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Mercedes-Benz relies on Primobius technology and lays foundation stone for sustainable battery recycling factory

HILCHENBACH, 03. MAR 2023
On March 3, 2023, Mercedes Benz AG in Kuppenheim laid the foundation stone for its battery recycling factory. Primobius is proud to be the technology partner in this important project and to contribute to closing the recycling loop and reducing resource consumption in the electromobility sector.

Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG with responsibility for Production & Supply Chain Management, welcomed the guests and informed them about the project. Guests also included Horst Krenn (Managing Director of Primobius) and Prof. Hans Ferkel (Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Primobius and CTO of SMS group) as well as Merrill Gray (Head of Recycling) from our JV partner Neometals.

As Horst Krenn, Managing Director of Primobius, says: "The introduction of a circular economy can significantly enhance the CO2 balance of lithium-ion batteries and shortens the time to achieve the “CO2 break-even point” of electric vehicles. We are proud to be one of the first to realize a resource-efficient recycling technology in the heart of Europe. The joint project with Mercedes-Benz shows that our two-stage recycling process, and particularly the high recovery rates with hydrometallurgy, already meets the industry's needs today."

The direct integration of hydrometallurgy into the overall concept of a recycling plant is the crucial step in sustainable battery recycling, where the materials obtained can be ideally re-used to produce new cells. Across Europe, Mercedes-Benz will be the first automotive manufacturer to operate its own recycling plant including hydrometallurgical treatment facilities.

Jörg Burzer: "In terms of saving resources, Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a clear goal: as complete a circular economy as possible for all raw materials used. Sustainable battery recycling is a key factor in this. With our new recycling plant in Kuppenheim, we are consistently expanding our own expertise in battery value creation."

Primobius is the result of a joint venture partnership between Australian Stock Exchange listed company Neometals Ltd. and private German engineering and technology company, SMS group. Primobius is to commercialize advanced recycling technology, offering a unique and sustainable method for recovering valuable lithium, nickel, cobalt and other materials from expended and scrap electric vehicles and consumer electronics LiB’s. Recovered and refined product materials will be reformed and re-applied back into the battery supply chain.