Speira Unveils €40M Aluminum Recycling Furnace in Germany, Backed by Red Bull

Speira has launched a newly commissioned aluminum recycling furnace at its Rheinwerk site in Grevenbroich, Germany, marking the completion of a EUR 40 million (USD 44.75 million) investment. This initiative is designed to enhance the production of recycled aluminum specifically for beverage cans. With an annual capacity of approximately 60,000 tonnes, the facility underscores the increasing significance of circular materials in the beverage industry, as highlighted by Red Bull's use of cans made from Speira's recycled aluminum.

This development represents a significant step in transforming a site traditionally linked with primary aluminum production into a hub for the circular aluminum economy.

Speira Unveils Eco-Friendly Recycling Expansion

The investment includes the installation of a new furnace, the enhancement of the third of four casting lines at Rheinwerk for recycled alloys, and the expansion of storage capacity to accommodate 6,500 tonnes of aluminum can scrap. This storage area, located in the former aluminum smelter’s 300-meter-long halls, is equipped with facilities for receiving and sampling incoming scrap. Moreover, the furnace is ready for future integration with the hydrogen grid once it becomes available at Rheinwerk.

The inauguration on October 9, 2026, was attended by Mona Neubaur, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Economic Affairs, alongside Rhein-Kreis Neuss District Administrator Katharina Reinhold and Neuss Mayor Reiner Breuer. The event, marking the launch of the new facilities, also featured Red Bull in attendance and included a BMX show.

Mona Neubaur highlighted the industry's drive to maintain “valuable raw materials in circularity,” emphasizing that such practices not only improve sustainability but also offer a competitive edge and resilience during crises. She noted that Speira’s low-CO₂ aluminum, already used in beverage cans and automotive body components globally, plays a crucial role in sustaining industrial value creation and jobs. Speira CEO Einar Glomnes remarked that these new facilities will enable the company to circulate more aluminum and supply customers with increased recycled materials, noting that aluminum recycling demands approximately 95 percent less energy than primary production.

Speira's Circular Economy Boosts Aluminum Growth

Speira’s recycled aluminum business is experiencing rapid growth in the beverage-can sector, with the demand for circular can material fueling the expansion of the Rheinwerk facility. Alexander Kirchmayr, a board member and CFO at Red Bull, highlighted the strong partnership between Speira and Red Bull, founded on their mutual dedication to sustainable business practices and the circular economy as a cornerstone for enduring success. He extended his congratulations to Speira on the opening of their new furnace and expressed his best wishes for the project's success. Boris Kurth, who leads Speira’s Can Business Unit, emphasized that this investment marks a significant milestone in a transformation journey that started a decade ago. He explained that the completion of the 40-million-euro investment signifies a pivotal point in this transformation, illustrating the successful integration of aluminum production within the circular economy.

According to Boris Kurth, Head of Speira’s Can Business Unit, the investment represented a key milestone in a transformation that began a decade ago. “With the completion of the 40-million-euro investment, we are now reaching a decisive milestone in this transformation and demonstrating how Aluminium production and the circular economy can be successfully combined,” he said.

Speira Boosts Aluminium Recycling Capacity

The increased capacity will enable Speira to transform more scrap into high-quality aluminium products, thereby decreasing reliance on energy-intensive primary raw materials and reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions throughout the value chain. Reinhold emphasized that this development is a crucial signal for bolstering the district’s industrial foundation. She noted that investment and demand for recycled products would help secure numerous industrial jobs in the local aluminium industry for the long run. She also underscored the combination of economic competitiveness with environmental protection. Echoing this sentiment, Neuss Mayor Reiner Breuer stated that the expansion in recycling capabilities would strengthen the city as a hub for business and employment.

Since secondary aluminium requires considerably less energy, he mentioned it could also aid in climate protection efforts. With the new facilities now in operation, Rheinwerk, Germany, is poised to take on a larger role in Europe’s circular aluminium supply chain. This includes activities from scrap collection and analysis to remelting and processing. The increased capacity aims to keep more aluminium in circulation, reduce dependency on imported raw materials, and minimize the loss of aluminium scrap through exports to other regions.