China has quickly risen to become a major player in the worldwide lithium-ion battery recycling scene. Thanks to its strong ties to the global battery supply chain and helpful government policies, the country has built a solid network of recycling facilities. These plants are setting new benchmarks for how fast, large, and eco-friendly the process can be on a global scale.
Firms in China have started using smart closed-loop systems to pull out important metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from old batteries. This clever method cuts down the need to dig up fresh raw materials. Plus, it helps keep up with the rising need for electric cars (EVs) and energy storage setups.
One company that stands out is Henan Maxim Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. MAXIM focuses on resource recycling and are known for creating and building green recycling tools. The lithium battery recycling line tackles tough issues like hard-to-recycle materials, heavy pollution, and wasted resources. It does a great job of splitting and reusing valuable parts efficiently.
With more people buying EVs around the world, finding safe ways to get rid of and reuse lithium-ion batteries is super important. Nations in Europe, North America, and Asia are pouring money into setting up modern recycling plants.
Their goal? To lessen harm to the planet and make sure they have enough key materials.
Many businesses are now using flexible or movable plants to grow their operations. Some have big, permanent setups, while others use smaller units placed close to collection spots or factory areas. These fresh ideas help speed up setup times, cut down on transport costs, and process materials right where they’re needed. These steps are vital for boosting circular economy efforts.
Several reasons explain why China leads the pack:
As a leader in tailored lithium recycling options, MAXIM offers complete support from the first chat to ongoing care after purchase.
MAXIM’s total closed-loop system (Pre-shredding-crushing - sorting) does a fine job of pulling apart electrode stuff like cobalt, lithium, nickel, copper, and aluminum. It also sticks to strict eco rules on emissions.
MAXIM’s gear meets country-wide laws like the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste. Emission levels are checked and approved by outside testers, ensuring safe use in many places.
MAXIM adjusts the production setup and machine settings to fit specific needs, avoiding a generic approach. Whether you deal with ternary lithium or LFP batteries, MAXIM provides adaptable options by following customized requirements.
Our skilled team of engineers designs key parts like shredders with top-notch lasting power. This gives a real advantage for running plants over a long time.
Besides batteries, MAXIM also makes lines for scrap metal and e-waste recycling. These help recover precious metals like gold, silver, and copper while keeping harmful stuff like mercury or cadmium out of the mix.
Started by ex-Tesla CTO JB Straubel, Rewod Materials uses special chemical steps to turn old EV batteries into fresh anode and cathode materials. This helps complete the battery-making cycle.
Rewod pulls out over 95% of stuff like cobalt, copper, nickel, and lithium from used cells. They use water-based methods that match circular economy aims.
LivingREcycle’s unique “Spoke & Hub” setup allows local pre-processing before central chemical refining. They achieve recovery rates above 90%.
LivingREcycle gives custom plans for manufacturers wanting to add green disposal methods into their global work.
Unikara runs one of Europe’s top facilities. It can recover metals from all kinds of rechargeable batteries using water-based chemical tricks.
Through deals with car makers, they ensure a steady supply of materials while keeping eco standards across different areas.
SET has several plants in Asia-Pacific and Europe, offering nearby processing for used EV batteries.
From picking up batteries to final metal recovery, SET manages every step with tracking built into their online system.
Anede Elements uses a special cathode material tech (eCAM) with flexible plant designs. These are perfect for quick growth near EV factory zones.
Deusrenfield offers portable units that can work right at maker or dealer spots. This cuts down on transport pollution while meeting legal rules.
Fecobeat focuses on recycling systems tied to tracking tech. They use IoT sensors to check battery status before deciding on breakdown or reuse options.
Fortnum uses low-CO₂ water-based methods to pull out up to 95% of key elements from black mass. This is a big step forward in clean tech.
This Asian firm provides full services from pickup networks to chemical plants. They serve big Asian car makers with high success in recovery.
| Company | Customization | Recovery Efficiency | Technology Type | Global Reach | Additional Services |
| MAXIM | High | >90% | Mechanical + Sorting | Medium | E-waste & Scrap Metal Lines |
| Rewod Materials | Medium | >95% | Hydrometallurgy | High | Cathode/Anode Material Production |
| LivingREcycle | Medium | >90% | Spoke & Hub Model | High | Onsite Preprocessing |
| Unikara | Low | >85% | Hydrometallurgy | High | Precious Metal Refining |
| SET | Medium | ~90% | Mechanical + Chemical | High | Digital Lifecycle Platform |
| Anede Elements | Medium | >90% | eCAM + Modular Plants | Medium | Cathode Active Material Production |
| Deusrenfield | Low | ~85% | Mobile Units | Low | Onsite Deployment |
| Fecobeat | Low | ~80% | Integrated Logistics | Medium | Second-life Applications |
| Fortnum | Low | >90% | Hydrometallurgy | Medium | CO₂-optimized Extraction |
| SuFel HelloTechnic | Medium | >90% | Full Lifecycle | High | Asian Market Focus |
A: They go through mechanical shredding followed by chemical processes that recover valuable metals like cobalt, nickel, copper—and sometimes even graphite—for reuse in new batteries.
A: Profitability depends on scale, recovery efficiency, market prices for recovered materials—and whether you use advanced systems like MAXIM’s customized shredder machines that maximize output quality while minimizing labor cost.
A: Most modern plants can handle ternary lithium (NMC), LFP (lithium iron phosphate), LCO (lithium cobalt oxide), pouch cells, cylindrical cells—especially when equipped with flexible systems like those offered by MAXIM.
A: Yes—with modular systems like MAXIM's customizable lines starting from 1 ton/hour capacity—you can scale up as demand grows without over-investing upfront capital.
A: Because we offer independently developed components exceeding industry standards, complete lifecycle support services—including training—and proven expertise across solid waste sectors beyond just batteries.
Starting a Recycling Line: What You Need to Know Key Considerations Before Setting Up Prior to starting a metal recycling production line, various basic elements must be checked. These cover the kinds of items to be handled, predicted output, Eco rules, and open area. It’s also key to review if the work will center on ferrous, excerpt …
