Becker Aluminum-Service partners with RESOUREX to make aluminum ‘greener’
Becker Aluminum-Service GmbH is advancing sustainability in aluminum recycling by launching two innovative services: the Upcycling Marketplace and LOOP Back Service, which will be presented at the ALUMINIUM Düsseldorf trade show from October 8-10, 2024.
As a subsidiary of Klöckner & Co SE, Becker Aluminum is a leader in metal product distribution and is addressing the environmental challenges of aluminum production. The company is launching these two initiatives to fill a gap in aluminum recycling processes:
Upcycling Marketplace: Developed with RESOUREX®, this digital marketplace enables the buying and selling of aluminum scrap in real-time. It provides a more efficient, cost-effective way for industries like automotive and construction to repurpose aluminum products, thereby reducing waste and CO2 emissions. This platform allows customers to achieve higher selling prices for scrap and purchase aluminum products at lower costs.
LOOP Back Service: This service turns conventional aluminum scrap into high-quality, ‘ready to cast’ material, helping customers increase their recycling content. Aimed at companies producing up to 100 tons of scrap annually, LOOP Back enables direct recycling with foundries, offering economic and environmental benefits, while supporting clients in reducing carbon emissions.
These solutions align with the global sustainability goals of the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI), which recently accepted Becker Aluminum as a full member.
Becker’s innovations highlight its commitment to sustainability and industry leadership in aluminum recycling, setting new standards for environmental responsibility.
Subsidiary of Klöckner & Co SE, Becker Aluminum-Service GmbH is a key player in the flat steel sector and a pioneer in sustainable practices, offering a wide range of top-quality metal products. RESOUREX® is Europe’s first online trading platform for metals, providing real-time digital transactions and AI-powered market insights to enhance trading efficiency.
Germany’s Klöckner increases metal product shipments 8% on year in H1 2024
Steel and metal product shipments by Germany’s Klöckner & Co. increased 8.1% year on year to 2.3 million mt in the first half of 2024, the company said Aug. 1.
Acquisitions in H2 2023, particularly of New Jersey-based Amerinox Processing, helped boost its shipments in the US and Mexico, the steel and metals processor and distributor said in second-quarter earnings.
Second-quarter metals shipments rose to 1.2 million mt, up 11.5% from the first quarter and up 3.7% year on year.
However, sales slipped 2.6% year on year to Eur3.5 billion ($3.78 billion) in the first half of 2024 due to lower prices. This contributed to EBITDA falling 37% to Eur83 million. The company expects its full year EBITDA to be Eur120 million, down from Eur180 million in 2023, saying earnings in the prior-year comparative periods benefited from a more favorable market environment.
Demand has been weaker than expected in 2024, especially in Europe, the company said. Klöckner expects the Amerinox acquisition to drive a slight increase in shipments for full-year 2024 but sees sales falling year on year due to lower steel prices.
“Despite a challenging environment, we achieved a solid result and made further progress in implementing our strategy,” CEO Guido Kerkhoff said in a statement. “With the acquisition of Amerinox Processing in North America, we further expanded our range of higher value-added products and services.”
Amerinox processes stainless steel, aluminum and special carbon steel. Klöckner said it aims to use Amerinox’s favorable location at the major port of Camden to build competitive, global supply chains. In March 2024, the company disposed of parts of its European distribution business.
