BMW Group and Encory GmbH have officially brought a new Cell Recycling Competence Center (CRCC) online in Salching, Lower Bavaria. The site will employ an in-house direct recycling process designed to recover raw materials from battery cell production without relying on energy-intensive chemical or thermal methods.
The opening represents another key milestone in BMW’s battery cell strategy, with recovered materials earmarked for reuse in pilot cell production at the company’s Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf, creating a closed-loop system across BMW’s Bavarian operations.
Through direct recycling, leftover materials from battery cell manufacturing, including complete cells, can be mechanically dismantled and reintroduced directly into the production cycle. Once the facility reaches full operational capacity, the CRCC is expected to process battery cell material in the mid-double-digit tonne range each year.
The new centre spans roughly 2,100 square metres of production and warehouse space, complemented by an additional 350 square metres of office facilities. Encory, a 50/50 joint venture between BMW Group and Interzero Group, will be responsible for building and operating the facility, while BMW retains full ownership of the intellectual property behind the recycling technology.
Around 20 people will be employed at the site, and both construction and ongoing operations have been carried out almost entirely by German contractors, with nearly half located within 100 kilometres of Salching.
In a statement, Markus Fallböhmer, Senior Vice President of Battery Production at BMW, said: “Our direct recycling process puts us at the forefront of the industry. This technology has tremendous potential to further optimise battery cell production.”
