Soave Enterprises’ MPS Group Partners with A123 Systems to Invent New Battery Recycling Process Soave affiliate teams up with client to create a new lithium battery dismantling and recycling process. Soave Enterprises has a long history of supporting innovative conservation and responsible waste management processes. The team at MPS Group (an affiliate of Soave Enterprises) has partnered with A123 Systems to further this commitment to sustainable practices by pioneering a new recycling process to support new battery technologies. Embracing New Responsibilities New technologies bring new opportunities - and Soave Enterprises is embracing both. After beginning Total Waste Management services for A123 Systems, a manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries, in May 2012, the new client expanded MPS Group’s duties to also include dismantling batteries two months later. “MPS Group and A123 jointly invented the process for recycling the lithium ion batteries by working backwards through the original manufacturing steps,” explains MPS Group Regional Manager, Don Weems. “This opportunity allows us to conduct hands-on, investigative research to determine if recycling batteries via dismantling process could be a future service line for our company.” Recycling batteries is a dangerous, high-voltage safety risk because the units are charged with electricity. Four MPS Group team members work on site at MPS Group Operations in Romulus, Michigan to complete the project that is currently estimated to last 8 to 13 months. There is the future potential of expanding the total on-site personnel by 12 additional Soave workers. Improving Green Processes A123 Systems supplies batteries for vehicle manufacturers worldwide, including Fisker, GM and BMW. The Waltham, MA-headquartered company previously sent the obsolete, damaged and used batteries to universal waste recyclers, where the units were not as extensively dismantled. MPS Group’s process is able to recover original raw materials for reuse in future battery production. “The net result is a cost savings for the client and less waste in landfills,” sums up Weems. Soave Enterprises offers many distinct, innovative, and tested systems and processes to help companies reach their environmental goals. From waste management and industrial services from MPS Group to metals recycling services from Ferrous Processing & Trading, Soave Enterprises offers a myriad of solutions to enable companies to responsibly eliminate, reduce, re-use, and recycle waste. These systems and processes introduce various greening programs and process improvement strategies to efficiently manage all waste and by-products that are generated at commercial facilities, while
minimizing businesses’ short-term risk and protecting their long-term liability. The highly trained experts at Soave Enterprises and MPS Group ensure that clients are in strict compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. And Soave Enterprises is able to employ proven management techniques to seamlessly drive the most innovative, permanent improvements throughout a company’s entire value chain. About MPS Group and Soave Enterprises MPS Group is part of Anthony Soave’s family of businesses – Soave Enterprises. At MPS Group, the firm's plans, targets and operational objectives revolve around providing products and services that help customers maintain their competitive advantage. Soave Enterprises is a diversified management and investment company founded by Detroit businessman Anthony Soave that provides strategic planning, financial and other management resources to its affiliated business ventures in the real estate, automotive retailing, beer distribution, scrap metal, industrial services and transportation industries, among others. For more information on Tony Soave and Soave Enterprises, please visit http://www.soave.com. Soave Enterprises 3400 E Lafayette Detroit, MI 48207 313-567-7000 http://www.soave.com