Green Manufacturing: Waste Steel Recycling Technology Drives Sustainable Development in the Cast Iron Industry

Content Highlights:
A foundry company in Jiangsu Province has introduced ​AI sorting robots and ​high-temperature smelting technology to transform industrial waste steel, iron filings, and other recycled materials into high-quality cast iron raw materials.

• ​Carbon reduction: Achieved a ​40% lower carbon emission compared to traditional processes, with ​15% cost savings per ton of castings.

Industry Significance:

• ​Policy alignment: Actively responds to China’s ​**”dual-carbon” goals** (carbon peak and carbon neutrality), accelerating the green transformation of the cast iron industry.
• ​Circular economy: Addresses the ​pain point of raw material shortages in the cast iron sector by enabling efficient recycling of metal waste, promoting sustainable resource utilization.

Data Support:

• ​Global metal waste status: Approximately ​1.2 billion tons of metal waste is generated annually worldwide, with ​over 30% contributed by cast iron scrap.
• ​China’s recycling progress:
  • Scrap steel recycling rate in China has risen from ​18% in 2015 to ​25% in 2023.
  • ​Comparison with developed nations: Still lags behind countries like Japan and Germany (over ​90% recycling rates).