Linear Screener for Scrap Recycling

Background

Today, the scrap metal recycling sector around the world is estimated to be worth around £207bn and will register almost 3% growth in revenue by 2024. In the UK alone, there are now over 250 organisations working within the scrap metal recycling industry, with a revenue estimated to be around £7bn.  To further advance efficiency and reduce costs, companies across the UK are now looking to use technology in the processing of scrap components to separate and sort precious metals. Gough Engineering’s expertise was required by one particular business in designing and supplying the right solution to assist in their recycling operations.

The Company

Throughout the UK’s network of scrap recycling businesses, a few specialise in the recycling of car components such as catalytic converters. Our London-based customer specialises in and is fully equipped to process all ISRI grades of non-ferrous scrap, catalytic converters (AutoCAD), precious metals and WEEE materials. 

The Task

The recovery process entails splitting the catalytic converter to recycle the metal casing as well as the internal ceramic honeycomb which is used to filter out toxic emissions. This internal ceramic material has precious metals infused into the structure such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. The ceramic is crushed and manually sorted through to ensure no oversize particles or foreign bodies enter a sizing ball mill.

This manual process is obviously time consuming and inefficient. The customer asked that we design a linear screener to separate out oversize material and to fit into an existing area above the ball mill, fed by an existing bulk bag station.

The Result

Gough designed and manufactured a mild steel framed stainless steel decked linear screener with a single 5mm punched plate screen deck. The unit incorporated a sluice gate at the infeed end to ensure that the material feed from the bulk bag was controlled and consistent when flowing onto the screening area. Material 5mm and below, once passed through the screen, was discharged into a flexible pipe into the ball mill. Oversize material is transferred to a ‘dead plate’ area at the end of the screener where it is hand-picked periodically during the shift.

The system was well received by both management and operators alike and has proven invaluable within the facility.  Our customer was exceptionally pleased with the reduced labour requirement within that particular process area.

After Sales Support

As with all our supplied equipment, the Gough Engineering service and parts department is always ready to help keep your equipment running efficiently and effectively with advice on parts replacements, servicing and managing appropriate parts supply with your scheduled maintenance.

Further Reading

Maximising Profitability from Catalytic Converter Recycling, BMRA Article, 2019

Rackling Catalytic Converter Thefts, BMRA Article, 2019

BMRA website