What Accurec does

Accurec Recycling GmbH is a privately held German battery recycling company founded in 1995, headquartered in Krefeld with a second plant in Mülheim an der Ruhr. The company processes nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and lithium-ion batteries through a vertically integrated service chain that includes collection, sorting, disassembly, packaging, transportation, and material recovery. Accurec is a leading player in the European battery recycling market, operating Europe's first industrial-scale lithium recovery facility, with disclosed annual processing capacity of 60,000 tons at Krefeld (Li-ion) and 4,000 tons at Mülheim (NiCd/NiMH), and collecting over 3,000 tons of industrial and consumer batteries annually across Germany.

The company's technology stack rests on five proprietary, patented processes: vacuum distillation for NiCd and NiMH (achieving 99.95% cadmium purity and emissions below 0.001 g/h), the EcoBatRec process for Li-ion pretreatment in cooperation with RWTH Aachen, the HydroLiC hydrometallurgical process for lithium carbonate recovery at approximately 99% purity, the CLIMA energy-efficient lithium recovery technology with over 95% yield (grand-opened December 2025), and the EARLI thermochemical/electrochemical process to produce lithium hydroxide monohydrate. Patents have been granted by the European Patent Office (2021) and the US Patent and Trademark Office (2023). Accurec's business model is industrial B2B service revenue from processing fees, serving European National Collection and Recycling Organizations, battery manufacturers (Varta, CATL, LG, Panasonic, Northvolt), automotive OEMs (BMW, VW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota), and waste management companies (REMONDIS, ECOBAT). The company is led by founder/Managing Director Dr. Reiner Sojka with no disclosed external investors or parent company, and disclosed revenue of approximately €20 million in 2022 with 80 employees.

Name

Accurec

Legal name

ACCUREC-Recycling GmbH

Website

https://accurec.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Accurec Recycling GmbH is a privately held German battery recycling company founded in 1995 that processes NiCd, NiMH, and lithium-ion batteries using patented proprietary technologies, serving European NCROs, battery manufacturers, and automotive OEMs from facilities in Krefeld and Mülheim.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery Recycling Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

SIC

Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

Lithium-ion Battery Recycling (Mechanical, Hydro, Direct Recycling) (EUAIAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nickel-Based Battery Recycling (NiMH/NiCd Processing) (EUAIAIAH), Battery Materials Refining & Re-Manufacturing Feedstocks (Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Graphite Salts) (EUAIAIAJ), Battery Scrap & Recycling Feedstock (Lead-Acid, Li-ion Black Mass Feedstock, NiMH) (IMAKAMAH), Precious & Specialty Metal Recovery (Smelting, Refining, Hydrometallurgy) (EUAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Battery recycling services
• Lithium-ion recycling
• Critical raw material recovery
• Circular economy solutions
• Hazardous waste processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Krefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Battery Recycling Services: Processing fees for recycling NiCd, NiMH, and Lithium-ion batteries. Services include collection, sorting, disassembly, and material recovery. Revenue derived from processing tonnage and material recovery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Accurec Recycling GmbH is a German battery recycling company that operates two production facilities (Krefeld and Mülheim an der Ruhr) to collect, sort, disassemble, and recycle Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The company recovers critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium using proprietary technologies including vacuum distillation, EcoBatRec, HydroLiC, and CLIMA processes, and serves European National Collection and Recycling Organizations, battery manufacturers, and automotive OEMs.

