SNAM

What SNAM does

SNAM (Société Nouvelle d'Affinage des Métaux) is a French industrial battery recycling company founded in 1977, headquartered in Viviez (Aveyron) with a secondary plant in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (Isère). The company provides an end-to-end battery recycling platform spanning logistics (import-export consulting, packaging, collection, transport, storage) and treatment (sorting, mechanical processing, pyrometallurgy, and hydrometallurgy), recovering strategic metals (aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel), electronic components, plastics, and insulating materials from industrial, automotive, and portable batteries. SNAM is a subsidiary of Belgian holding company Floridienne Group and self-describes as "Europe's leading recycler" of industrial and automotive batteries, with authorization to process nickel cadmium since 1981 and ISO 14001 certification at both production sites.

The business serves two primary customer channels. First, it operates as a direct B2B service provider to major European automotive OEMs — Volkswagen (featured in its "Way to Zero" campaign), BMW, Toyota, Hyundai, Stellantis, Honda, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lexus, Kia, Suzuki, Seat, and Skoda — handling end-of-life, damaged, and warranty batteries. Second, it acts as a contracted processor for European eco-organizations (Corepile, Screlec, Ecopilas, Bebat, BatteriRetur, Ecobatterien) responsible for collection-and-recycling obligations. Revenue mechanics combine transaction-fee-based recycling services with sales of recovered metals and materials.

The company is currently in a capacity-expansion phase: a €12 million investment plan announced in October 2022 targets quadrupling lithium-ion processing capacity from 1,200 to an additional 5,000 tonnes, complemented by a new 1,344 m² secure storage platform (completed July 2024) and a dedicated EV/PHEV battery disassembly and discharge workshop (operational September 2024). Strategic intent is to capture the growing European EV end-of-life battery stream and expand service into Southern European markets (France, Spain, Italy, Portugal), supported by a leadership refresh in 2022 that placed former Voestalpine automotive executive Cornelius Fink as President of SNAM Groupe.

Name

SNAM

Legal name

SNAM, Société Nouvelle d'Affinage des Métaux

Website

https://snam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SNAM is a French industrial battery recycler founded in 1977, operating Europe's leading facility for collecting and recycling industrial, automotive, and portable batteries. It serves major automotive OEMs and European eco-organizations through integrated logistics, mechanical and pyrometallurgical treatment, and strategic metal recovery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery Recycling Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAMALAE

Battery Recycling & Materials Recovery (Li-ion, LFP, Flow, Lead-Acid)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/End-of-Life, Recycling & Decommissioning (Panels, Blades, Batteries)

SECONDARYEUAIAIAF

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

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/E-waste & Battery Recycling

SECONDARYEUAFACAD

Hydrometallurgical Recycling & Refining (Leaching, Solvent Extraction, Precipitation)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Storage & Grid Flexibility (Batteries, Hydrogen Storage, Demand Response)/Battery Recycling, Second-Life & Lifecycle Services

SECONDARYEUAIAIAH

Nickel-Based Battery Recycling (NiMH/NiCd Processing)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/E-waste & Battery Recycling

Keywords

• Battery recycling services
• Metal recovery
• Industrial waste logistics
• Pyrometallurgical processing
• EV battery dismantling

Headquarters

HQ city

Viviez

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Battery Collection and Recycling Services: SNAM charges for the collection, transport, and recycling of industrial and automotive batteries. Services include consulting for import-export of industrial waste, packaging solutions, collection, transportation, storage, and treatment.
2. Recovered Metals and Materials Sales: SNAM recovers and sells strategic metals including aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, electronic components, plastics, and insulating materials (vermiculite) from recycled batteries. Metals are recognized as strategic by the Committee for Strategic Metals (COMES).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SNAM collects, transports, and recycles industrial, automotive (including EV, PHEV, and hybrid), and portable batteries across Europe, performing sorting, dismantling, and mechanical, pyrometallurgical, and hydrometallurgical treatment. The process yields recovered strategic metals (aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel) and secondary materials (plastics, electronic components, insulating materials/vermiculite) that are resold into industrial supply chains. The company also provides import-export consulting for industrial waste and distributes specialized packaging for damaged batteries.

