Jacomij Metalen and Jacomij Electronics Recycling (JM) form Jacob Metal Group’s Netherlands-based division. What started in 1969 as a small trading office is today a modern and innovative EUR 50 million plus recycling enterprise with operations covering a total of 70 000 m2.

In November 2019, Jacomij Metalen celebrated its 50th anniversary with a party evening in the grounds of
Jacomij’s e-scrap facility. Guests were flown in from all over the world. ‘It was a fantastic celebration, at a time we could still safely hug each other,’ says JM’s managing director Erik van den Heuvel. ‘You cannot imagine a bigger contrast to the events the world was confronted with just a few months later.’

In March 2020, JM too came to a standstill because of the Coronavirus outbreak but not for long, recalls Van den Heuvel. ‘Borders closed and we could no longer travel but, thanks to recycling being an essential sector, we were lucky to continue operations and business the best we could. We never gave up. In fact, demand was there and scrap prices were on the rise. Even so, during the peak of coronavirus we saw turnover drop due to logistic problems.’

MORE TRANSPARENCY

With or without the pandemic, over the years the metal scrap business has seen major changes, Van den Heuvel observes. ‘It has all become very much globalised and transparent for all parties involved – from scrap suppliers to end-users. Recyclers are also increasingly challenged by the fact that market changes come at a higher speed and sometimes unexpectedly, as we’ve seen once more with the Ukraine war.’

Scrap trade limitations in Asia have forced recyclers such as Jacomij to focus yet further on processing,
according to Van den Heuvel. ‘With scrap quality becoming more and more important, optimisation of sorting processes has been and will be our top priority,’ he maintains. ‘By developing and using cleaner and smarter technology in our processes, we ultimately improve the quality of our materials.’

A TRUE SPECIALIST

Jacomij specialises in recovering a vast range of non-ferrous base metals like copper, nickel, zinc, and tin, in form of solid scrap and/or residues, ashes, runouts and liquids. But the main focus is on the so-called minor metals and alloys, such as: tantalium, niobium, tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, zirconium, titanium, etc.

Furthermore, all precious metals like Au, Ag, Pd, Pt and rodium are handled in pure form or in all sorts
sourced from chemical and automotive catalysts. Jacomij has all the knowledge and the first-class storage, analysis and shredding facilities required for efficient and high-grade recycling of non-ferrous materials, fully geared to the specific requirements of the customer.

With the aid of advanced equipment, well-trained staff and expert partners, materials are sorted, manually
checked, and processed quickly and competently. The Jacomij e-scrap recycling facility handles all kinds of electronic products and components such as circuit boards and telecom equipment.

The facility features a quay with direct access to the Amsterdam-Rijn Canal, a major waterway connecting the River Rhine with the Port of Amsterdam. This enables the company to ship materials directly to the major Dutch sea ports as well as to Germany’s industrial heartland of the Ruhr.

This article is part of a company profile. Read the full feature here >>