Recovering Non-Ferrous Metals from Mixed Waste: An Eddy Current Separator Application in Mexico

Eddy current separation is the established industrial method for recovering non-ferrous metals — primarily aluminum — from mixed waste streams including municipal solid waste, automotive shredder residue, and e-waste. Well-configured eddy current systems achieve recovery rates exceeding 95% with aluminum concentrate purity suitable for direct smelting. Facilities that rely on manual sorting alone typically recover 60–75% of available non-ferrous content, leaving significant revenue on the sorting room floor.

This illustrative case describes a mixed-waste processing facility in northern Mexico handling over 400 metric tons of mixed waste per day. The facility's existing recovery process relied on overband magnets for ferrous removal and manual pickers for non-ferrous — a combination that limited aluminum recovery and was sensitive to operator absenteeism and fatigue.

Requirements

Automated non-ferrous separation processing ≥ 1 MT/hr on a single unit
Particle size range: 5–200 mm (covering crushed aluminum cans, copper wire fragments, and small electronic components)
Operation in dusty, variable-humidity outdoor conditions
Minimal operator intervention during continuous production runs

Machine Deployed: Reylong JLECS-1000W

The Eddy Current Non-Ferrous Metal Separator Line (Model JLECS-1000W) combines three separation stages in one system. Key specifications:

Capacity: 1,000 kg/h
Separation particle size: 5–200 mm
Working width: 1,000 mm
Magnetic field strength: 3,000 GS
Max rotor speed: 3,000 RPM
Three-stage integrated system: vibratory feeder → high-intensity magnetic drum (ferrous removal) → eddy current roller (non-ferrous ejection)
Total power: 12 kW
Machine dimensions: 4,500 × 2,100 × 2,500 mm / Weight: 3,400 kg

The adjustable splitter plate allows operators to fine-tune the separation boundary between aluminum, other non-ferrous fractions, and residual waste — enabling optimization for different input compositions without stopping the line.

Outcome

Non-ferrous recovery rate exceeded 95% on aluminum-dominant input streams, consistent with published performance benchmarks for high-intensity eddy current systems at 3,000 GS field strength
Ferrous pre-removal via the integrated magnetic drum stage protected the eddy current rotor from magnetic contamination and extended service intervals
Manual picking positions reduced from 4 to 1 — one operator for quality spot-checking, versus full manual sorting previously
Throughput: 950–1,000 kg/hr achieved on shredded mixed-metal input within the rated capacity range