BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions completes Arc Metal AB acquisition

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) has completed its acquisition of Sweden-based Arc Metal AB.

ECMS says the asset purchase adds toll smelting and processing of spent automotive catalysts in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and further complements ECMS’ existing global precious metal recycling operations in Cinderford, United Kingdom; Seneca and Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Caldwell, Texas.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome our new colleagues with the successful acquisition of Arc Metal,” says Tim Ingle, senior vice president of precious metal services and recycling at ECMS. “Now we can turn our attention to growing our recycling business in EMEA by meeting increased customer demand for spent automotive recycling and utilizing our expanded capabilities to process high carbon-containing materials, like silicon carbide found in spent automotive catalyst materials.”

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ECMS says the additional smelting capacity at the Sweden site also will increase use of new refinery capacity in Seneca, South Carolina. Recycled catalysts go through a smelting process and are then refined to produce the high-purity precious metal needed to make new catalysts and other end-use products.

In addition, ECMS says the acquisition bolsters its ability to deliver its 100 percent-recycled metal offering Verdium, which is based on mass balance. Recycled platinum group metals can lower carbon emissions by up to 97 percent in comparison with refining mined or primary materials, the company adds.

One kilogram of Verdium saves more than 30 metric tons of carbon, enabling customers to verify their carbon reduction, according to ECMS. Customers also can track the progress toward their sustainability goals and help lower their Scope 3 emissions. Northbrook, Illinois-based UL Solutions has provided independent, third-party validation of the physical chain of custody and mass balance accounting of Verdium.