It will be one of the first aluminium recycling plants combining three advanced technologies at a single location: state-of-the-art scrap sorting, high-efficiency rotary melting furnace systems, and an integrated salt slag breakdown process. This combination creates a highly efficient, low-emission plant that operates on a near-zero waste basis.

State-of-the-art sorting and EGA Leichtmetall's decades of processing expertise make it possible, for the first time, to convert post-consumer scrap into high-quality aluminium products meeting the strictest specifications for industries such as aerospace, defence, and automotive.

Both sites will be jointly managed with strategic synergies. The existing Hanover location remains a central part of EGA Leichtmetall, while the new location complements it technologically and enables us to further reduce the carbon footprint of our existing product portfolio.

The project will create approximately 200 long-term jobs, plus multiple temporary jobs during the construction phase. We plan to collaborate with local partners, including schools and universities, to develop skilled workers and also offer apprenticeships.

Most of the construction jobs will be with contractors and subcontractors, creating opportunities for local workers and businesses. We will encourage contractors to hire locally whenever possible.

Hiring for operational roles for the plant will begin ahead of the plant opening. We expect to publish the first job openings in the course of 2027 in the careers section of our website. Roles will span production, operations, and administration. On the production side, we are particularly looking for skills in shift supervision, metal handling, machine operation, and maintenance. We will prioritise hiring local people and look forward to connecting with qualified applicants from the community when opportunities become available.

We are aware that a construction project of this scale has an impact on the local area and we take that responsibility seriously.

Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2026 and will take approximately two years. During this period, typical construction activities such as transport, earthworks, and installation will occur on site. We are working closely with the GreenTec Park Steyerberg, the local municipality, and relevant authorities to manage construction impacts as thoroughly as possible and to enable transparent, ongoing communication with residents and local stakeholders throughout the entire process.

Once operational, production will take place entirely within fully enclosed halls. This keeps noise and external emissions to a minimum and ensures stable conditions inside the plant.

We will continue updating the Answers Center as new information and project updates become available. During the construction phase, we plan to offer dialogue formats in and around Steyerberg – for anyone who wants to learn more about the project, ask questions, or simply get to know us. 

If you have a question right now that is not covered here, feel free to reach out to us directly via our contact form.

The new plant will bring tangible economic benefits to the region, including around 200 direct jobs and additional indirect employment through local service providers and contractors. We also plan to collaborate with local partners, including schools and training providers, to help develop skilled workers and offer apprenticeships. In doing so, we aim to strengthen local value creation and build a long-term, reliable presence in the Steyerberg area.

We want to be a reliable neighbour, a partner to local businesses, and an active part of the community.

In the short term, the project enables early investment in infrastructure and community improvements through future tax revenues. Over the long term, the project is expected to generate substantial new tax revenues for local and state governments through property, sales, income, and other taxes.

Our integrated salt slag breakdown process uses a dry, thermal method that differs fundamentally from conventional wet-chemical approaches. During aluminium recycling, salt removes impurities from scrap as it melts. In traditional systems, the salt with attached impurities (salt slag) becomes hazardous waste often sent to landfills.

At the new site, salt is recovered at nearly 100 per cent and reused repeatedly in the process. The only remaining waste is clean aluminium hydroxide, which can be used as an additive in the cement industry. The oxides produced are fully calcined and passivated, free from reactive components like chlorides and nitrides, making industrial reuse significantly easier.

Post-consumer scrap is aluminium that has already been used in end products such as cars or buildings and is recycled after the end product’s useful life ends. Unlike pre-consumer scrap (scrap generated in factories during production processes), post-consumer scrap is much more heterogeneous and technically demanding to process.

For the first time, EGA Leichtmetall will use advanced sorting technology to convert post-consumer scrap into specialised products meeting the strictest specifications for demanding industries like aerospace, defence, and automotive. This unlocks opportunities for industries with exacting requirements to use metal that is partly or entirely from post-consumer scrap.

The closed-loop approach describes a comprehensive recycling and value creation process where input materials and auxiliary substances are kept in the production process. In Steyerberg, aluminium scrap will be precisely processed using modern sorting technologies and converted into high-quality feedstock. Salt used in recycling will be recovered and reused in the process, leaving only minimal residual materials.

This approach extends beyond this plant: feedstock produced in Steyerberg can be further processed at our existing Hanover location, where it flows into production and is cast into billets or blended with other materials.

Our furnace technologies are highly energy-efficient on two levels. First, we achieve high metal recovery with minimal loss, maximising usable yield. Second, we reduce specific energy consumption per tonne through high-efficiency burner systems and recuperators. Exhaust heat is recovered and fed back into the process, lowering fuel consumption, maintaining stable process temperatures, and reducing emissions.

EGA Leichtmetall is committed to the highest environmental and social standards. The new plant in Steyerberg will pursue the following certifications:

• ISO 50001 – Energy Management

• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management

• ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard – confirming strict environmental, social, and governance criteria across the entire value chain.