Electronics recycling firm deploys high-torque shredder to prepare its plastic scrap for end markets.

Preston, United Kingdom-based 3R Technology UK Ltd. has geared up for growth in 2022, having invested to increase its ability to convert plastic from the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) material stream into marketable recycled-content plastic.

3R Technology has more than 20 years of WEEE recycling experience in the Netherlands, Serbia and the U.K., according to Austria-based Untha, one of its equipment vendors. At the start of this decade, 3R has turned its attention to the U.K. market “and the WEEE plastic processing challenge” in that nation, according to Untha.

Approximately 2,000 metric tons of shredded small domestic appliance (SDA) plastics are now being handled by the 5,000-square-meter (54,000-square-foot) Preston facility every month.

Two Untha shredders provide much of the processing capability at the plant. A single-shaft Untha LRK plastic shredder processes polystyrene (PS) refrigerator plastics, and a four-shaft Untha RS40 with a screen “achieves a refined 30-millimeter (mm, or 1.2-inch) fraction after processing the SDA mix. Particle homogeneity is ensured by both machines, says Untha.

The shredded plastic is then transported via conveyor belt to a washing line with a float tank, to be cleaned and dried. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/PS and polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) materials are then directed through an electrostatic separator to create what 3R calls “pure, high-value ABS and PS flakes for remanufacturing.”

Untha says 3R has “rigorously tested [its] state-of-the-art processing line” and is now “on the hunt for more material heading into next year and beyond, with the site capable of recycling various plastics, including flat-screen TV cases, computer monitor housings and computer-based peripherals.”

The goal is to reach an annual processing level of more than 5,000 metric tons per month in 12 months’ time, with plans to open two additional plants in the south of England and in Scotland, in the near future.

“The U.K.’s WEEE recycling capabilities are continuously improving,” says 3R Technology’s founder and CEO Wang Yu Lin. “However, the focus is usually the processing of metallic content.”

Wang continues, “We’re therefore partnering with WEEE and scrap metal handler to tackle the 50 percent mixed plastic that typically remains once redundant appliances have been shredded. This still has a significant resource value, which often isn’t realized in the U.K.”

This is not 3R Technology’s first Untha investment. “We use Untha at our Dutch plant, too,” says Wang. “So, when it came to selecting the processing machinery for our U.K. facility - equipment that is easy to use, simple to maintain and has an impressive capacity--we knew where to go.”

Wang adds, “Untha shredders make the job of our downstream technology so much easier. We’re able to segregate a further 3 to 5 percent clean metal from the float table, which boosts our revenue stream. Our site is attracting a lot of attention, particularly on social media, so we’ll continue to be very vocal when it comes to what we can do. We even encourage people to come and take a look.”

The financing round, led by Closed Loop Partners, will go toward expanding the smart global device ecosystem.

Baltimore-based Apkudo, a provider of supply chain automation for connected devices, announced it has completed a $14.4 million growth financing round. The money will be used to further its growth and advance the development of its connected device platform, such as the one it created for  like FedEx. Supply Chain Robotics.

The round was led by the Closed Loop Partners’ Leadership Fund, a circular economy-focused investment firm based in New York City, with the participation of Harbert Growth Partners, Grotech Ventures, MissionOG and Lavrock Ventures.

Apkudo says its technology creates greater transparency across the electronic device value chain, empowering businesses to make smart decisions regarding their devices, from early-stage inventory management to repair, resale and recycling opportunities at a devices’ end-of-life.

“Apkudo helps stakeholders across the electronics value chain better understand the condition and value of their devices, in turn driving smart, sustainable and profitable decision making,”“ says Martin Aares, managing director at Closed Loop Partners. “Their technology enables vastly improved reverse logistics and resale of connected electronic devices, which helps reduce e-waste. Our partnership with Apkudo will further the circularity of electronics supply chains that ultimately benefit people, the planet and business.”

