My Really Cool Recycling Blog

Posted on: 30 March 2020

Efficiency and profitability in scrap metal recycling can only be realised if the sorting process is fast, accurate, and reliable. Unfortunately, advancements in product development have not made things any easier for scrap metal recyclers due to the rise of alloy-based products. Most metallic products nowadays use a mixture of different materials and metal. Notably, sorting these products during recycling is both challenging and time-consuming. Besides, the equipment used by scrap metal recyclers might not be reliable for analysing highly mixed products. Therefore, recyclers need to invest in the latest scrap metal sorting technologies. Read on for more information.

Six-Way Sorting -- Modern scrap metal sorting machines rely on a myriad of sensor technologies, such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and induction. However, relying on sensor technologies does not mean the desired throughput capacities are attained. Therefore, recyclers have to rely on the six-way sorting technique since newer machines are equipped with different sensors. This allows an operator to select a particular sensor and sort up to six parts of scrap metal in one pass. The best part is that six-way sorting ensures sorting is deliberate to specific scrap metals, thereby improving sorting accuracy. The new technology is cost-efficient, and it increases recycling throughput capacities. 

Handheld Metal Analysers -- Scrap metal recyclers used to rely on experienced metal sorters to sort different scrap metals by hand in a production line. However, bigger metal analysers have replaced manual sorting, but these still require the scrap metal to be loaded on the sorting conveyor belt. A better approach to ensure recyclers save time and improve efficiency is to begin the sorting process in the yard. Handheld metal analysers are the perfect equipment for this job. Some of the highest quality handheld metal analysers can detect valuable content and unwanted elements of scrap metal accurately. Moreover, the point-and-shoot mechanism in these devices allows operators to begin the sorting process right on the yard, thereby saving time.

Detector Shields -- This piece of technology might appear useless when it comes to scrap metal sorting. However, you will only realise its importance in metal sorting once you understand the detectors are fragile. Repairing a damaged detector on a handheld analyser is quite expensive. Besides, you want to avoid the potential downtime from such damages. Detector shields help to protect the metal analyser's detector window. Therefore, operators do not have to worry about pointing the detector window directly on the scrap metal.