6 INDUSTRY NEWS
ENGINEERING FIRM INVESTS IN BALANCING CAPABILITY A HEAVY ENGINEERING COMPANY based in the North East of England, specialising in component machining for the defence, renewable power, nuclear and marine industries, has invested in a ZB4500 horizontal balancing machine from CEMB Hofmann UK. Due to approved supplier status with defence contracts and a world-leading mechanical power transmission brand, the company experienced increased demand for balancing manufactured and refurbished rotor components for heavyduty industrial projects. The new machine will now be used to balance medium to large rotors and can deal with components of up to 6,000kg and with a diameter of up to 1,580mm.
With one of the largest machining capabilities in the UK, the ZB4500 will play a vital role in delivering the company’s service offering and is further proof of its commitment to continual investment in the latest technologies. CEMB Hofmann UK has recently supplied, installed and commissioned the machine and undertaken comprehensive user training. Ongoing support will be delivered in the form of an annual service of the machine, undertaking on-site fault diagnosis as required, plus supplying and installing genuine spare parts.
The customer decided to take the dynamic balancing capability in-house to meet increasing demand for its services, although previously used CEMB Hofmann UK’s sub-contract balancing service, which will still be available to solve any capacity or capability challenges should they arise.
RENEWABLE DIESEL PLANT OPTS FOR SULZER PUMPS A CANADIAN OIL producer is undertaking a project to use local canola (rapeseed) oil to create renewable diesel on an industrial scale. At the heart of the plant will be a number of precision pumps from Sulzer that have been designed to handle challenging process conditions. The expected outcome of the initiative is a reduction in carbon emissions by three million tonnes annually, equivalent to cutting the number of vehicles on the road by 650,000. The anticipated output of the facility is more than one
billion litres of net zero diesel per year that can be used to power vehicles, trains and industrial boilers. The proposed expansion of the existing refinery is expected to be complete by March 2024. In all, Sulzer will supply 26 pumps. Two MSD (BB3) models will be responsible for the highpressure and high-temperature naphtha feed application, a central part of the catalytic process to break down the canola oil. Two BBT-D recycle pumps, and a number of OHH and PRE process pumps will be delivered with a Duplex stainless steel construction to ensure extended service in challenging conditions.
EA APPROVAL FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RECYCLING PLANT Technology Minerals, a UK company focused on creating a sustainable circular economy for battery metals, has announced that its battery recycling business, Recyclus Group, has received final clearance from the Environment Agency (EA) to commence full operations at its lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. Recyclus has also been awarded Approved Battery Treatment Operator ABT status by the EA, allowing it to commence recycling operations immediately, with on-site treatment and processing of spent Li-ion batteries. Quarter 3 2023
The EA permit allows Recyclus a daily storage limit of 140 m³ (c.100 tonnes) and to process up to 22,000 tonnes of Li-ion batteries per annum. It is expected that 8,300 tonnes will be processed in the first year, utilising a single shift pattern of labour during the standard working week. The approval from the EA for the Wolverhampton plant is a significant milestone for Recyclus, making it the first industrial-scale plant in the UK with the capability to recycle Li-ion batteries. Recyclus owns the IP for both the process and the plant, which is designed to
process most Li-ion battery types. Recyclus will manufacture all plants, including those designed specifically for OEM clients, here in the UK. Recyclus aims to increase the UK processing capability to c.50,000 tonnes per annum by constructing five more Li-ion recycling plants. BIS Research's latest study, Black Mass Recycling Market - A Global and Regional Analysis, states the global market for black mass, produced from the recycling process and containing critical battery metals that can be sold back into the battery supply chain, is projected to reach $53 bn by 2031. www.theaemt.com