Inside TAS Recycling’s end-of-life auto scrap yard powered by Liebherr

Auto recycling keeps high-value materials like copper, aluminum, steel, and batteries out of landfills, giving them a second life and allowing metals to be recovered for further use in both domestic and international markets. TAS Recycling is committed to minimizing a junk car's negative impact on the environment and is working to responsibly recycle end-of-life vehicles and salvage sustainably.

Founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2013, TAS Recycling has grown into a multi-state metal recycling and salvage operation with additional locations in Florida and North Carolina. With the help of its fleet of 8 Liebherr machines, it continues to expand its capacity and further solidify its position in the metal and auto recycling industry.

Sustinability in the scrap yard with Liebherr machines 

Motivated by the mission of sustainability and giving a new purpose to metals set for the landfill, TAS not only reduces the waste coming from the junk cars they disassemble and recycle, but follow strict guidelines on waste management and pollution prevention within its own operations to ensure all materials are reclaimed and disposed of properly.

Since the start of its Liebherr fleet, TAS has collaborated with Liebherr dealer Reco Equipment, Inc. to identify the most effective solutions for its job sites. Covering areas throughout the Mid-West, Reco Equipment, Inc. works closely with companies like TAS to grow its businesses by expanding its fleet with optimized machines.

"We are grateful for the confidence TAS has put into our machines," notes Marcus Barnes, senior product manager, Liebherr USA, Co. "We always aim to become a trusted partner to all our customers, including TAS Recycling, and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership as they continue to grow."

Heavy duty dismantling

Across two locations in Knoxville, TAS Recycling puts its four Liebherr R 922 crawler excavators to work handling large pieces of material including aluminum wheels, stainless steel, and more. The excavator is equipped with a specialized auto dismantling attachment, allowing it to efficiently handle dismantled cars, aluminum wheels and stainless steel, easily manoeuvring around the site to properly break up the material to be recycled properly.

When working with large sharp and potentially dangerous pieces of auto scrap, safety is top priority. That's why the R 922 crawler excavator is designed with panoramic visibility and a camera in the rear and right side of the equipment to allow operators a full view of their surroundings and increase safety throughout the site. Also built standard into the excavator is a ROPS-certified cab structure, providing rollover protection as well as keeping the operator safe in case of emergency.

Enhanced scrap sorting

Difficult applications like auto recycling require a powerful machine that can properly handle bulky metal pieces throughout the disassembly and recycling process. With the help of Liebherr material handling machines, TAS Recycling is able to achieve faster work cycles and enhance their sorting capabilities. Built using high-strength steel plates, the material handler's undercarriage is configured for the toughest of requirements and maintains a high torsional stiffness and optimum absorption of forces induced from long days of scrap handling.

The performance of the machines has made it a valuable addition to TAS Recycling's fleet. The optimized design of the Liebherr engine within the material handler supplies the machine with high torque output, allowing for fast and strong movements and faster cycle times when processing scrap. Also standard in the machine are the intelligent machine controls that configure the hydraulics of the boom for the best performance of the task at hand whether it be sorting ferrous and non-ferrous metals or large car frames

TAS Recycling's fleet of material handlers include three Liebherr LH 30 M material handlers. Known for their enhanced stability, it makes handling large irregular sized materials such as cars and heavy melting steel a breeze, greatly improving the sorting process on site. TAS is also home to an LH 40 M material handler. Equipped with Liebherr's patented energy recovery system (ERC), the LH 40 allows for maximum handling capacity to increase efficiency on long workdays while simultaneously lowering the overall fuel efficiency of the machine.

Additionally, Liebherr material handlers are designed to perform tasks such as sorting, transporting, and loading materials. These machines use various attachments intended for scrap handling, including auto recycling. Common attachments include orange peel grabs, hydraulic magnets, stick extensions, and sorting grabs to facilitate the sorting process.

TAS demonstrates the benefits of integrating multiple Liebherr machines into a successful fleet and is redefining the recycling industry. Their sustainable practices and waste reduction paired with the enhanced performance of the Liebherr machines on site has created an impact that is felt throughout the region.

"TAS serves an important role in their community, and their continued growth through the years is evidence of that," notes Marcus Barnes, senior product manager, Liebherr USA, Co. "As their fleet has expanded, we have been happy to support their operations by providing the state-of-the-art equipment needed to keep their work going."