Bulgarian lead-acid company Monbat said it plans to expand its used battery-processing services after taking a majority stake in Italian engineering company Science Technology & Consulting (STC).
Monbat said on 26 July it was acquiring a 67% share in STC— whose operations include implementing high-quality breaking and separation solutions in lead paste desulfurisation and crystallisation units in addition to lead smelting and refining technologies.
Atanas Bobokov (pictured), Monbat’s CEO and chairman, said the acquisition would see the battery maker introduce new services including electrolyte recovery, heavy and light plastics separation and recycling, hydrometallurgical conversion of lead paste in lead oxide, ultrapure lead oxide production and ultrapure lead oxide reduction at low temperatures.
“The acquisition expands Monbat’s recycling expertise and opens innovative horizons for Monbat and wider opportunities for future sustainability,” Bobokov added.
STC was founded in 2001 as a spin-off of a scientific and technological park by a group of young engineers. In addition to R&D activities, the company has designed and built more than 50 pilot and commercial lead reprocessing plants.
Monbat, which was established 20 years ago this year, recently signed a licensing rights agreement with US bipolar battery tech company Advanced Battery Concepts. Monbat has proposed a major expansion of its manufacturing operations in Bulgaria to produce bipolar batteries.
