expansion into the United States with the opening of an office near Atlanta as part of the growth strategy implemented by Volker Neuber, the new co-owner and CEO of Cutmetall Holding GmbH as of last October.

“Volker has a sound business background and excellent knowledge of the plastics industry,” Cutmetall founder and business partner Oliver Huther says. “He also brings with him many years of international experience in sales and business development.”

Neuber previously worked for global innovators such as Husky Technologies and GE Plastics. Most recently, he led Ettlinger, the Bavarian expert for filtration and injection molding systems, into the international market before the company was sold to the Maag Group in 2018.

Cutmetall North America opened its office June 1 in Tyrone, Georgia, and says it will ensure the supply of high-quality spare and wear parts for size-reduction technology. In addition to cutting tool solutions, including carbide systems, Cutmetall will provide technical service to its American and Canadian customers from this new location.

Mike Diletti, a veteran of plastics business development, will serve as managing director of Cutmetall Americas.

“Mike and I have a long and very successful history in the plastics industry together,” Neuber says. “He has an excellent knowledge of the American market and has always been a highly respected partner for customers in this market. I am very pleased to have won him over for this role.”

The company says an important component to supporting customers locally will be the Cutmetall online shop. In addition to the company’s wide product catalog, it offers products for the machines of more than 55 equipment manufacturers. Through the site, customers can digitally record and manage their machinery and material stocks, representing a high added value for customers, Cutmetall says.