Top 10 Lithium-Ion Battery Crushing and Separation Equipment Suppliers in North America

Based in Toronto, Canada, EcoRecycle Solutions has been a name to watch in the battery recycling equipment space since 2015. What started as a small team of engineers with a passion for sustainability has grown into one of North America’s most trusted suppliers of lithium-ion battery recycling systems. Their claim to fame? A lithium battery recycling plant with 500-2500kg/hour capacity that’s designed to handle everything from small consumer batteries to large EV battery packs.

“We focus on making recycling efficient and accessible,” says Maria Gonzalez, EcoRecycle’s lead product designer. “Our crushing and separation equipment uses a modular design, so customers can start small and scale up as their needs grow.” And they don’t skimp on环保 (environmental protection)—each system comes with an integrated air pollution control system equipment to capture dust and fumes, ensuring compliance with strict North American air quality standards.

Customers love their hands-on approach. “When we bought our first EcoRecycle system, their team was on-site for weeks, training our staff and fine-tuning the equipment,” says John Miller, operations manager at a Michigan-based recycling plant. “You don’t get that kind of support from bigger, overseas suppliers.”

Headquartered in Detroit, NABRT was founded in 2010 by a group of former automotive engineers who saw the writing on the wall: as electric cars took off, so would the need for battery recycling. Today, they specialize in li battery recycling equipment that’s built to withstand the tough demands of industrial-scale recycling.

Their flagship product? The NABRT-2000, a crushing and separation line that combines high-speed shredders with precision separators to recover up to 99% of valuable metals from lithium-ion batteries. What really sets it apart is the integration of hydraulic press machines equipment —after crushing, the material is pressed into dense briquettes, making it easier to transport and process further. “Hydraulics are key here,” explains NABRT’s technical director, Raj Patel. “They give us the power to crush through tough battery casings without generating excessive heat, which can damage the materials we’re trying to recover.”

NABRT prides itself on being “Made in America.” All their equipment is manufactured in their Detroit facility, which means shorter lead times and easier access to replacement parts. “We had a breakdown last winter, and NABRT had a technician at our plant within 24 hours,” says Sarah Lopez, owner of a recycling facility in Ontario. “That kind of responsiveness keeps our operation running smoothly.”

GreenCycle, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has a simple mission: to make battery recycling profitable for small and medium-sized businesses. “A lot of suppliers focus on huge plants, but there are hundreds of smaller recyclers out there who need reliable equipment too,” says CEO James Wilson. That’s why their lithium-ion battery crushing and separation systems start at a more accessible price point, without sacrificing quality.

Their GreenCycle Mini is a compact system designed for facilities with limited space, but don’t let the size fool you—it can still process up to 800kg of batteries per hour. For larger operations, the GreenCycle Pro steps things up with a lithium battery recycling plant with 500-2500kg/hour capacity and advanced automation features, like sensors that adjust crushing speed based on battery type.

GreenCycle also stands out for their commitment to R&D. Last year, they partnered with the University of British Columbia to develop a new dry separation technology that uses less water than traditional wet processes. “Water is a precious resource, especially in parts of the U.S. and Canada that face droughts,” Wilson notes. “Our dry separation systems help customers save on water costs while reducing their environmental footprint.”

AST, located in Austin, Texas, is all about precision. “When it comes to battery recycling, every gram counts,” says founder Dr. Emily Chen, a materials scientist with a PhD in metallurgy. “Our crushing and separation equipment is engineered to recover the highest possible purity of metals, which means more money in our customers’ pockets.”

AST’s core technology is their patented electrostatic separator, which uses electricity to separate different metals in the crushed battery material. “Lithium, cobalt, and nickel all have different electrical properties, so we can sort them with incredible accuracy,” Dr. Chen explains. This technology, originally developed for circuit board recycling equipment , has been adapted specifically for lithium-ion batteries, with impressive results—their systems can recover lithium with 98.5% purity, a rate that’s hard to beat.

While AST’s equipment tends to be on the higher end of the price spectrum, customers say it’s worth the investment. “We used to send our crushed battery material to a third party for refining,” says Mike Thompson, CFO of a California recycling company. “With AST’s system, we can do the separation in-house, and the higher purity means we get better prices for the materials we sell. It paid for itself in less than two years.”

NorthStar, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been around since 2005, but they’ve recently pivoted to focus heavily on lithium-ion battery recycling. “We saw the demand growing, and we knew we had the expertise to build equipment that works for the North American market,” says sales director Tom Jensen. Their lithium-ion crushing and separation systems are known for their durability—many customers report using the same machines for over a decade with minimal maintenance.

One of their most popular products is the NorthStar Crusher 500, a rugged machine designed to break down battery packs into smaller pieces before separation. “Battery casings are tough, especially those from EVs,” Jensen notes. “Our crusher uses tungsten carbide blades that stay sharp longer, reducing downtime for blade changes.” They also offer a range of air pollution control system equipment , including high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and activated carbon scrubbers, to keep workplaces safe.

