Inside the Eddy Current Separator market: field notes, specs, and real-world wins

If you’re weighing a move into non-ferrous recovery, the Eddy Current Separator is the bit of kit that quietly moves your yield and your P&L. Built in Dafu Village, Qingyuan Town, Qingyuan District, Baoding City, Hebei Province, this machine has been getting a lot of attention in MRFs, e‑waste lines, and auto shredder residue (ASR) clean-up. To be honest, it’s not flashy—just brutally effective when dialed in.

Why it’s trending

Two macro-drivers: rising aluminum demand and stricter purity thresholds. Many customers say gate specs are tightening to ISRI-grade expectations on twitch and mixed nonferrous. In fact, we’re seeing procurement teams ask for documented test runs, not just brochures. That’s healthy pressure.

What the Eddy Current Separator is for

• Copper and aluminum power cables, aluminum profiles, cast Al sand mix
• Auto shredder residue (ASR), nonferrous metal chips
• PCB ash, electronic waste fines, poly-metallic mixtures
• Aluminum dross, glass streams containing nonferrous

Process flow and methods (how we run it)

1. Pre-shred to target size; remove ferrous via overband/drum magnet.
2. Screening: split at 0–10 mm, 10–30 mm, and >30 mm for optimized rotor speed.
3. Feed regulation: vibratory feeder to create a thin, even monolayer across belt.
4. Eddy Current Separator: high-speed nonferrous repulsion; adjustable splitter.
5. Dust control: enclosure + ports for 2,500–4,000 m³/h extraction (real-world may vary).
6. QA testing: 30-minute run, mass balance, ISRI-grade sampling; report ejection curve and purity.

Service life markers (typical): belt ≈ 6–12 months, bearings ≈ 2–3 years, protective wear liners ≈ 12–24 months depending on fines and glass. Testing standards usually reference ISO 9001 QMS routines, motor conformity per IEC 60034, and WEEE treatment practices per EN 50625—more on that below.

Key specifications (typical build)

Working width	800 / 1000 / 1200 / 1500 mm
Rotor speed	2,000–3,500 rpm (VFD adjustable)
Pole count	22–38 poles (high-frequency design)
Particle size window	≈ 5–150 mm (best at 10–80 mm)
Separation efficiency	Up to 92–98% Al recovery at >20 mm; purity 90–97% (real-world)
Main drive	11–22 kW (IEC 60034), IP54 motor
Belt	PU composite, anti-wear, crowned pulleys
Certifications	ISO 9001; CE (Machinery Directive)

How it stacks up (vendor snapshots)

Criteria	OW Recycling	Brand A	Brand B
Rotor type	High-frequency, thin-wall	Standard rotor	High-frequency
Custom widths	Yes (800–1500 mm)	Limited	Yes
Lead time	≈ 4–8 weeks	8–12 weeks	6–10 weeks
Warranty	12–18 months	12 months	12 months
After-sales	Remote + on-site commissioning	On request	Regional
Certifications	ISO 9001, CE	CE	ISO 9001

Customization notes: pole count tuning for fines, splitter geometry by fraction, reinforced belt for glass, enclosure kits for EN 50625-aligned WEEE plants.

Field results (quick case snapshots)

• ASR cleanup, 30–80 mm: Al recovery 95.2%, purity 94.1%, throughput 8 t/h. Operators liked the VFD presets—less fiddling mid-shift.
• PCB ash, 5–20 mm: Copper concentrate at 91% purity after two passes; belt wear higher than average (glass fines), mitigated with PU upgrade.
• Al dross rework: 2.5 t/h, payback ≈ 7.5 months at regional Al pricing (I know—depends on your energy costs and labor).

Customer voice: “Surprisingly forgiving on mixed feeds; once we opened the splitter by 8 mm, mis-throws fell off.” Another comment we hear: maintenance is straightforward, but don’t skimp on bearing checks.

Compliance, safety, and test data

Typical documentation pack includes ISO 9001 certificate, CE conformity per EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, motor data sheets (IEC 60034), and a factory test log: rotor balance, belt tracking, magnetization level, and a 30‑minute separation trial with mass-balance sheet. For WEEE operations, alignment with EN 50625 series is increasingly requested. Purity targets usually reference ISRI Scrap Specifications for grade definitions.

Bottom line

If you need more aluminum and copper out of a stubborn stream, the Eddy Current Separator is the lever. Get your sizing right, keep the belt clean, and document your split settings. The machine will do the rest.

Authoritative citations

1. ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems—Requirements.
2. EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and CE conformity guidance.
3. IEC 60034-1 Rotating electrical machines—Rating and performance.
4. EN 50625 series: Collection, logistics and treatment requirements for WEEE.
5. ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular—Nonferrous guidelines.