Lefort: powering recycling for almost 80 years
For more than seven decades, Lefort has been shaping the future of metal recycling. What began as a small Belgian workshop has grown into a global force, designing and manufacturing high performance balers, shears and shredders that turn scrap into valuable resources.
Driven by industrial expertise, technological innovation and strong customers partnerships, machinery producer Lefort supports recycling professionals across the globe, helping transform thousands of tonnes of metal every day and contributing to a more sustainable, circular economy.
WORKSHOP TO WORLDWIDE
The story starts in 1947 in Gosselies, Belgium. Nestor Lefort, a visionary entrepreneur, founded a workshop dedicated to hydraulic equipment. He quickly identified a challenge that would define the company’s future: how to efficiently reduce and recover growing volumes of industrial metal waste? His answer? The first Lefort hydraulic presses, designed to compact scrap metal.
Innovations followed naturally. In the 1950s, Lefort introduced its first alligator hydraulic shear, an advance that would leave a lasting mark on the recycling industry. From that point on, the company continued to push boundaries, developing increasingly powerful and efficient machines.
Today, while operating on a global scale, Lefort remains true to its roots: a family owned, independent company built on strong industrial values.
GLOBAL AND LOCAL
Lefort machines operate in more than 45 countries, serving independent recyclers, major recycling groups, and steel producers alike. Behind this global presence stands a robust network of subsidiaries (UK, France, USA, Italy and Germany), distributors, and technical partners.
The result: comprehensive support at every stage, from installation and maintenance to technical assistance and fast spare parts delivery. Thousands of machines worldwide now form a vital link in the metal recycling value chain.
BUILT TO PERFORM
Every Lefort machine is built with one goal in mind: performance without compromise. From hydraulic shears capable of cutting all types of scrap metal, presses that compact light materials and end-of-life vehicles, or high-density balers for ferrous and non-ferrous metals: each solution is designed for maximum efficiency, durability and reliability.
Shredders complete the range, enabling the Whether for independent operations or largescale industrial sites, Lefort offers solutions tailored to every need.
Among its latest innovations, the Lefort Lidex stands out. This side-compression scrap shear is engineered to handle even the most demanding materials: heavy, bulky and complex at high production levels. It is the only machine on the market with a fully automatic cycle that combines compression and cutting in one seamless process.
An oversized lid and patented box kinematics maximise efficiency, while high-pressure pumps and intelligent oil management boost speed and reduce energy consumption. With cutting forces ranging from 1 000 to 2 000 tonnes and throughput of up to 100 tonnes per hour, Lidex is built for high-performance environments.
MOVING TO THE SCRAP
What if the machine came to the scrap, instead of the other way around? This is exactly what Lefort achieved with ‘Trax’. This selfpropelled, track-mounted shear baler is a unique, internationally patented solution that redefines how recycling sites operate.
Instead of transporting scrap to a fixed machine, Trax moves directly to the material. The result: fewer handling operations, significant time savings and reduced operating costs. Trax is available in a wide range of models with cutting forces from 650 to 1 250 tonnes and it can be supplied with preload table to boost production.
Like all machines made by the group, Trax integrates Lefort’s remote maintenance system. From any device – computer, tablet or smartphone – operators can monitor production in real time, track machine status and intervene remotely when needed, enhancing both efficiency and uptime.
RELEVANT INNOVATION
At Lefort, innovation is not about complexity; it is about relevance. It means understanding real-world challenges and delivering practical, effective solutions. Sometimes, it is a breakthrough. Often, it is a smart improvement that makes machines safer, faster, easier to use or more sustainable.
This philosophy guides the company’s engineering teams every day. Through advanced design tools, simulation and prototyping, each solution is tested and refined before reaching the market. Today, key areas of development include energy efficiency, simpler user experience and the integration of digital technologies to enhance machine operation and maintenance.
LOOKING AHEAD
As global challenges around resource management and waste reduction intensify, metal recycling has never been more critical. Lefort plays a central role in this transformation, turning waste into reusable raw materials and helping build a more sustainable future.
With decades of expertise, a strong culture of innovation and a deep commitment to its customers, the company continues to move forward, developing ever more efficient solutions for recyclers around the world.
BY RECYCLING INTERNATIONAL
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