NorthStar’s customer base spans the continent, from small recycling shops in rural Canada to large facilities in Mexico. “We speak English, Spanish, and French, so we can support customers wherever they are,” Jensen adds. “That local touch makes a big difference.”

BlueSky, located in Seattle, Washington, is a relative newcomer, founded in 2018, but they’ve quickly made a name for themselves with innovative, user-friendly equipment. “We wanted to design systems that don’t require a PhD to operate,” says founder and CEO Lisa Wong, a former software engineer. “Our crushing and separation equipment comes with a touchscreen interface that walks users through each step, so even new operators can get up to speed quickly.”

Their BlueSky Li-Cycle system is a fully integrated solution that includes crushing, shredding, and separation, all controlled by AI-powered software that optimizes performance in real time. “The software learns from each batch of batteries, adjusting settings to maximize recovery rates,” Wong explains. “It’s like having a team of engineers monitoring the system 24/7.” And yes, they’ve got the air pollution control system equipment covered too—their “CleanAir” module is compact but powerful, making it ideal for facilities with limited space.

Startups love BlueSky for their flexible financing options. “We didn’t have the capital to buy equipment outright, so BlueSky offered a lease-to-own plan,” says Alex Rivera, founder of a small recycling startup in Colorado. “It let us get up and running without breaking the bank.”

PRRT, based in Portland, Oregon, takes a holistic approach to battery recycling. “We don’t just sell equipment—we help customers design their entire recycling process,” says sustainability director Anna Kim. Their team of engineers works with clients to assess their needs, recommend the right crushing and separation equipment, and even help with regulatory compliance.

Their PRRT-1500 is a mid-sized lithium battery recycling plant with 500-2500kg/hour capacity that’s perfect for growing recycling operations. “It’s built to handle a mix of battery types, which is key because most recycling plants don’t get just one kind of battery,” Kim notes. The system uses a combination of mechanical crushing and air separation to separate metals, plastics, and electrolytes, and it’s designed to be easily modified to handle new battery chemistries as they emerge.

PRRT also offers training programs for operators, which has earned them a loyal following. “Their training sessions were game-changing,” says David Lee, operations manager at a recycling plant in British Columbia. “Our team went from struggling with the equipment to optimizing it in just a few days.”

MBEC, located in Chicago, Illinois, is a family-owned business that’s been manufacturing industrial equipment since 1978. While they’ve long made recycling machinery for other materials, they entered the lithium-ion battery space in 2018 and have since become a favorite among traditional recyclers looking to expand into batteries. “Our customers trust us because we’ve been around for decades,” says third-generation owner Mike Johnson. “They know we’ll be here to support them long after the sale.”

MBEC’s lithium-ion crushing system is a heavy-duty machine that’s built like a tank—no surprise, given their background in manufacturing equipment for the automotive and construction industries. It features a hydraulic press machines equipment component that’s particularly effective at breaking down battery modules, and their separation equipment uses magnets and eddy currents to pull out ferrous and non-ferrous metals. “We keep things simple and reliable,” Johnson says. “No fancy bells and whistles, just equipment that works, day in and day out.”

One of MBEC’s biggest advantages is their network of local dealers. “If you need a part or service, there’s probably an MBEC dealer within a few hours’ drive,” Johnson adds. “That’s a big plus for customers who can’t afford long downtime.”

ACRS, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves the East Coast with a focus on customer service. “We believe in building relationships, not just making sales,” says president Karen Davis. Their team offers free on-site consultations, where they assess a customer’s facility, discuss their goals, and recommend the best crushing and separation equipment for their needs.

Their ACRS Lite is a compact, entry-level system designed for small businesses that want to start recycling lithium-ion batteries without a huge upfront investment. “It’s perfect for pawn shops, electronics retailers, or small scrap yards,” Davis explains. “It can process up to 300kg of batteries per hour, which is enough for many small operations.” For larger customers, they offer the ACRS Pro, which scales up to 2500kg/hour capacity and includes advanced features like remote monitoring via smartphone.

ACRS also prides itself on being eco-friendly. “Our equipment is designed to use less energy than competitors’ models,” Davis says. “We even offer a ‘green package’ that includes solar panels to power the system, helping customers reduce their carbon footprint.”

Rounding out our list is WRI, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 2012, WRI specializes in innovative recycling technologies, and their lithium-ion battery crushing and separation equipment is no exception. Their claim to fame is a “smart separation” system that uses machine learning to identify and sort different battery components in real time.

“Traditional separation equipment relies on fixed settings, but battery designs are always changing,” says WRI’s chief innovation officer, Dr. Kevin Zhang. “Our system uses cameras and AI to recognize different materials and adjust the separation process on the fly, ensuring we recover as much as possible.” They also offer a range of li battery recycling equipment accessories, like automated feeding systems and material handling conveyors, to streamline the entire recycling process.

WRI has partnered with several universities to test and refine their technology, and they’re constantly releasing updates to improve performance. “We send software updates to our customers regularly, so their equipment gets better over time,” Dr. Zhang notes. “It’s like having a new machine every year without buying a new one.”