Emerging Technologies in the Metal Recycling Industry

The environmental and economic benefits of scrap metal recycling are integral to the fast-paced world we live in today. Over the years, advancements in technology have continued to transform the metal recycling industry, much to the benefit of business owners and society. Yet despite the strides made over the years, there is always room for improvement. This article highlights emerging metal recycling techniques that are transforming the industry. 

High-Performance Metal Shredders

Scrap metal comes in all shapes and sizes, and shredding it to manageable sizes is a critical stage in the recycling process. Metal shredders are considered the workhorses of the industry for the simple reason that they are tasked with breaking metal into smaller pieces. Today, high-performance metal shredders are replacing pioneer models. Unlike first-generation models, high-performance shredders feature special rotating shears made of hardened steel, making light work of shredding scrap metal of any size and strength. In addition, the high-frequency metal separators in modern shredders do an excellent job at sorting granulates, which helps reduce the amount of unusable scrap metal that ends up in landfills. Most importantly, replacing your metal shredders with the latest high-performance models guarantees a high return on investment (ROI).

Laser-based Sensors

The scrap metal industry is one of the most volatile in the country, such that a slight increase in metal prices can lead to a significant drop in scrap metal availability. Thus, recyclers must be efficient in sorting scrap metal to remain competitive. Consequently, recyclers are investing in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The technology can identify numerous alloys regardless of scrap metal size, allowing recyclers to process more scrap metal and achieve high-grade purity. Such perks were impossible to achieve with the labourious measurement of metal alloys using hand-held metal testers.

Special Bath Sorting

For a long time, recyclers have used granulation methods to separate metals in aqueous solutions. However, to make the sorting process of non-ferrous metals in an aqueous state effortless, recyclers are investing in special sorting baths. The dense water and water systems of special sorting baths eliminate the need for chemicals in separating non-ferrous metals. Consequently, it makes the special baths the most sustainable way of separating metals during the recycling process. Besides, the newer granulation method of separating non-ferrous metals achieves better purity. When combined with new-age shredding options, special sorting baths reduce manual separation, increasing the amount of scrap metals recycled.

For more information, contact a scrap metal recycling service near you.


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