Magnetic separator for recycling
In brief
- Lenoir-MEC manufactures magnetic separators for recycling: overband magnets, magnetic drums, magnetic head pulleys, eddy current separators and metal detectors.
- Permanent magnets and electromagnets extract ferrous metals; eddy current separators recover aluminium, copper and brass.
- This equipment protects shredders and improves the purity of sorted fractions, in fixed sorting plants or on mobile units.
Challenges in recycling
A magnetic separator for recycling has two roles: recovering the metals contained in waste streams and protecting the machines on the line. Removing ferrous metals before shredding prevents damage to shredders and fine shredders; recovering non-ferrous metals improves the quality of the inert fractions (plastic, glass, wood, paper) and the value of the metals sold on.
Metals and contaminants to remove
- Ferrous metals (steel, iron, cast iron) found in mixed waste, wood, plastics and C&I waste (commercial and industrial waste).
- Non-ferrous metals: aluminium (cans, profiles, foils), copper and brass, found among plastic, glass, wood, rubber or inert materials.
- Automotive shredder residue and incinerator bottom ash (IBA), from which aluminium and other non-ferrous metals are recovered.
- Steel/aluminium chips from machining, to be separated before recovery.
Suitable Lenoir-MEC equipment
Extracting ferrous metals above the conveyor
- OV electromagnetic overband magnet: separation of ferromagnetic materials from mixed materials (wood, plastics, industrial waste), with continuous automatic discharge.
- OVAP permanent magnet overband: extraction of ferrous metals from waste, wood, glass or bulk materials.
- OVAPEM permanent magnet overband for mobile units: mounted on a crusher or mobile sorting plant, it protects shredders and fine shredders.
- APRF fixed permanent sorting magnet and RD fixed sorting electromagnet: extraction of ferrous metals from mixed waste.
Separating at the head or end of the conveyor
- STM magnetic drum separator: ferromagnetic materials are extracted at the rear of the drum, while non-ferrous materials fall by gravity.
- TAP(N) permanent magnet magnetic drum: protects lines and optimises material purity.
- PAP(N) magnetic head pulley: separation of ferrous and non-ferrous fractions at the head of the conveyor.
- STMV2 double magnetic drum separator: developed for recycling steel/aluminium chips from machining.
Recovering non-ferrous metals
- ED-X eddy current separator: recovery of non-ferrous metals from shredded streams, industrial and municipal solid waste and automotive shredder residue.
- PELICAN eddy current separator: recovery of aluminium, copper and brass from dry waste streams, for sorting plants and bottom ash processing.
- AED-RX electrical control cabinet: powers and controls eddy current separators.
Detecting and handling
- C-SCAN industrial metal detector and DDMC metal detector: identifying and sorting metals in waste streams.
- Industrial lifting electromagnet: lifting and moving scrap quickly and safely.
The full dedicated range is presented on the Recycle page.
Frequently asked questions
Where should an eddy current separator be placed in a recycling line?
After an overband magnet or a magnetic drum, which first removes the ferrous metals. It must be fed with a thin, uniform layer across the full belt width, without exceeding the nominal throughput.
How can a shredder be protected in a mobile sorting plant?
The OVAPEM overband magnet, mounted on the mobile unit, removes ferrous metals from wood, plastics and C&I waste streams to protect shredders and fine shredders.
Can a metal detector distinguish ferrous from non-ferrous metals?
Yes, the C-SCAN differentiates ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and stainless steel by their electromagnetic signatures.
A recycling project?
Tell us the type of waste, the throughput and the belt width: our engineering department will recommend the right magnetic separator. Request a quote