Mkango's HyProMag starts up 2nd HDD preprocessing unit

Executive Summary

• Mkango Resources’ HyProMag subsidiary has commissioned a second automated HDD preprocessing unit (Inserma technology) at the Tyseley Energy Park facility in Birmingham, UK.
• The unit is processing an initial batch of 13,000 hard‑disk drives and is capable of handling >30,000 HDDs per week on a single shift once fully ramped up.
• The technology separates magnet assemblies and PCBA for downstream rare‑earth (NdFeB) and precious‑metal recovery, complementing HyProMag’s HPMS process and supporting global scale‑up across multiple jurisdictions.

Key Details

• Commissioned Unit: Second Inserma automated HDD preprocessing unit, co‑located with HyProMag’s commercial‑scale magnet recycling plant at Tyseley Energy Park, Birmingham, UK.
• Initial Run: Processing batch of 13,000 HDDs during commissioning phase.
• Capacity Potential: One unit can process >30,000 HDDs (≈15 t) per five‑day week on a single eight‑hour shift; multiple shifts and additional units can increase throughput further.
• Process Flow:
• Rapid separation of magnet assemblies and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) from each HDD in ~3 seconds.
• Magnet streams sent to HyProMag’s patented Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) for clean powder production (short‑loop recycling or long‑loop chemical processing).
• PCBA sold for precious‑metal recovery.
• Technology Partners: Inserma Anoia SL (technology developer), Intelligent Lifecycle Solutions Ltd. (ILS), Cotec Holdings Ltd., with additional units slated for commissioning at HyProMag GmbH (Pforzheim, Germany) and HyProMag USA.
• Strategic Context:
• September 2024 exclusive agreement secured by Maginito (79.4 % Mkango, 20.6 % Cotec) with Inserma to commercialize automated preprocessing of HDDs, loudspeakers, and electric motors.
• Enables large‑scale feedstock supply from end‑of‑life HDDs, especially from expanding European data‑centre market (projected five‑fold growth).
• Environmental & Cost Benefits:
• Avoids shredding of magnet/precious‑metal components, maximizing material recovery and reducing carbon footprint.
• Enhances data‑destruction processes while lowering operating costs for data‑centre HDD disposal.
• Future Deployment Plans: Potential co‑location of Inserma units at hyperscale data centres, mobile/stationary shredding facilities, smelters, third‑party recycling sites, and additional HyProMag facilities worldwide.

Notable Quotes

• “This is the second groundbreaking technology to be brought to commercial scale by HyProMag and its partners… a five‑times growth in data centres is expected in Europe alone.” – William Dawes, CEO of Mkango & Director of HyProMag
• “With millions of HDDs reaching end of life every year at data centres across the U.K., the opportunity to recover critical materials is obvious…” – Nick Mann, Managing Director of HyProMag
• “We are excited to see this collaborative effort… well positioned to capture this growing source of feedstock from HDDs.” – Jon Godfrey, Director of ILS