Unique recycling project underway in Kouvola, Finland involving retired crane dismantling

A unique recycling project is currently underway in Kouvola, Finland, involving a high crane used for loading ships, which stands at nearly 40 meters tall. This crane, now retired, is being dismantled and repurposed at a metal recycling company, Kymen Tarvemetalli Oy. The project is notable as the dismantling of such large cranes is quite rare in Finland, according to industry experts.

The crane’s components arrived from the Hietanen port in Kotka, a journey of approximately 70 kilometers that took a workday to complete. Timo Hovi, the procurement manager of the company, shared insights on the forthcoming steps for recycling the crane steel, showcasing the initial phase of dismantling in a video presentation.

The Finnish metal industry relies heavily on recycled materials, with some plants using as much as 97% recycled metal as raw material. While larger industrial items like cranes are uncommon in recycling yards, more standard items such as cars, lawnmowers, and steel poles are frequent visitors.

Hanna Kokko-Kallio, from the Finnish Scrap Dealers’ Association, emphasized that the dismantling of cranes doesn’t happen often in a country of Finland’s size, but when it does, it generates significant work for local businesses. The scrap metal industry thrives on the closure of factories and other industrial sites, which often contain valuable metals.

Kymen Tarvemetalli is now rapidly slicing the crane into smaller sections. Once the dismantling team begins, the transformation into manageable pieces occurs swiftly, reflecting the efficiency inherent in the recycling sector. The total annual revenue of member companies within the Finnish Scrap Dealers’ Association is approximately €1.5 billion.