Product overview

Accurec Recycling GmbH is a German battery recycling company operating two facilities (Krefeld and Mülheim) with a comprehensive portfolio of recycling services and proprietary technologies. The company offers end-to-end battery lifecycle management including collection, sorting, disassembly, packaging, transportation, and recycling services for NiCd, NiMH, and Lithium-ion batteries. Key proprietary technologies include the CLIMA/HydroLiC technology for high-yield lithium recovery (over 99%), the EcoBatRec process for Li-ion recycling, and vacuum distillation for NiCd/NiMH. The company has developed industrial-scale processes to recover critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium. Annual processing capacity reaches 60,000 tonnes at the Krefeld facility, with specialized expertise in handling hazardous materials and ensuring maximum safety standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NiCd Battery Recycling Vacuum distillation recycling service for nickel-cadmium batteries. Under high vacuum, cadmium is incrementally heated, converted to metal, and distilled to up to 99.95% purity with near-zero emissions. Targeted at industrial and consumer NiCd battery waste streams handled at the Mülheim facility.
• NiMH Battery Recycling Vacuum distillation recycling service for nickel-metal hydride batteries. Hydrogen is desorbed and used to reduce metal oxides while electrolyte and plastics are removed to yield purified NiFe scrap. Serves industrial and consumer NiMH waste streams at the Mülheim site.
• Lithium Battery Recycling Advanced recycling of lithium-ion batteries using proprietary EcoBatRec and CLIMA technologies to recover critical raw materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper, and aluminum. Targeted at end-of-life EV, e-mobility, and electronic device batteries processed at the Krefeld facility.
• Battery Collection Services Comprehensive collection services throughout Germany for industrial and consumer batteries, managing over 3,000 tons annually. Includes documentation of waste transport, Confirmation of Reclamation, and Certificate of Destruction. Serves battery manufacturers, NCROs, and waste management firms.
• Battery Sorting Services Expert manual sorting of mixed household and industrial batteries with precise differentiation of battery chemistries and sizes, achieving sorting quality up to 99.5%. Includes identification of poorly identifiable primary, secondary, and damaged batteries. Provided to NCROs, manufacturers, and waste management companies.
• Battery Disassembly Services Safe disassembly of complex battery packs from high-power applications including automotive high-voltage battery systems. Trained experts use semi-automated dismantling machines and disassembly lines. Serves automotive OEMs and battery manufacturers.
• Battery Packaging Services Packaging instructions and services for end-of-life batteries according to their hazard profiles. Provides standard collection bins, dangerous goods packagings with isolation material, and on-site dismantling and packaging for complex battery storage systems. Targeted at customers handling hazardous battery waste.
• Transportation Services Safe transport of batteries in accordance with ADR regulations. Provides decision-tree support for identifying correct minimum packaging requirements and special transportation provisions for lithium batteries. Serves manufacturers, NCROs, and waste management customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lithium recovery purity of 99%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CurrentacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2017Strategic partnership for thermal pretreatment of lithium batteries. Currenta operates rotary kilns for thermal treatment at temperatures below 600°C to safely open battery cells, pyrolyze organic components, and deactivate batteries before metal recycling at Accurec's Krefeld facility. Partnership includes cooperation for safe recycling of up to 15,000 tons of lithium batteries.
• EvonikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in EARLI project funded by German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection. Evonik partners with Accurec to develop industrial-scale process for lithium recovery as high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate using thermochemical treatment and electrochemical separation.
• Institute for Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling (IME), RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in EARLI project for developing lithium recovery processes. IME contributes expertise in metallurgical processes for battery material recovery.
• Öko-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in EARLI project providing lifecycle assessment and environmental analysis for lithium recycling processes.
• Ford (Electric Mobility Division)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in Mercator R&D project for improving battery recycling technology and expanding range of recoverable battery contents.
• SQM ChileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's second largest lithium producer and associated partner in Mercator project, supporting research into battery material recovery.
• Fundacion Tecnalia Research & InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coordinator of RHINOCEROS EU project for battery reuse and direct production of high-performance cathode and anode materials from recycling.
• TiamatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coordinator of NAIMA project for sodium-ion battery development. Accurec develops sustainable recycling process for Na-Ion batteries within the consortium.
• EU Commission (DG Grow, DERA)coreOthersEU and German government agencies visiting Accurec facilities to understand battery recycling market and discuss raw material policy. BMWK, DERA, and DG Grow visited in 2024.
• Joint Research Centre (JRC)coreOthersEuropean Commission's science and knowledge service visited Accurec in October 2022 to investigate battery recycling aspects for EU legislation development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Umicore: Belgian materials technology group operating one of Europe's largest battery materials and recycling businesses, including nickel, cobalt and lithium recovery. Overlaps with Accurec in hydrometallurgical recovery and EU-wide OEM supply, but at materially larger scale and broader product scope (precursors, cathodes).
• BASF Battery Recycling: Division of BASF processing end-of-life Li-ion batteries into black mass and precursor materials for cathode active material. A broader chemicals incumbent overlapping with Accurec in hydrometallurgical lithium, cobalt and nickel recovery, with deeper R&D and balance sheet.
• Glencore (Recycling): Global commodities and trading group operating extensive battery materials processing and recycling (including the Li-Cycle partnership). Relevant as a dominant buyer/recycler of black mass that competes for the same end markets Accurec serves for recovered nickel, cobalt and lithium.

Direct peers

• Northvolt (Revolt): Swedish battery maker whose Revolt division operates large-scale hydrometallurgical battery recycling. Competes with Accurec for European end-of-life EV battery feedstock, OEM partnerships, and EU-funded recycling capacity build-out; also a current Accurec customer, making it both competitor and partner.
• Hydrovolt: Joint venture between Norsk Hydro and Northvolt operating Europe's first large-scale EV battery recycling plant in Norway. Closely comparable to Accurec's Krefeld Li-ion line in terms of hydrometallurgical black-mass processing, EU OEM offtake, and regulatory-driven business model.
• Duesenfeld: Lower-Saxony-based Li-ion battery recycler using a low-temperature, vacuum-based process to produce black mass. Highly comparable German competitor with a similar technology-driven, mid-sized profile and direct overlap on EU cell maker and automotive offtake.
• Li-Cycle: North America-headquartered lithium-ion battery recycler with European hubs (Germany, UK, Norway) pursuing a hub-and-spoke model. Directly competes for European Li-ion feedstock and OEM commitments, but operates a different mechanical/spoke + hydrometallurgical hub architecture versus Accurec's integrated pyro- and hydrometallurgical chain.
• Redwood Materials: US-based EV battery recycler founded by a former Tesla CTO, recovering lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper from end-of-life cells and gigafactory scrap. Similar OEM-anchored business model and ambition to scale lithium recovery; competing for European OEM recycling alliances and EU grants.
• Fortum (Battery Recycling): Finnish energy company operating an industrial-scale Li-ion battery recycling hydrometallurgical plant with Basf; similar regulator-driven, EU-North footprint and OEM customer model targeting the same European automotive and cell-maker offtake pipeline.

Emerging players

• Cylib: Aachen-based Li-ion battery recycling startup originating from RWTH research (the same ecosystem that contributed to Accurec's EcoBatRec). Targets direct recycling and hydrometallurgical recovery; a younger, well-funded emerging competitor in the same German industrial corridor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accurec-recycling-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds12 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accurec