The effective separation of ferrous and non-ferrous metal is a key stage in the successful recycling of plastic and plastic containers.  On stand B929 at the Plastics Recycling World Expo Europe (14-15 June, Messe Essen, Germany), Bunting is displaying and discussing proven metal separation technology including FF Drawer Filter Magnets and Eddy Current Separators.

Bunting is a leading designer and manufacturer of magnetic separators, eddy current separators, metal detectors and electrostatic separators.  The Bunting European manufacturing facilities are in Redditch, just outside Birmingham, and Berkhamsted, both in the United Kingdom.

Secondary plastic, whether post-consumer or generated internally, commonly contains metal contamination.  Such metal damages equipment such as granulators, extruders and injection moulding machines.  Bunting has developed a wide range of equipment to detect and separate such metal and prevent costly wear and repairs.

Magnetic separators attract and separate ferrous metals, with a range of designs to suit specific installations and applications.  The FF Drawer Filter Magnet has been developed for the plastics sector, featuring ultra-strong Neodymium Tube Magnets, mounted in a grid formation, to attract and securely hold even the smallest and weakest magnetic particles.  These are installed above injection moulding machines and prior to granulators.

Drum Magnets and the HISC or SSSC Separators, also featuring ultra-strong Neodymium magnets, continually and automatically remove ferrous metal from shredded or granulated plastic waste.  Such separators commonly operate in conjunction with Eddy Current Separators, which separate large and small non-ferrous metals such as aluminium.  The Bunting range of Eddy Current Separators includes designs focused on separating small, millimetre-sized non-ferrous metals.

Whilst magnetic separators separate the bulk of metal contamination, metal detectors focus on finding and removing lower levels of smaller metal contamination.  The quickTRON range of gravity free-fall metal detectors detect and separate metal present in granulated plastic, often directly after the FF Drawer Filter Magnet as seen in Metal Cleaning Systems.  Pipeline Style Metal Separators (pTRON) detect and then reject any kind of metal from an enclosed pipe system.

Recent projects include the installation of a Metal Separation Module (Drum Magnet and Eddy Current Separator) at HML Recycling (Accrington, UK) for a new line recycling perfume bottle tops.  The shredded plastic tops are contaminated by ferrous and non-ferrous metal, which is separated on the module.

“The Plastics Recycling World Expo brings together all the leading plastics recyclers and equipment suppliers,” said Bradley Greenwood, Bunting’s European Sales Manager.  

“Discussing the metal contamination problems experienced by recyclers helps us understand the challenges and either propose or develop metal separation solutions.”

www.bunting-redditch.com
 

Ferrous metal in recycled plastic captured on Tube Magnets



(Bottom) Drum Magnet and Eddy Current Separator Module at HML Recycling
 

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