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Industrial magnetic separators: 80 years of expertise on BFM
Watch the Lenoir-Mec interview on BFM Business, looking back on 80 years of expertise and innovation in magnetic separation.
Watch the Lenoir-Mec interview on BFM Business, looking back on 80 years of expertise and innovation in magnetic separation.
Everything around you has probably been processed, or will be processed, by a Lenoir-Mec machine without you knowing it. Behind every tonne of recycled steel, every batch of recovered aluminium and every production stream cleared of tramp metal, there is a magnetic separator. Since 1946, this has been Lenoir-Mec’s business.
The company appeared on BFM Business as part of a dedicated partnership to talk about this little-known reality: “magnetic separators for 100% efficient and sustainable recycling”. The title sums up the promise of a company that committed to industrial recycling long before the circular economy became a regulatory requirement.
Magnetic separator: a little-known yet ubiquitous industrial technology
Founded in 1946, Lenoir-Mec designs and manufactures industrial magnetic separators for sorting and metal recovery. The company now has two production sites: the LENOIR site in France, which makes separators for ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and the MEC site in Italy, which specialises in electromagnetic lifting.
“ Industrial magnetism is not known to the general public, and yet everything around you has been or will be processed by LENOIR-MEC machines. Whatever the customer or the industry, we can extract ferromagnetic tramp metal from plastic, wood or cardboard waste and other materials to make them easier to recycle. ” Gregory Durand, Sales and R&D Director, Lenoir-Mec.
From plastic to cardboard: every material passes through the magnetic separator
In practice, this means that every day, Lenoir-Mec magnetic separators clean material streams by removing the tramp metal that contaminates production streams at its customers’ sites. These customers include builders and operators of waste sorting plants, mining and quarrying operators, and companies in the steel, construction and food processing industries, in many countries.
Lenoir-Mec’s position as a benchmark in magnetic recycling today is the result of a strategic choice made long before the circular economy became a mainstream topic.
“ We had this intuition in particular when, from the 2000s onwards, we developed magnetic separation machines for the environment and the circular economy. This sector now accounts for more than 80% of our turnover! ” Gregory Durand, Sales and R&D Director, Lenoir-Mec
Metal recovery at the heart of the circular economy
By anticipating the needs of a recycling industry that was still taking shape, Lenoir-Mec became a leader in France in a fast-growing market. Today, its magnetic separators are installed at industrial sites on every continent. Every day, they help recover ferrous and non-ferrous contaminants (aluminium, copper, steel) that would otherwise have been lost or landfilled.
Innovation and R&D: a European patent for an eddy current separator
To meet growing international competition, Lenoir-Mec chose to strengthen its Research & Development department, an investment that is now producing tangible technical advances.
“ This has notably allowed us to develop a European patent for a very high frequency eddy current separator, which should be launched on the market in early 2027. ” Gregory Durand, Sales and R&D Director, Lenoir-Mec
A new-generation product for non-ferrous metal recovery
This new very high frequency eddy current separator promises precise recovery of non-ferrous contaminants. Beyond product innovation, Lenoir-Mec also relies on the proximity of its technical teams: fast on-site support to diagnose breakdowns, a stock of spare parts available, and a magnetic audit service to check equipment performance periodically under real operating conditions.
Remove tramp metal from your products: discover our magnetic separators
Lenoir-Mec offers a complete range of magnetic equipment that covers all the technical needs of the recycling industry. Each product is sized to suit your process, your throughput and the type of materials being recycled.
Overband magnets: continuous removal of ferrous metals from product streams
Suspended above the conveyor, overband magnets continuously extract ferromagnetic material without stopping production. They are available as permanent magnet (OVAP), electromagnetic (OV) or mobile machine-mounted (OVAPEM) versions for aggregate quarries, mining and quarrying, inert waste recycling, food processing, sawmills, and more.
Eddy current separator: separation of non-ferrous metals
To go beyond ferrous metals and recover the aluminium in your materials, the ED-X eddy current separator is Lenoir-Mec’s flagship product. It uses magnetic repulsion to eject non-ferrous metals from the stream, ensuring very high-purity recovery.
Magnetic drums and magnetic head pulleys: integrated separation in your bulk material streams
The TAP(N) magnetic drum and the PAP(N) magnetic head pulley provide magnetic separation fully integrated into your industrial line, with no additional visible equipment. They are installed directly at the conveyor head for automatic, continuous cleaning of bulk materials.
FAQ: Magnetic separator - Lenoir-Mec
What is a magnetic separator?
A magnetic separator is a piece of industrial equipment designed to automatically extract metal particles from a product. It works by generating a magnetic field that captures ferromagnetic materials 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 metals can Lenoir-Mec equipment recover?
Lenoir-Mec machines handle both ferrous metals (steel, iron) and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and copper, using complementary technologies: overband magnets for ferrous metals and eddy current separators for non-ferrous metals.
In which industries is this equipment used?
Lenoir-Mec magnetic separators are used in waste sorting plants, by mining operators, and in the steel, construction and food processing industries, on every continent.
What new technology has Lenoir-Mec developed?
The company has obtained a European patent for a very high frequency eddy current separator. It is scheduled for market launch in early 2027.
Planning a recycling or magnetic purification project?
Whether you want to remove tramp metal from your production streams, recover valuable metals or optimise an existing sorting line, Lenoir-Mec’s technical teams will analyse your process and recommend the magnetic separator solution best suited to it.
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