Schrott Wetzel: First CO2-neutral scrap yard
As one of Germany's largest scrap dealers, Schrott Wetzel has been setting standards in the industry for decades – not only in terms of handling capacity but also in terms of sustainability. At its Mannheim site, the company’s largest location, another milestone has been reached: As Germany’s first carbon-neutral scrap yard, the company underscores its commitment to environmentally friendly operations. A key element of this strategy: the SENNEBOGEN EQ-Balancer, in operation since May 2023.
Since the 1950s, the Schrott Wetzel name has stood for large-scale metal recycling. With multiple locations in Germany and Switzerland – all featuring trimodal access by rail, road, and ship – the company exports scrap metal for steel production to the deep-sea market, including Turkey and other Far Eastern countries. At its strategically important site in Mannheim, with direct access to the Rhine River, the company has pursued its climate-friendly goals with particular determination.
Climate-neutral scrap yard
By investing in a 2.4-megawatt photovoltaic system, the site covers around 80% of its electricity needs. The remaining 20% is supplied by certified green energy. This enables fully emissions-free operations – and the EQ-Balancer fits perfectly into this concept.
Endurance runner: 4,700 operating hours in two years
Since May 2023, the electrically powered EQ-Balancer has strengthened Schrott Wetzel’s existing SENNEBOGEN fleet – which also includes two 875 E models, one 855 E, and four 835 G material handlers.
With 4,700 operating hours in just under two years, the machine has proven both its value and reliability. A key factor in maintaining this high availability is SENNEBOGEN’s sales and service partner, Schlüter Baumaschinen.
Two machines replaced
The stationary EQ-Balancer handles wagon loading, feeds the scrap shear, and manages incoming material – tasks that previously required two separate machines. Its impressive 32-meter reach also brings significant advantages for scrap storage, increasing efficiency within the site’s limited space:
"The machine has a big reach thanks to its equipment, we can now stack scrap much higher"
Only 75 kWh energy consumption
The EQ-Balancer’s design ensures that each movement of the machine is mechanically counterbalanced by a directly linked counterweight in the rear.
As a result, far less energy is needed to drive its operations. Despite its long boom and demanding workload in scrap handling, the EQ-Balancer consumes just around 75 kWh of energy per hour.
“The new SENNEBOGEN machines have been one of the best investments we’ve made in recent years. The EQ-Balancer delivers an impressive handling rate with extremely low operating costs. Its long reach allows it to feed the scrap shear and load the processed material behind it – a job that previously required two machines”, says Tino Wetzel, third-generation owner of Schrott Wetzel GmbH.
Machine in use
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