According to a news release from Closed Loop Partners, Apkudo’s Connected Device Platform connects internal systems across an enterprise that enables real-time decisions. By enabling customers to connect their ecosystem partners the platform, Apkudo says it delivers improved supply chain efficiencies via a single operating system. The result is a flexible platform that reduces complex processes into collaborative business applications.

“The circular economy is changing how consumers and businesses manage their electronic devices; the second and third life of a device is now something that every one of us needs to consider,” says Josh Matthews, co-founder and CEO of Apkudo. “With this investment from Closed Loop Partners and our existing investors, we have an experienced group of investors that can provide not only capital, but [also] deep industry knowledge and global networks to help facilitate our continued growth.”

Apkudo says it has tripled the number of customers on its platform over the last two years. In 2021, the company expanded to serve computer and laptop brands in addition to the broader wireless mobility services industry, including original equipment manufacturers, managed network operators, third-party logistics companies, insurance firms, device resellers and repair companies.

The addition of Closed Loop Partners as an investor expands Apkudo’s expertise and continued focus on strengthening circular supply chains for high-value electronic devices.

Closed Loop Partners says its ecosystem connects entrepreneurs, industry experts, global consumer goods companies, retailers, financial institutions and municipalities, bridging gaps and fostering synergies to scale the circular economy.

The company says it is poised for its next phase of substantial growth with the acquisition.

Scotia Recycling Ltd., a recycling company based in Hantsport, Nova Scotia, has announced the acquisition of Great Northern Recycling in Burnside, Nova Scotia. The company says the expansion will allow for greater operational capacity.

“With increasing awareness around environmental stewardship and sustainability, waste reduction and more environmentally friendly products, it is more important than ever for our organization to expand our capability and increase efficiencies in operations,” says Norm Mensour, president of Scotia Recycling.

Great Northern Recycling is an independent recycling facility specializing in recycling corrugated cartons, news and sorted paper. The previous owners, Terri and Frank Kaulback, will be retiring and transitioning the company to Scotia Recycling’s ownership. Mensour says Great Northern’s customer base will experience minimal disruption during this acquisition.

“We know that Great Northern has cultivated strong, loyal relationships with their suppliers, and we look forward to building on those,” Mensour says. “We’re pleased to be able to serve our communities in a greater capacity with this acquisition, and look forward to welcoming Great Northern’s staff, clients and suppliers to the Scotia Investments Family of Companies.”

Scotia Recycling says it has been operating in the recycling industry since 1976.. The company specializes in collecting, processing, sales and brokerage of secondary fiber and plastic film grades.

“The acquisition of Great Northern aligns closely with our Family of Companies’ strategy to actively invest in long-term, sustainable and eco-friendly growth,” says Randy MacMillan, president and CEO, Scotia Investments Ltd.

The Vehicle-as-a-Service program includes the vehicle chassis, refuse body and protection plan.

Mack Trucks, a truck manufacturer based in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Mack Financial Services recently launched a Vehicle-as-a-Service (VaaS) program to help simplify the purchase process and assist customers to manage expenses associated with acquiring the Mack LR Electric battery electric vehicle (BEV).

VaaS includes the vehicle chassis, the refuse body, applicable taxes and a vehicle protection plan, the Mack Ultra Service Agreement, for the Mack LR Electric refuse model, the manufacturer’s first fully electric Class 8 vehicle.

Mack says qualified customers also have the option to bundle a charger and associated installation costs into a single invoice. VaaS is offered as a five-year lease with single monthly payments and the option to renew.

“The Mack Vehicle-as-a-Service program is designed to address any customer hesitations in adopting electromobility by offering zero upfront costs,” says George Fotopoulos, Mack vice president of the e-mobility business unit. “Mack took this approach because we believe in BEV technology, we stand behind our electric products, and we want to accelerate industry adoption of this technology.”

The Mack LR Electric features twin electric motors that offer 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 pounds per foot of peak output torque from zero revolutions per minute. The vehicle is offered with a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission, Mack mRIDE suspension and Mack’s proprietary S462R 46,000-pound rear axles.

