Last year, Redwood Materials, the battery materials recycling, refining and remanufacturing company founded by former Tesla exec JB Straubel, announced expansion plans in Europe to support creating a closed-loop battery supply chain. Europe continues to be the fastest growing EV market globally, driven by automakers’ commitments and strong government support to electrify. To support this demand and to further expand Redwood’s operations and commitment to the European market, Redwood has acquired Redux Recycling GmbH, a leading lithium-ion battery recycler.

Redux’s proprietary technology enables it to extract valuable materials from batteries, including cobalt, lithium, nickel, and manganese with a recovery rate greater than 95%, complementing the high percentage recovery Redwood has already achieved in the US.

This acquisition will provide Redwood with a well-established EU presence to expand operations quickly, increase capacity for battery recycling, and work closely with already-established suppliers, customers and industry partners across Europe.

The facility, located in Bremerhaven, on Germany’s North Sea coast, is equipped for 10,000 tonnes of annual processing capacity to recycle many form factors and lithium-ion battery chemistries. The facility is centrally located within Europe and near the Bremerhaven Port, one of the largest and most important import harbors for vehicles, allowing Redwood the ability to transport, recycle, and refine electric vehicle packs and batteries from across the European continent.

The Redux facility is equipped to recycle electric vehicle and E-bike batteries, stationary storage systems and consumer devices like cell phones, laptops, and power drills.

As part of this acquisition, Redwood also welcomes a team of about 70 experienced technical staff including chemical engineers, metallurgists, and material scientists to join its existing team in Europe. Their expertise in mechanical separation allows the recovery of high-purity metal concentrate, a critical input for battery materials production. Redwood’s technology includes advanced material recovery processes, such as hydrometallurgy, which complement Redux’s pre-treatment and mechanical separation capabilities.

In August, Redwood reported that it raised more than $1 billion in Series D shares. (Earlier post.)