en.Wedoany.com Reported - German aluminum company Trimet Aluminium SE has significantly expanded the capacity of its recycling plant in Gelsenkirchen and completed a fundamental modernization of its energy supply. The company is also simultaneously advancing capacity increases at its Essen recycling site and the construction of scrap sorting infrastructure in Hamm.
"Industry needs sustainably produced materials to achieve climate goals," said Dr. Andreas Lützerath, member of the Trimet Board of Management. He stated that the company is systematically adjusting its strategy to meet the growing demand for recycled aluminum and, through investments, is ensuring long-term reliable supply even in challenging market conditions.
At the Gelsenkirchen plant, Trimet has installed new melting units, increasing annual capacity to 70,000 tons of recycled aluminum. Solar cells installed on the factory roof provide renewable electricity for the plant. Starting in August 2026, the plant's melting furnaces will use hydrogen-rich process gas, resulting in significantly lower CO2 emissions compared to natural gas.
At the Essen recycling site, Trimet has achieved alloy-specific separation and storage of aluminum scrap by expanding storage areas, adding approximately 16,000 tons of new capacity. The infrastructure upgrade helps improve material quality and process efficiency, and creates conditions for a continuous increase in recycled content in future production.
Trimet is systematically developing its portfolio of recycled alloys. The company already offers the high-pressure die-casting alloy trimal®-04 with high recycled content and has successfully established it as a substitute for the primary alloy trimal®-05. Currently, the company is preparing a recycled variant of trimal®-38. This alloy is used for battery housings, structural components, and other crash-relevant automotive applications and can be processed without heat treatment. Through targeted adjustments to the alloy composition, Trimet can increase the proportion of recycled aluminum while maintaining mechanical properties.
Material development is closely linked to the expansion of closed-loop material cycles. Trimet has established customized recycling systems in collaboration with customers, ensuring the sorted collection and recovery of aluminum scrap. Particularly in the field of aluminum wire, this process demands high standards of purity and process control, requiring a high level of metallurgical expertise. By integrating recycling sites in Germany and France, the company maintains a network that guarantees consistent material quality.
To further strengthen the material cycle, Trimet is building a facility in Hamm for sorting, processing, and logistics of aluminum scrap. Scheduled to begin operations at the end of 2026, the plant will use laser-based analysis methods to quickly determine the metallurgical fingerprint of scrap, enabling precise separation for subsequent alloy production. A high-performance baling press will complement the facility to enhance post-processing and logistics efficiency.
By building these capabilities, Trimet is integrating key stages of the recycling value chain in-house. This move enhances supply security, reduces dependence on primary raw materials, and improves the carbon footprint of the materials used.
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