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Basic Scrap Metal Recycling Processes

07 December 2020

The scrap metal recycling industry has become part of the norms when it comes to achieving sustainability. Since a lot of equipment, appliances, and devices today are generally made from metal materials, the industry has managed to provide the needed metal materials by different manufacturers. The same industry has likewise paved the way for businesses to follow suit when it comes to proper disposal, recycling, and adoption of scrap metal materials on their respective processes.

But before manufacturers and similar businesses get access to scrap metal sheets and materials, these products undergo various recycling and repurposing processes. All these things are products of the scrap metal recycling industry. And without the following basic processes of scrap metal recycling, it would be impossible for manufacturers to mass-produce products without depleting the natural metal resources.

Collection

Recycling centres would initially collect different types of scrap metal products, which mostly include old vehicles, steel structures, railroad tracks, equipment, appliances, and office furniture. Majority of these products are comprised of ferrous, non-ferrous, or both types of metals that can be easily recycled and reprocessed again for new metal sheets and products. No matter what shape, type, or size, these facilities will be glad to collect them and even buy them from clients or customers.

Sortation

The next step in the scrap metal recycling process is the sorting of scrap metal materials. The recycling centres would normally separate the metal according to their types, recyclability, and quality. During this specific process, the facilities may utilise magnets and sensors in identifying and separating different types of scrap metal more quickly.

Processing

After sorting the scrap metal materials, the recycling centres would now process and crush them into smaller pieces through the use of compactors. Shrinking the size of the collected scrap materials allows them to be fitted on the conveyor belt before sending them to the shredding equipment. Once these scrap metals are shredded, they are now sent to another area for the melting process.

Melting

As mentioned, the next step after processing and shredding is the melting process. Melting the smaller pieces of scrap metals is more sustainable in the long run as it does not consume too much time and energy. The crushed scrap metals are placed onto the large fuel-efficient furnaces so they can be melted under a few minutes or hours, depending on the total volume of metal products placed inside.

Purification

By the time the scrap metals have melted, they must now be purified to eradicate imperfections and defects. The purification process allows the scrap metal to boast features and quality that makes them pretty much useable and even feel like brand new. This specific phase would vary depending on the recycling centres. Most of them, however, turn to electrolysis. After this process, the metal materials are solidified by placing them into the conveyor belt and sending them to a cooling chamber.

After all the metal materials have solidified, they are now prepared to be transported to different manufacturing plants and establishments. These establishments can now use them to produce new equipment, appliances, and devices out of metal materials. To know more about scrap metal recycling process, feel free to contact us at Victorian Metal Traders.

 

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