Vitesco Technologies : Cooperation agreement with KYBURZ

• KYBURZ is a pioneer in direct battery recycling, Vitesco Technologies has decades of experience in industrialization
• It is the aim of the cooperation agreement to make battery recycling more economical, more efficient and therefore more sustainable
• Cost-covering battery recycling of increasing importance for Europe as an industrial location

Limbach-Oberfrohna, May 21, 2024. KYBURZ Switzerland AG, a pioneer in electromobility, and Vitesco Technologies, a leading international supplier of modern drive technologies and electrification solutions, have concluded a cooperation agreement for the Limbach-Oberfrohna site in order to jointly industrialize a recycling process for lithium-ion batteries developed by KYBURZ.

KYBURZ and Vitesco Technologies are thus joining forces and their expertise to bring the next generation of recycling systems for LFP batteries to market maturity. KYBURZ contributes its expertise and practical experience in battery recycling, while Vitesco Technologies has extensive expertise in (process) automation and production technology.

Lively exchange at the first joint workshop: KYBURZ is a pioneer of direct battery recycling, Vitesco Technologies contributes decades of experience in industrialization.
© KYBURZ

The increased use of low-cost battery chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate or the up-and-coming sodium ion technology poses new challenges for the established recycling industry. Only lower process costs will make it possible to recycle such inexpensive batteries at a cost-covering rate. The direct recycling process developed by KYBURZ allows for precisely that. Since 2020, KYBURZ is operating a first plant (LIBERTY) in productive use at its headquarters in Freienstein, Switzerland.

The direct recycling process developed by KYBURZ makes it possible to recycle inexpensive batteries at a cost-covering rate. Since 2020, the first "Liberty" plant has been in productive use as a pilot line at the company's headquarters in Freienstein, Switzerland.
© KYBURZ

It is the declared aim of the cooperation agreement to make battery recycling economical, efficient and sustainable. "At the same time, it offers attractive future prospects for the Limbach-Oberfrohna site, where series production of diesel injectors will be phased out by 2028," explains Plant and Site Manager Dr. Carsten Czenkusch. "With sustainable battery recycling, we are bringing a promising future technology to the site - naturally also with the aim of securing jobs in the long term."