BASF doubles production capacity at its Cinderford, UK, precious metals recycling plant
- Investment in high-performance milling and decanning equipment drives increased production throughput
- Allows for higher volumes of scrapped catalytic converter processing and increased efficiency of PGM recovery
Cinderford, UK and Ludwigshafen, Germany – February 17, 2015 – BASF has completed the installation and start-up of new high-performance milling and decanning equipment at its Cinderford, Gloucestershire, UK, precious metal recycling operation, more than doubling the plant’s production capacity.
The Cinderford operation serves as BASF’s European production hub for processing end-of-life autocatalysts, allowing for the efficient recovery and recycling of platinum group metals (PGMs) such as platinum, palladium and rhodium.
“By enhancing our operating infrastructure, we have significantly increased production throughput at the Cinderford site and improved our ability to provide customers with faster turnaround times on their metal returns, enabling improved cash flows,” said David Freidinger, BASF Vice President, Precious Metals Recycling & Refining. “In addition, our investment in next-generation milling and shearing equipment will allow us to keep pace with the increased volume of scrap autocatalysts that will come to market in the years ahead.”
Automotive catalytic converters are one of the largest users of PGMs, accounting for more than half of the world’s annual mining output. When an automobile is scrapped, the precious metal contained in the catalytic converter can be recycled, creating a sustainable secondary supply source for such limited global resources.
BASF is a leading global manufacturer of precious metals products which are used in a variety of industrial applications, including automotive emissions control catalysts. The company is committed to growing its position in the PGM recycling market and providing customers with a high-quality source of these metals for the long-term. Additional information on BASF’s metals recycling operation can be found at: www.converter-recycling.basf.com.
About BASF’s Catalysts Division
BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. By leveraging our industry-leading R&D platforms, passion for innovation and deep knowledge of precious and base metals, BASF’s Catalysts division develops unique, proprietary solutions that drive customer success. Further information on BASF’s Catalysts division is available on the Internet at www.catalysts.basf.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.