Remondis plans upgrade to Berlin refrigerator recycling plant

Andritz MeWa, with offices in Gechingen, Germany, has received an order from Remondis Electrorecycling to rebuild and modernize its existing refrigerator recycling plant in Berlin, Germany. Start-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2015, Andritz reports.

Andrtitz MeWa will supply the QZ 2500 cross-flow shredder, a new dismantling stage for refrigerators, which includes a control system and visualization of the entire plant.

According to Andritz, unlike multistage cutting technologies, rotating chains in the QZ 2500 dismantle the various components and materials quickly and efficiently. This equipment is designed to improve material separation and minimize wear.

Andritz says that with the new QZ technology, Remondis will be able to make even better use of the raw materials from old equipment, while ensuring that the refrigerators are recycled in a sustainable process.

Collection and processing of refrigerators of all types and sizes is a main focus of the Remondis-Rückbauzentrum facility in Berlin. Approximately 35,000 tons of electrical scrap can be processed here every year. The metals recovered are passed on for further processing as secondary raw materials. Special treatment plants dispose of the plastics and contaminants are removed. Refrigerants and foaming agents are recovered and disposed of in accordance with the CENELEC standard for collection, logistics and treatment requirements for end-of-life household appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons, the companies report. CENELEC is the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization.

Andritz MeWa is part of the public company Andritz Group, headquartered in Graz, Austria. Remondis Electrorecycling is part of the Remondis Group, headquartered in Luenen, Germany.