Metal recycling and scrap trading: processing of steel and non-ferrous metals up to 70 t unit weight, trimodal and worldwide
Schrott Wetzel GmbH
Mannheim (Plant I–III) · Karlsruhe · Ghent (BE) · Basel (RTB, CH)New on Amplifa
About Schrott Wetzel
Schrott Wetzel GmbH is a family-owned company from Mannheim that has been active in scrap trading and metal recycling since the 1950s and counts among the larger German scrap dealers. The company collects, processes and markets ferrous and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, nickel, zinc, tin, titanium, chromium and lead as secondary raw materials for steel mills, foundries and metal smelters. Processing is carried out to customer specification using baling presses, large and mobile shears, rail cutters and screening systems; special scrap with unit weights up to 70 t is unloaded without an external crane. In addition, the company offers port handling, third-party warehousing, industrial demolition, steel dismantling, container services and the processing of hazardous steel components in accordance with AVV 17 04 09. All sites are trimodally connected by road, rail and water; overseas shipping runs via the deep-sea ports of Rotterdam and Ghent. More than 104 employees at sites in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland (stake in RTB Basel) carry the value creation.
- Site
- Mannheim
- Processes
- Scrap processing / metal recycling (grade sorting, processing, storage), Port handling / third-party handling of bulk goods, Third-party warehousing of bulk goods, Industrial demolition and steel dismantling, Processing of hazardous steel components per AVV 17 04 09*, Surface treatment of metals (blasting technology), Radioactivity measurement of incoming and outgoing goods, Complete disposal of industrial and plant areas / clear-outs
- Materials
- Aluminium, Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Tin, Brass, Iron, Titanium
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 50001:2018 (energy management), Certified waste management specialist per § 56 KrWG / EfbV, Certified waste management specialist per § 56 KrWG / EfbV (follow-up, Processing of hazardous steel components per AVV 17 04 09 (Mannheim Plant II), ISO 50001:2018, Certified waste management specialist (§ 56 KrWG)
- Employees
- 104+
- Industries
- Steel mills, Foundries, Metal smelters, Metal recycling / circular economy, Shipbuilding/ports (indirect)
- 01
Collection and pickup (skips, containers, trucks)
- 02
Trimodal inbound delivery (road, rail, ship)
- 03
Radioactivity testing of incoming and outgoing goods
- 04
Sorting by grade and processing (presses, shears, cutters, screening systems)
- 05
Blasting of steel components
- 06
Storage (open-air yards, metal halls)
- 07
Materials & Metal Grades
Iron and steel
Main material stream for steel mills and foundries, processed to customer specification.
Aluminium
Non-ferrous metal from industrial arisings, returned to metal smelters.
Copper
Non-ferrous metal grade including cable scrap (AVV 17 04 11) in the product range.
Brass
Copper alloy grade together with bronze (AVV 17 04 01).
Titanium
High-grade non-ferrous metal grade in the scrap trading program.
Zinc
Including hard zinc (AVV 11 05 01) as a recyclable grade.
Tin
Non-ferrous metal grade in the product range for smelters.
Lead
Metal grade from demolition and industrial arisings (AVV 17 04 03).
Nickel
Alloying metal in the non-ferrous metals assortment.
Chromium
Alloying metal in the non-ferrous metals assortment.
Sites
Mannheim Plant I
DEHeadquarters – recycling and processing
- Materials
- Steel and non-ferrous metals
- Baling presses
- Large shears
- Screening systems
- Rail siding
- Quay facility
- Radiation measuring systems
Mannheim Plant II
DEProcessing of large/heavy scrap parts, blasting system for hazardous steel components per AVV 17 04 09
- Materials
- Steel
- Blasting system
- Rail siding
- Quay facility
Mannheim Plant III
DEProcessing of extremely large and heavy scrap parts
- Part weight / size
- Unit weight up to 70 t
- Materials
- Steel, non-ferrous metals
- Large shears
- Rail siding
- Quay facility
Karlsruhe
DEProcessing, industrial demolition and steel dismantling
- Materials
- Steel and non-ferrous metals
- Baling presses
- Large shears
- Rail siding
- Quay facility
Ghent
BEDeep-sea warehousing and overseas trading, handling of seagoing vessels up to 55.000 t
- Materials
- Steel and non-ferrous metals
- Seaport handling
- Rail siding
- Quay facility
Basel (RTB)
CHStake in Rohstoff Terminal Basel AG – large shear, dismantling/demolition
- Materials
- Steel
- Large shear
- Rail siding
- Quay facility
Material Qualities
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrap processing / metal recycling (grade sorting, processing, storage)Recycling | – | – | – | – | Iron, Aluminium, Copper, Brass, Nickel, Zinc, Tin, Titanium, Chromium, Lead |
| Port handling / third-party handling of bulk goodsLogistics | – | – | Seagoing vessels up to 55.000 t (Ghent) | – | – |
| Third-party warehousing of bulk goodsLogistics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Industrial demolition and steel dismantlingEngineering | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Processing of hazardous steel components per AVV 17 04 09*Recycling | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Surface treatment of metals (blasting technology)Surface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Radioactivity measurement of incoming and outgoing goodsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Complete disposal of industrial and plant areas / clear-outsRecycling | – | – | – | – | – |
| Container services / disposal of commercial and industrial wasteRecycling | – | – | – | – | – |
| Unloading of long rail units / loading and unloading of full trains / rail shuttle servicesLogistics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Logistics | – | – | – | – | – |
10 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baling presses | – | – | – | – | Mannheim/Karlsruhe (unspecified) |
| Large shears | – | – | – | – | Mannheim/Karlsruhe; also RTB AG Basel |
| Mobile shears | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rail cutters | – | – | – | – | – |
| Screening systems | – | – | – | – | – |
| Blasting systems | – | – | – | – | Mannheim Plant II |
| Radiation measuring systems | – | – | – | – | – |
| Metal halls (storage) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quay facilities (inland vessel handling) | – | – | – | – | Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Basel, Ghent |
| Own rail sidings / rail loading | – | – | – | – | all sites |
Additional services
Quality & Certifications
All incoming and outgoing goods are tested for radioactivity. The management system is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001; the company is a certified waste management specialist (Entsorgungsfachbetrieb) in accordance with § 56 KrWG.
| Evidence | Mannheim | Karlsruhe |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | ||
| ISO 14001:2015 | ||
| ISO 50001:2018 | ||
| Certified waste management specialist (§ 56 KrWG) |
History
- 1950er
Foundation of the family-owned company in Mannheim
According to an ARD/SWR report, Schrott Wetzel is among the largest scrap dealers in Germany
- 2020
Initial certification to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 (20.12.2020)
- 2025
Certification of the energy management system to ISO 50001 (10.11.2025)