In a world racing towards ever more ambitious sustainability goals, aluminium recycling has become a strategic asset for the future of the industry, thanks to its properties of lightness, strength and, above all, infinite recyclability.

One of the most significant benefits concerns energy savings: according to the International Aluminium Institute, recycling aluminium saves up to 95% of energy compared to production from virgin raw material. It is also estimated that the recycling of post-consumer scrap avoids the production of about 20 million tonnes of primary aluminium each year, contributing to the reduction of about 300 million tonnes of CO₂.

It is no coincidence that aluminium is considered one of the strategic materials to achieve the targets set by the European Green Deal, as well as the decarbonisation goals of the world’s major economies. The focus is increasingly shifting towards secondary metals, key resources to fuel production processes while minimising emissions.

Recycling as an economic lever

Aluminium recycling is not only a virtuous choice from an environmental point of view, but represents a concrete opportunity for growth and competitiveness for companies. Using quality secondary raw materials means significantly lowering energy and operating costs compared to the extraction and processing of bauxite. Furthermore, by reducing dependence on virgin raw materials, companies become less exposed to global price fluctuations and geopolitical risks. The result is more sustainable, resilient and cost-effective production, in line with the expectations of an increasingly ESG-conscious market.

Efficient technologies for the future of recycling

In this scenario, the main challenge is to increase investments in the technological innovation of recycling processes. It is with this in mind that we design our plants, developing tailor-made solutions that maximise the recovery of secondary raw materials, optimise costs and increase process profitability. Every day we speak with different production companies, each with specific needs and complexities to deal with. This direct experience guides our design approach, turning customers’ operational challenges into strengths that make each system efficient, flexible and result-oriented.

PROCESSING FLEXIBILITY
Our plants are designed to handle a wide range of aluminium scrap, from window and door profiles from demolition work to car casings, and even aluminium packs and mixed casings. The integration of patented components, such as the interchangeable cradle, allows our solutions to easily adapt to different markets, companies and application contexts.

MODULAR AND SCALABLE SOLUTIONS
Thanks to a customised approach, our systems can meet the needs of companies of all sizes, all of which share a quest for quality, performance and profitability. Each plant is designed to be modular and grow with the company, following the evolution of production needs. A real advantage for optimising initial costs and planning future investments with greater flexibility.

HIGH PRODUCTIVITY
A key element of Panizzolo’s aluminium plants are the Mega and Flex series hammer mills, designed to offer superior performance in terms of productivity and efficiency. The Mega series, for example, can process up to 2.2 times the amount of material compared to the market standard, ensuring operational continuity and resistance to even the most demanding workloads.

OUTPUT QUALITY
Our systems integrate grinding, separation and refining technologies to achieve total recovery of secondary raw materials, with high purity output suitable for direct remelting and reintroduction into the economic cycle. This translates into higher value per tonne and the ability to satisfy even the most demanding segments of the metal industry.

Panizzolo and EGA, a partnership for the largest aluminium recycling plant in the Emirates

The drive towards more sustainable production processes is redefining the aluminium industry’s strategies and more and more companies are investing in advanced equipment to create value in a sustainable way. It is in this scenario that the collaboration with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) fits in.

EGA, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, has started construction of the largest aluminium recycling plant in the United Arab Emirates, with a planned production capacity of 170,000 tonnes per year. An initiative that represents a fundamental step in the group’s decarbonisation strategy and a clear signal of transition towards a circular economy.

Our technology is at the heart of this strategic project: from processing solutions to the definition of flow logic, integration between machines and the overall organisation of the production cycle. The result will help ensure an efficient recycling process capable of producing high-quality, low-carbon aluminium, marketed by EGA under the RevivAL brand.

Underlining the importance of the project were the words of Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA:

“Recycling is a major growth opportunity for our industry and for EGA. With the construction of this plant, we have taken decisive steps to develop a global recycling business. The facility will allow us to expand our low-emission metal portfolio for local and international customers, representing a new milestone for the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ programme.”

EGA’s vision aligns perfectly with our mission and future perspective: to offer solutions that innovate recovery processes, making them more efficient and profitable. In this way, we support companies on their path to sustainable growth, helping to generate lasting value.
In the coming months we will be going into more detail on this project, which confirms our commitment to designing solutions geared towards the ecological transition.