Primobius

Lithium-ion battery Recycling

Awarded for

Recycling plants for lithium-ion batteries that reduce the CO₂ footprint and close the battery cycle

Company

Primobius designs and builds advanced lithium‑ion battery recycling plants that set new benchmarks for innovation and sustainability. Headquartered in Hilchenbach, Germany, the company’s award‑winning technology recovers high‑purity materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, helping reduce the CO₂ footprint and close the battery cycle. Primobius is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMS group, a global leader in metallurgical plant engineering.

Primobius offers modular, end‑to‑end recycling solutions covering every process step from discharging and dismantling through mechanical separation to eco‑friendly hydrometallurgical refining. The company operates its own plant for research and development purposes, enabling continuous technology advancement. By supporting efficient material recovery, Primobius contributes to the development of a circular economy for batteries and helps reduce the environmental impact of electric mobility.

HOW THE INNOVATION WAS INVENTED

Primobius’ recycling technology was developed and is continuously improved through extensive research and testing. It began with laboratory‑scale work and progressed through pilot and demonstration phases to reach industrial scale. Primobius provides plant solutions for every process step of the battery recycling value chain, enabling the high‑purity recovery of valuable battery materials that can be reused in new lithium‑ion batteries. Leveraging SMS group’s global engineering expertise, Primobius plants are designed to maximize material recovery with minimal environmental impact while meeting the highest environmental and safety standards.

Benefit

Primobius creates strong ecological value by reducing battery waste, minimizing pollution, and recovering scarce battery raw materials. Economically, the company strengthens local supply chains, helps customers lower costs by reusing materials, and reduces reliance on volatile global mining markets. Socially, the company contributes to a safe working environment, drives innovation, and ensures compliance with the latest environmental regulations. By enabling circular battery production, Primobius supports the transition to clean energy and helps industries and governments meet climate goals and sustainability targets.