Four nickel manganese cobalt oxide lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, provide power to the vehicle. 

The LR Electric model may be fitted with equipment bodies from several manufacturers, allowing the truck to be tailored to each customer’s needs. Customers can choose from the same driver/passenger side driving configurations, seating choices and door options as those offered on the diesel-powered LR model.

Higher aluminum prices increased net sales from $3.2 billion in Q3 of fiscal 2021 to $4.3 billion in Q3 of fiscal 2022.

Aluminum rolling and recycling company Novelis Inc., Atlanta, has reported a year-over-year increase in net income for the third quarter of its 2022 fiscal year, which ended Dec. 31, 2021. The company’s Q3 2022 net income attributable to its common shareholder of $262 million increased $86 million from $176 million in the prior-year period, while its net income from continuing operations increased to $259 million from $195 million in the prior-year period. Excluding special items in both years, third-quarter fiscal year 2022 net income from continuing operations increased 15 percent to $241 million, driven mainly by lower interest expense and unrealized derivative gains in the current year, the company says.

Net sales increased 33 percent to $4.3 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared with $3.2 billion in the prior-year period, primarily driven by higher average aluminum prices. Flat-rolled product shipments totaled 930,000 metric tons in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, in line with the prior-year quarterly shipments of 933,000 metric tons. Novelis says shipment growth was constrained by the continued semiconductor chip shortage that has affected the automotive industry.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased 1 percent to $506 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared to $501 million in the prior-year period, according to the company, which included a $25 million customer contractual obligation benefit. The underlying increase in adjusted EBITDA is primarily because of favorable product pricing and mix, as well as favorable metal benefits, which mitigated inflationary cost pressures and supply chain disruption-related costs, the company adds. Adjusted EBITDA per ton shipped increased to $544 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared with $537 in the prior-year period.

"Our strong third-quarter results reflect our team's ability to deftly navigate headwinds mainly arising from global supply chain disruptions," says Steve Fisher, the company’s president and chief executive officer. "We will continue to manage through these challenges while keeping our eyes on our strategic growth path and meeting growing demand for high-recycled-content, sustainable aluminum products."

Since October 2021, Novelis has announced several capital expansion projects designed to increase capacity and capabilities and achieve its sustainability goal to become net carbon-neutral by 2050. In January 2022, Novelis announced plans to build a $365 million recycling center for the U.S. automotive market in Guthrie, Kentucky. With an annual casting capacity of 240,000 metric tons of sheet ingot, Novelis says it expects the facility will enable it to grow closed-loop recycling programs with more automotive customers in North America and reduce the company's carbon emissions by more than 1 million tons annually. Previously, the company announced strategic growth capital projects totaling approximately $500 million, including a $375 million investment to expand its rolling and recycling capabilities in Zhenjiang, China, and a $130 million investment at its Oswego, New York, plant to increase hot mill capacity and enhance automotive sheet finishing capabilities. Novelis says it expects these projects to begin during the 2022 calendar year and begin commissioning in 2024.

Beatriz Landa, vice president of Metal Procurement & Recycling for Novelis North America, tells Recycling Today the investment in Guthrie, Kentucky, will allow Novelis to create its own recycled ingots for use in the automotive market, enabling the company to be more sustainable and more independent in the market. 

Fiscal year-to-date adjusted free cash flow from continuing operations was $217 million compared with $331 million in the prior-year period. Significantly higher working capital requirements, largely because of rising aluminum prices in fiscal 2022, were partially offset by higher adjusted EBITDA and favorable metal price lag, according to the company.

"Novelis has generated more than $1 billion in trailing-12-month adjusted free cash flow before capital investments, despite the significant impact from higher aluminum prices this year," says Devinder Ahuja, Novelis executive vice president and chief financial officer. "Continued strong cash generation, coupled with our disciplined capital allocation strategy, enables us to continue to strategically invest in sustainably growing the business while remaining  within our targeted net leverage range."