Korean technology company EMG launches direct recycling line

EMB a technology company in renewable energy and energy storage technologies has launched a direct recycling line which automatically can separate the cathode, anode and separator from the cell casing. The company claims to be able to recover over 99% of the cathode material from cells this way.

The equipment is located in the company's plant in Gimje in the North Jeolla Province in South Korea. By separating the different cell components it is possible to obtain signficantly higher purity rates than through conventional recycling methods such as shredding. The company does however not say how the cathode material, still in the form of an oxide, can be recovered or reutilised.

The first equipment is said to be delivered to a first customer and the company is working on delivering equipment to more customers during 2025 in US, Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

EMB became during 2024 a minority owner in SK On's recycling company Voltcycle On which has been started in Hungary which makes it likely the recycler, which mainly focuses on production waste from SK On's battery production, will be one of the first users of the technology. According to the company an enabler of the process is another invention from the same company, a watercooled discharge technology that enable the safe opening of the cells.

EMB (Energy Mobile Battery) can be found here: http://www.embsol.co.kr/index--.php