Everything around you has likely been treated, or will be, by a Lenoir-Mec machine without you knowing it. Behind every ton of recycled steel, every batch of recovered aluminum, and every production flow cleared of metallic impurities, there is a magnetic separator. Since 1946, this has been Lenoir-Mec’s core business. The company shared this often-overlooked industrial reality on BFM Business as part of a dedicated partnership: “Magnetic separators for 100% efficient and sustainable recycling.” A title that accurately summarizes the commitment of a company that embraced industrial recycling long before the circular economy became a regulatory requirement.
Magnetic separator: an omnipresent yet discreet industrial technology
Founded in 1946, Lenoir-Mec specializes in the design and manufacture of industrial magnetic separators for the sorting and recovery of metals. Today, the company operates two production sites: the LENOIR site in France, dedicated to ferrous and non-ferrous separators, and the MEC site in Italy, specialized in electromagnetic lifting.
“Industrial magnetism is not well known by the general public, and yet everything around you has been or will be treated by LENOIR-MEC machines. Regardless of the client or field of activity, we can extract ferromagnetic pollutants from plastic, wood, or cardboard waste, and other materials to facilitate their recycling.” – Gregory Durand, Sales and R&D Director at Lenoir-Mec.
From plastic to cardboard: all materials pass through the magnetic separator This reality is concretely applied in the industry: every day, Lenoir-Mec magnetic separators clean material flows by eliminating metallic impurities that contaminate production lines. Our clients include manufacturers and operators of waste sorting centers, mine and quarry operators, and industrial players in steel, construction, and food processing worldwide. Lenoir-Mec’s status as a reference in the magnetic recycling field results from a strategic choice made well before the circular economy became a mainstream topic. “We had this intuition back in the 2000s, developing magnetic separation machines specifically for environmental and circular economy sectors. This sector now represents over 80% of our turnover!” – Gregory Durand.
Metal recovery at the heart of the circular economy By anticipating the needs of a growing recycling industry, Lenoir-Mec has built a leading position in France. Today, its magnetic separators equip industrial sites on every continent, contributing daily to the recovery of ferrous and non-ferrous contaminants (aluminum, copper, steel) that would otherwise be lost or buried.
Innovation and R&D: a European patent for the eddy current separator
In the face of increasing international competition, Lenoir-Mec has strengthened its Research & Development department, an investment resulting in technical progress. “This allowed us to develop a European patent for a high-frequency eddy current separator, which should be marketed by early 2027.” – Gregory Durand.
Next-generation product for non-ferrous metal recovery
This new high-frequency eddy current separator ensures precise recovery of non-ferrous contaminants. Beyond product innovation, Lenoir-Mec relies on the proximity of its technical teams: rapid intervention for diagnostics, available spare parts, and a magnetic audit service to periodically verify equipment performance in real conditions.
Eliminate metallic impurities: discover our magnetic separators
Lenoir-Mec offers a complete range of magnetic equipment covering all technical needs of the recycling industry. Each product is sized according to your process, flow rate, and material type.
Magnetic Overbands: Continuous cleaning of ferrous metals from product flows. Suspended above the conveyor, overbands extract ferromagnetics without stopping production. Available in permanent magnet (OVAP), electromagnetic (OV), or mobile versions (OVAPEM).
Eddy Current Separator: Separation of non-ferrous metals. To recover aluminum, the ED-X eddy current separator is the reference. It uses magnetic repulsion to eject non-ferrous metals with high purity.
Magnetic Drums and Pulleys: Integrated separation for bulk flows. Installed directly at the conveyor head, the TAP(N) magnetic drum and PAP(N) magnetic pulley provide automatic, continuous cleaning of bulk materials.
FAQ: Magnetic Separator - Lenoir-Mec
What is a magnetic separator?
A magnetic separator is industrial equipment designed to automatically extract metallic particles from a product stream. It operates by creating a magnetic field capable of capturing ferromagnetics, such as iron or steel. Depending on the technology used, it can also separate certain non-ferrous metals. It is used to protect equipment, improve product quality, or recover valuable metals.
What types of metal can Lenoir-Mec equipment recover?
Lenoir-Mec machines process both ferrous metals (steel, iron) and non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum and copper) using complementary technologies: magnetic overbands for ferrous materials and eddy current separators for non-ferrous materials.
In which sectors is this equipment used?
Lenoir-Mec magnetic separators are used in waste sorting centers, mining operations, and by industrial players in the steel, construction, and food processing sectors across all continents.
What is the latest technological development from Lenoir-Mec?
The company has obtained a European patent for a high-frequency eddy current separator. Its commercial launch is scheduled for early 2027.
Do you have a recycling or magnetic purification project?
Whether you are looking to eliminate metallic impurities from your production flows, recover valuable metals, or optimize an existing sorting line, Lenoir-Mec’s technical teams will analyze your process and propose the most suitable magnetic separator solution for your operations.