Japan University and Recycler Develop Dry-type Scrap Separating Machine

Japanese university, metal recycler and recycling equipment maker succeeded in co-development of a dry-type gravity separating machine for aluminium scrap under an industrial technology developing project supported by New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), announced by NEDO on Wednesday. The equipment can separate and collect aluminium scrap from mix metal, containing ferrous scrap, non-ferrous metal scrap and plastic scrap, by gravity difference.

Okayama University, Hirakin of Okayama based metal recycler, and Nagata Engineering of Kitakyusyu based recycling equipment maker join the project. To blow up mix metal particles by wind inside the equipment, fluidized bed of solid gas represents a similar characteristic as liquid. Fluidized bed enables separation and collection of aluminium scrap.

This equipment is expected to lower separating cost of mix scrap, most of which is exported to China and other countries for cheaper separation cost, and stimulate domestic recycling. Mix scrap is usually separated by wet-type gravity separation method using heavy liquid. This method requires wastewater treatment, cleaning and drying processes after the separation, especially difficult in cold climate areas.

Nagata Engineering explains the standard size equipment is approximately 70 million yen without construction cost.