Danish copper mine increases capacity

31 July 2025 | ABB A/S

• Automation & Robotics
• Professional journals/Media

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Zirq Cables in Stenlille is increasing the recycling of copper, among other things – helped by circuit breakers, soft starters, frequency converters and other ABB products.

Copper shortages are considered a major challenge for the electrification of society. That is why they are now increasing the capacity of the local "copper mine" Zirq Cables in Stenlille, so that many more tons of valuable resources can be extracted from used cables.

For this purpose, production facilities and processes have been reviewed, trimmed and optimized. Among other things, AD Control from Slagelse has designed and built a comprehensive control system. This has been done in close collaboration with Zirq Cables' own development department and the company's long-time in-house electrician, Peter Nielsen from Nyrup Installation.

AD Control has supplied the control system for Zirq Cables' plant for the recycling of copper, aluminum and plastic from cable waste.

AD Control has supplied the control system for Zirq Cables' plant for the recycling of copper, aluminum and plastic from cable waste.
"It takes a lot of energy and powerful machines to crush, shred and separate cables into copper, aluminium, plastic and residual fractions. At the same time, several specially developed solutions are included in the process. In other words, an exciting task," explains Director Peter Christensen from AD Control, who has supplied and programmed the control systems.

Saving on electricity
A significant wish from Zirq Cables was to optimise the process and increase capacity without exceeding the maximum power that their current supply can deliver.

"Using frequency converters and soft starters, very stable operation and gentle start-up of the large electric motors have been achieved. Combined with circuit breakers with built-in measurement and communication to the PLC, it is possible to continuously measure the power consumption and thus adjust the speed of the feeder belt. This avoids Zirq Cables having to invest in a new transformer station and increased connection charges," says Peter Christensen from AD Control.