Skapa Recycling and REDWAVE Boost Aluminium Recycling Efficiency with New Technology

Skapa Recycling has partnered with technology firm REDWAVE to enhance aluminium recycling at its Eastern Austria facility. By utilizing advanced sorting technology, the partnership aims to maximize recycling efficiency and reduce environmental impact, addressing the increasing global need for sustainable resource management.

Aluminium is unique in that it can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality. Recycling an aluminium beverage can uses just 5% of the energy required to produce aluminium from raw bauxite, making it a highly sustainable option. Despite this, only about 6,000 tonnes of the 12,000 tonnes of used aluminium beverage cans (UBCs) in Austria are officially recycled, with many being processed into lower-grade alloys.

Since 2011, Skapa has been striving to improve recycling practices in the aluminium sector. At its Eastern Austria facility, the company processes collected aluminium cans, transforming them into cleaned and briquetted UBCs. These processed materials are then supplied to specialized alloy manufacturers across Europe, ensuring they are effectively reused.

Recycling aluminium cans is a complex process involving thorough cleaning and the removal of contaminants. One of the major challenges has been sorting out heavy metals such as copper, brass, and zinc. To address this, Skapa introduced REDWAVE's XRF sorting machine, which uses advanced detection technology to separate these metals and sort aluminium based on its chemical composition. This innovation has significantly enhanced the recycling process, increasing both the precision and the recovery of valuable materials.

"The REDWAVE XRF sorting machine has made a substantial difference in our operations," said Anton Skalnik, Managing Director of Skapa Recycling GmbH. "With improved efficiency and precision, we are achieving higher recycling rates and producing cleaner metal for reuse."

The collaboration between Skapa Recycling and REDWAVE showcases how technological advancements can transform recycling efficiency. The modular nature of the REDWAVE XRF Sorting Machine allows for flexibility in scaling up operations, making it possible to increase throughput with minimal modifications. Additionally, Skapa has taken steps to reduce the carbon footprint of the facility by powering much of its machinery with electricity generated from an on-site photovoltaic system.