Product overview

SNAM (Société Nouvelle d'Affinage des Métaux) is a French battery recycling company founded in 1977, operating as the historical entity of SNAM Groupe. The company offers an integrated service platform combining logistics (consulting, packaging, collection, transportation, storage) with treatment capabilities (sorting, mechanical, pyrometallurgical, and hydrometallurgical processing) to collect and recycle industrial, automotive, and portable batteries across Europe. The recycling process yields strategic metals including aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, and nickel, as well as electronic components, plastics, and insulating materials. Recent expansions include a new EV/PHEV battery disassembly workshop and additional storage capacity to meet growing lithium-ion battery recycling demand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Battery Collection and Logistics Services End-to-end battery collection service including import-export consulting for industrial waste, specialized packaging solutions (official distributor of Gelkoh), pickup from collection points across Europe, transport to sorting centers and processing facilities, and storage of batteries awaiting treatment. Designed for automotive OEMs, eco-organizations, battery manufacturers, and industrial clients.
• Battery Treatment Services Comprehensive battery treatment service covering sorting and pre-treatment (by typology and electrochemical group: Alkaline, Saline, Lithium primary; NiCd, NiMH, Li-ion rechargeable), mechanical processing (density and magnetism grinding), pyrometallurgical processing (thermolysis, distillation, refining), and hydrometallurgical processing at industrial pilot scale. Available to automotive OEMs, eco-organizations, and industrial clients across Europe.
• Recovered Metals (Aluminium, Cadmium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Nickel) Recovered strategic metals sold as outputs of the recycling process: aluminium (metal and chip forms), cadmium (ingot form), cobalt (powder form), copper, iron, and nickel. Sold to industrial buyers and recognized by the Committee for Strategic Metals (COMES).
• Recovered Secondary Materials (Electronic Components, Plastics, Insulating Materials) Recovered secondary materials sold as outputs of the recycling process: electronic waste (WEEE) and electronic circuit boards, plastics (Polypropylene, Polyamide, Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride), and insulating materials (vermiculite and other insulating components). Sold to industrial buyers for reuse in manufacturing.
• Industrial Waste Import-Export Consulting Expert guidance on European regulations governing the import and export of industrial waste, including support for administrative documents and notifications. Targeted at industrial clients and eco-organizations moving battery and hazardous waste across European borders.
• Specialized Battery Packaging Solutions Official distribution of Gelkoh specialized packaging and transport solutions designed for damaged batteries. Provided as part of collection and logistics services to automotive OEMs, eco-organizations, and industrial clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recycling effectiveness up to 100% for treated batteries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Volkswagen GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor automotive partner featured in Volkswagen's 'Way to Zero' campaign for carbon neutrality by 2050. SNAM recycles batteries for Volkswagen vehicles as part of their sustainability program.
• BMW GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement for recycling of high-voltage industrial batteries from hybrid and electric BMW vehicles.
• HyundaicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in Hyundai's 'Local Inspirations' program episode showcasing SNAM's battery recycling operations for electric vehicles.
• ToyotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for collection of end-of-life batteries from Toyota and Lexus vehicles across Europe.
• HondacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for recycling of batteries from hybrid and electric Honda vehicles.
• StellantiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for end-of-life battery collection and recycling in Europe.
• PorschecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBattery recycling partnership for Porsche electric vehicles.
• CorepilecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench eco-organization managing battery collection and recycling. SNAM provides sorting and recycling services.
• ScreleccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench eco-organization partner for battery recycling services.
• BebatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelgian battery collection and recycling organization; SNAM provides processing services.
• ADEMEminorOthersFrench Environment and Energy Management Agency; institutional partner supporting environmental initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Northvolt: Swedish battery manufacturer with an integrated battery recycling arm (Revolt) targeting European EV OEMs — overlaps SNAM on automotive customer base and on hydrometallurgical recycling, though at much larger intended scale.
• Duesenfeld: German specialist recycler using a low-temperature direct recycling process for lithium-ion batteries — competes with SNAM in European EV battery recycling with an alternative but comparable technology approach for the same end-customers.
• Li-Cycle: Canada-headquartered lithium-ion battery resource recovery company operating Spoke & Hub networks that mechanically and hydrometallurgically process Li-ion batteries — closely overlaps SNAM's core Li-ion recycling processes and automotive feedstock strategy.
• Redwood Materials: US-based, well-capitalized EV battery recycler founded by a Tesla co-founder, focused on end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery materials for North American OEMs — comparable business model targeting the same automotive end-market SNAM serves, but at larger scale and different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia: French-headquartered global waste management and environmental services group with battery and WEEE collection and processing capabilities — comparable on the collection/logistics and hazardous-waste handling side of SNAM's offering, though as part of a far broader portfolio.
• Eramet: French mining and metallurgical group developing European battery-grade nickel and lithium refining capacity, including recycling partnerships — directly relevant as a French incumbent scaling into battery materials refining comparable to SNAM's strategic metal recovery.
• Fortum: Finnish energy group operating a commercial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility via hydrometallurgy, with Nordic automotive and industrial customers — directly comparable recycling process and European customer base to SNAM.
• Glencore: Global commodities and mining major with cobalt, nickel and battery recycling operations — comparable as a broad incumbent player recovering the same strategic metals SNAM targets, but as part of a much larger diversified portfolio.
• BASF: German chemical company with a battery materials and black-mass processing business serving European cell makers and OEMs — comparable as a broad incumbent in battery materials recovery rather than a dedicated recycling specialist like SNAM.

Direct peers

• Umicore: Belgium-based global materials technology and recycling group with a dedicated battery materials and battery recycling business that recovers cobalt, nickel and lithium from end-of-life batteries — directly comparable to SNAM's hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical flows and European footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 SNAM