Cradle to cradle: recycling at STAS

Tags:
Sustainable manufacturing Product Planet Recycling

At STAS, we care about the planet. So much that we’ve made it one of our 3 pillars in our company strategy: people, product, and planet. We believe in sharing the responsibility for future generations and aspire to create a green transport industry.

To be able to achieve this goal, we had to start small. We looked at how we produce our semi-trailers. We investigated the resources we’re using and quickly noticed we could supplement our high-quality aluminum with recycled materials. Why? Because aluminum can be recycled endlessly without any loss of quality and it’s also better for our planet.

More than 95% of the world's aluminium is recycled

Aluminium is very light, super strong, easy to process and has endless possibilities. This non-ferrous metal can be recycled endlessly without any loss of quality. After aluminium has been melted, it can be pressed into a new aluminium profile without loss of quality. We place high demands on our aluminium because STAS trailers are very durable. The smelter must guarantee the alloy of the recycled aluminium. The alloy is adjusted by adding 'new' primary aluminium after recycling.

To reduce our CO2 emissions, we chose to recycle all our aluminium. Research by the International Aluminium Institute has shown that more than 75% of the aluminium ever produced worldwide is still in use today. Recycling aluminum at the end of its life is the most efficient way to help reduce its carbon footprint.

Recycling aluminium: new life for end-of-life trailers

But how does it all work? Let's start at the beginning, or the end-of-life of a trailer. The last step in the life of an aluminum trailer is at the scrap trade in the neighborhood. There it will be completely processed into scrap in just 2 hours. The pieces of scrap left over from the walking floor trailer or tipper trailer are pushed by a large shredder, this machine can shred aluminium like a paper shredder.

The shredded scrap from the scrap trade is transported to a casthouse as follows. Hydro, one of our partners for this purpose, helps us optimise waste flows by converting scrap into high-quality aluminum products. During this second step, a scrap mix is collected for melting. The scrap mix consists of different alloys so that the required alloy of the end-product can be achieved. When the melted scrap is made into a shape (press piles / roll blocks), these are transferred to a press or extruder.

Once at the extruder, the press piles are brought to a type of press. The press piles, in technical jargon billets, are pressed through a mould at very high temperature. On the other side of this press, a new STAS aluminium profile comes out of the mould. 49% of the aluminium we use in a new STAS aluminium trailer has already completed a whole life cycle.

Thanks to these sustainable trailers, we ensure that you drive safer from A to B with an aluminium STAS trailer. An aluminium vehicle survives the crash test with a 5-star rating in terms of safety. As the weight of the trailer drops considerably, the fuel efficiency of your trailer increases. A lighter vehicle allows you to transport your bulk more efficiently.

Would you like more information about our aluminium trailers? Do not hesitate to have more info about these tipper trailers (Buildstar, Buildstar-X and the Agrostar) and walking floor trailers (Ecostar, Biostar, Farmstar) at your dealer or subscribe for our newsletter.

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