More than 270 experts attended the annual International Congress for Battery Recycling ICBR 2018 Sept. 26-28 in Berlin.
Attendees experienced 30 specialist presentations, panel discussions and a workshop, as well as plant tours at Nickelhütte Aue GmbH and Electrocycling GmbH in Goslar, Germany, says Switzerland-based ICM AG, the organizer of ICBR.
Keynote speaker Kerstin Kuchta, a professor from Hamburg University of Technology, kicked off the congress with a session on the market for batteries and the opportunities and challenges that arise for the recycling industry.
Didier Marginèdes, Blue Solutions, France, spoke about changes occurring in the transport market–away from delivering transport and toward delivering solutions. In addition, Gudula Schwan, Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Germany, addressed the importance of hazardous goods regulations for the recycling industry.
Other presenters, such as Jos Mossink from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), reported on the effects of the EU chemicals policy on battery recycling. Chris Heron, Eurometaux, described the connection between the European metals policy and the recycling industry, ICM says.
The presentations were supplemented by reports on market conditions for battery recycling and new technological developments. The focus was also on safety in handling lithium-ion batteries as well as their recycling. In addition, the development of electric mobility and its impact on the recycling of car batteries was addressed.
ICM says panel discussions on portable batteries and industrial battery second life were hot topics.
The conference was accompanied by an exhibitors' forum. Attendees had the opportunity to find out which innovations are currently on the market by talking to exhibitors at the venue.
The ICBR 2019 industry meeting will be held Sept. 18-20, 2019, in Lyon, France.