Automation engineer Cosmin Florea, a member of the UZINEX team, joined TLM Regional as a guest on the 28 May 2026 edition of “Invitatul Știrilor Regionale”. The television interview focused on a question that must be addressed when energy storage capacity is planned: what happens to batteries at the end of their service life.
Energy storage and recycling must be planned together
Cosmin Florea explained that rapid growth in energy storage needs matching infrastructure for collection, treatment and material recovery. A used battery is more than waste. It is a technical object that may retain electrical energy, present a thermal risk and contain materials that can return to industrial use.
Copper, aluminium, ferrous fractions and plastics can be separated mechanically. The most technologically important fraction is black mass, the material obtained after shredding and separation. Depending on battery chemistry, it may contain graphite, lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt.
The stages of an industrial battery recycling line
The process begins with battery identification and sorting by chemistry and condition. Controlled discharge of residual energy, module dismantling and preparation for mechanical processing follow.
- Collection and sorting: separating material streams to prevent incompatible chemistries from being mixed.
- Discharge and dismantling: reducing electrical risk and providing controlled access to modules and cells.
- Shredding in an inert atmosphere: limiting contact between reactive material and oxygen, reducing fire risk.
- Drying and separation: controlled removal of volatile compounds and separation of metal, plastic and active fractions.
- Black mass production: preparing the material for subsequent refining and recovery stages.
Safety is not an optional function
Damaged batteries or cells with residual charge can cause fires, explosions and hazardous gas emissions. Recycling lines must therefore be engineered as complete systems with controlled atmosphere, monitoring, extraction, filtration and clear response procedures. Treating one machine separately from the complete process can create operational vulnerabilities.
The TLM Regional discussion also covered vacuum drying, which removes electrolytes under controlled conditions and at lower temperatures. The intended result is improved energy efficiency and a more stable black mass for downstream processing.
Automation must make economic sense
A line can operate with a small number of personnel, mainly for handling, supervision and controlled intervention. The level of automation must still match real throughput, battery type and the recovery target. Maximum automation is not automatically the optimal solution. The right configuration keeps safety, traceability and cost per tonne at a sustainable level.
UZINEX is now a distributor for URSTAG RECYCLING SYSTEMS
Alongside the topic discussed on television, UZINEX announces that it has become a distributor for URSTAG RECYCLING SYSTEMS. The portfolio covers solutions for sorting, shredding, separation and valuable material recovery, including configurations dedicated to battery recycling.
UZINEX turns a process requirement into an integrated technical configuration: initial assessment, sizing, quotation, delivery, installation, commissioning, training and service. Each project is evaluated according to feedstock, required throughput, site conditions and the quality targets for recovered fractions.
From public discussion to applied industrial projects
Cosmin Florea's participation as a guest on TLM Regional opens a necessary conversation among energy operators, collectors, recyclers, industry and public authorities. Storage and recycling capacity need to advance together, with equal attention to safety, automation and material recovery.
Discuss your application with a UZINEX engineer
For an initial assessment, share the battery type, expected throughput, discharge condition and the material fractions you need to recover.