Pursuit of Enhancing Global Waste Management and Recycling Sector by an Individual.
Cracking the Metal Game: Ejvind Pedersen's Odyssey
Ejvind Pedersen, a titan in the global resource industry, turns garbage into gold—and we're talking about high-quality metals here. Pedersen's audacious journey began when his father ventured to Africa in the 60s, a decision that kick-started a life of adventure and risk-taking. After a stint in school and back in Copenhagen, Pedersen joined a resource company with operations in South America. His daring exploits, which included building two aluminum smelters to melt used beverage cans, eventually led him back to Denmark.
A Vision Fueled by Failure
Horrified by the environmental devastation and exploitation he witnessed during his time abroad, Pedersen was determined to develop a better system for metal recovery and reusability. His mission: to reduce carbon footprints and minimize hazardous waste. However, his first attempt at this venture, a plant for melting cans in Denmark, went bankrupt in 1992 due to a glut in the metal market caused by the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Rising from the Ashes
Undeterred, Pedersen started anew in 2002, building the company Scanmetals as we know it today with just two employees. He refocused on non-ferrous metals, investing in cleaner material to gain higher value. With tenacity and belief in his ideas, he gradually climbed back to success. Even the 2008 financial crisis couldn't derail his progress, thanks to STEINERT's help in providing him with an x-ray sorting machine to produce clean aluminum products.
The Small Particles of Triumph
For years, no one believed in the potential of small particles in incineration bottom ash. But six years ago, Pedersen's team started producing 4 truckloads of aluminum daily. With industries eager for these resources, not having to source from primary mining can significantly improve their sustainability report. In Copenhagen's largest incinerator, about 20% of waste ends up as bottom ash, containing 2% metal. With advanced separation and sorting technology, this percentage can be boosted to 50-60%.
Closed-Loop Production with STEINERT
Pedersen's focus is on high-end aluminum and other precious metals. He invests in technology to remove and reduce free heavy metals and aluminum alloys, ensuring the highest quality products. The process begins with a non-ferrous metal separator for ZORBA-recovery, followed by an induction sorting system for stainless steel extraction.
Reducing Dependency on Primary Metals
STEINERT's XSS T produces almost 99.9% pure aluminum by sorting out heavy metals and high-alloyed aluminum. Meanwhile, the KSS FLI XF separates heavy metals into copper, brass, zinc, and precious metals with over 97% purity. These products are a hit with customers like aluminum smelters, who can produce beverage cans using almost 100% of Scanmetals' aluminum production.
Reliable as a German Car
Scanmetals relies on STEINERT for all its magnetic and sensor sorting solutions, making production more manageable and efficient. As Pedersen puts it, "It's like a German Audi for reliability and a Volkswagen for efficiency." Scanmetals' success hinges on delivering quality resources on time, ensuring minimal downtime thanks to STEINERT's dedicated service team.
The "EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2018" Winner
In 2018, Pedersen was awarded the prestigious "EY Entrepreneur of the Year" for his contributions to the industry, impressive business growth rates, innovative strength, and social commitment. Accepting the award, Pedersen eagerly sought investment for taking his ideas global and creating jobs that save resources.
With the backing of the Lego family shortly after his victory, Pedersen is now investing in new projects in Europe. Throughout his life, he has mastered seven languages and built a reputation as a cultured, worldly individual. His resilience, risk-taking, and drive make him a true marvel in the industry.
A Year to Build New Dreams
Scanmetals can set up and operate a new plant within a year of obtaining environmental approval. If you're interested in cooperation, reach out to Ejvind Pedersen at [email protected].
A Century of Pioneering Innovation
With a 130-year history, STEINERT is a leading company in sensor sorting and magnetic separation for the mining, scrap, and waste recycling industries. Boasting over 300 employees and an annual turnover of approximately €100 million, this family-owned business maintains subsidiaries in Germany, Australia, the USA, and Brazil, as well as over 50 sales partnerships and joint ventures worldwide.
- Ejvind Pedersen's audacious journey in the resource industry, which led him to build two aluminum smelters, was motivated by his concern for environmental devastation and the desire to develop a better system for metal recovery and reusability.
- Pedersen's first venture for metal recovery went bankrupt in 1992 due to a glut in the metal market caused by the fall of the Berlin Wall, but he started anew in 2002 and refocused on non-ferrous metals with Scanmetals.
- With tenacity and belief in his ideas, Pedersen successfully climbed back to success with Scanmetals, investing in technology like STEINERT's x-ray sorting machine for cleaner and more valuable materials.
- Today, Pedersen's team produces 4 truckloads of aluminum daily from incineration bottom ash, a resource that many industries are eager to use, helping to reduce their carbon footprints and improve their sustainability reports.
- Scanmetals relies on STEINERT for all its magnetic and sensor sorting solutions, ensuring reliable and efficient production, like a German Audi for reliability and a Volkswagen for efficiency.
- In 2018, Pedersen was awarded the prestigious "EY Entrepreneur of the Year" for his contributions to the industry, impressive business growth rates, innovative strength, and social commitment. With the backing of the Lego family, he is now investing in new projects in Europe, building on a century of pioneering innovation by STEINERT in sensor sorting and magnetic separation.
