The partners in the EU project REEsilience are developing pre-processing technology for hard disk drives, loudspeakers and electric motors
Rare earth elements are crucial components in many modern technologies and devices such as electric vehicles, wind turbines and sensor applications. Because they are so essential, they are in great demand, especially for the green revolution and digital transformation in the EU. To meet this demand, the EU project REEsilience aims to build a sustainable and resilient supply chain for rare earth magnet materials. Together, the project partners Inserma and Mkango subsidiaries HyProMag Ltd. and HyProMag GmbH are developing innovative methods to recover rare earth materials from end-of-life products in order to reduce the need for virgin rare earth elements and minimize the environmental impact. To deploy this technology globally, in September 2024 they entered into an agreement to commercialize automated pre-processing of hard disk drives, loudspeakers and electric motors. The project is coordinated by Professor Dr. Carlo Burkhardt (Pforzheim University) and supported by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum.
As well as helping to conserve valuable resources, promoting the recovery and reuse of rare earth materials from end-of-life products also reduces the environmental footprint of rare earth production. The Steinbeis partners involved in the REEsilience project are developing recycling strategies, acting as moderators to help resolve intellectual property rights and leading on communication. The project is an example of wide-ranging professional collaboration between businesses and academics leading to new, unique, competitive solutions that add genuine value for the European market.
Inserma: the e-waste pre-processing specialist
Building on the foundation laid by previous EU projects, particularly the Horizon 2020 project SUSMAGPRO, project partner Inserma brings its expertise in automation and plant development within the recycling sector to support the establishment of fully automated production lines. The company is a leading supplier of e-waste pre-processing technologies, specializing in automated systems for efficient and sustainable processing of hard disk drives, loudspeakers, and electric motors.
HyProMag: the rare earth magnet recycling experts
Mkango subsidiary Maginito holds a stake in the two spin-offs from the SUSMAGPRO project, HyProMag Ltd. (Birmingham) and HyProMag GmbH (Pforzheim). Both spin-offs are scaling up and commercializing the short-loop recycling process based on the patented Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) technology developed at the University of Birmingham. HyProMag Ltd. is focused on the recovery and recycling of rare earth magnets from end-of-life devices, and is currently commissioning a plant to commercialize its HPMS technology in the UK. HyProMag GmbH is rolling out commercialization of HPMS technology into Germany and Europe.
A game-changing new pre-processing technology
Maginito is a developer of rare earth magnet recycling technologies. To advance the circular economy for rare earth magnets, it has secured an exclusive agreement with Inserma to commercialize automated pre-processing of hard disk drives (HDDs), loudspeakers and electric motors for HyProMag Ltd., HyProMag GmbH and
HyProMag USA. The latest mobile Inserma unit, designed specifically for pre-processing HDDs, offers a highly flexible solution that can be co-located at hyperscale data centers, recycling centers, shredding or HyProMag facilities. The system rapidly extracts the voice coil motor (VCM) containing rare earth magnets from HDDs, providing an efficient feed for more sustainable direct processing of the magnets using HyProMag’s HPMS technology. This game-changing technology addresses key challenges in recycling, delivering enhanced economic and environmental benefits.
In addition to HDD processing, Inserma’s solution is being adapted to automate the removal of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), further enhancing its role in sustainable e-waste management. The technology is scalable, with the goal of deploying hundreds of pre-processing units worldwide, targeting a wide range of end-of-life devices including loudspeakers and electric motors.
Benefits of the pre-processing technology
- Rapid VCM removal: The automated system can remove the VCM containing the rare earth magnet in under three seconds per HDD.
- On-site secure data destruction: The remainder of the HDD can be securely destroyed on-site, ensuring data protection.
- Cost and carbon footprint reduction: The removal of the rare earth magnet significantly reduces the costs and carbon emissions of subsequent shredding processes.
- Enhanced shredding efficiency: Simultaneous removal of the center spindle reduces blade breakage during shredding, leading to lower operational costs and a minimized carbon footprint.
- No heat treatment or dismantling required: The technology streamlines magnet recovery without the need for additional treatments.
A shorter recycling process: The system is optimized to provide a steady feed for the rare earth magnet recycling process, which minimizes its environmental impact.
REEsilience facts and figures
- Funded by: EU research and innovation program Horizon Europe (GA No. 101058598)
- Total funding: 9.7 million euros
- Coordinator: Institute for Precious Metals and Technology (STI) of Pforzheim University
- Project duration: July 2022 to June 2026
- Partners: 18 project partners from ten countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom).
Contact
Maëva Pratlong (author)
Senior Project Manager
Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
Steinbeis 2i GmbH
(Stuttgart/Karlsruhe)