Eddy Current Separator
High-frequency rotor that ejects aluminium, copper and zinc from mixed streams, separating particles down to 3 mm at >99% aluminium recovery.
- Motor power
- 7 kW (conveyor + magnetic rotor)
- Belt width
- 500 mm standard; 600 / 800 / 1,000 mm available
- Belt speed
- 1.5–3.5 m/s, adjustable
- Rotor speed
- 3,000–4,500 rpm
How it works
The eddy current separator is the machine that decides the value of a non-ferrous stream. A high-speed permanent-magnet rotor at the head pulley induces eddy currents in conductive particles, and the resulting repulsive force throws aluminium, copper, brass and zinc on a different trajectory from plastic, glass and rubber.
The rotor runs at 3,000–4,500 rpm. That high frequency is what allows effective separation on fine particles down to 3 mm, where older low-frequency designs lose material to the waste stream. An eccentric pole arrangement also improves recovery of flat aluminium can fragments.
Belt speed is adjustable between 1.5 and 3.5 m/s so the same machine can be tuned to different material densities, and the splitter plate position is set per material type. The stainless belt surface is non-conductive, which avoids false repulsion.
Sorting equipment separates a mixed stream into saleable fractions using a physical property that differs between them — density, conductivity, particle size or magnetic response. The machine does not create value; it releases value that is already in the stream by moving each fraction to where it can be sold separately.
Placement in the line matters more than the machine itself. A separator fed with material that is too large, too wet or too layered will underperform regardless of its settings, which is why these units are specified against the upstream shredder or screen that prepares their feed.
Key features
- High-frequency rotor (up to 4,500 rpm) effective down to 3 mm particles
- >99% separation efficiency for aluminium; >97% for copper and zinc above 3 mm
- Adjustable belt speed and splitter position for each material
- Non-conductive stainless belt prevents false repulsion
- Belt widths from 500 mm to 1,000 mm
How to choose sorting and screening
- Define the split you need to sell: ferrous out, non-ferrous out, or a size cut. Each answer points at a different machine rather than a different setting.
- Check the feed preparation upstream. Separation efficiency falls away quickly if the material arriving is not sized correctly or is carrying moisture.
- Ask for the recovery figure and what it was measured on — the same machine quotes differently on prepared vs unprepared feed.
- Plan the discharge: two fractions need two conveyors or two bays, and that layout decision is usually harder than the equipment choice.
Technical data
| Motor power | 7 kW (conveyor + magnetic rotor) |
|---|---|
| Belt width | 500 mm standard; 600 / 800 / 1,000 mm available |
| Belt speed | 1.5–3.5 m/s, adjustable |
| Rotor speed | 3,000–4,500 rpm |
| Throughput | 1–5 t/h, material dependent |
| Particle size | 3–100 mm (optimal 5–60 mm) |
Typical applications
- Post-shredder aluminium can sorting (UBC)
- Wire granulator lines separating copper from PVC
- Auto shredder residue (ASR) non-ferrous recovery
- WEEE and construction demolition metal recovery
Specifications are indicative for the model family and are confirmed against your material in the quotation. Wear parts, power supply and control options are listed per project.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity does the Eddy Current Separator handle?
1–5 t/h, material dependent. Throughput depends on the material, its bulk density and how evenly the machine is fed, so the figure is confirmed against your material in the quotation.
What power supply does the Eddy Current Separator need?
7 kW (conveyor + magnetic rotor). Confirm the supply available on site — voltage, phases and available capacity — before the machine is configured, because the drive is built to the destination supply.
Where is the Eddy Current Separator normally installed?
Typical installations: Post-shredder aluminium can sorting (UBC); Wire granulator lines separating copper from PVC; Auto shredder residue (ASR) non-ferrous recovery. Siting is decided by the feed arrangement and the space needed around the machine for maintenance access.
How does an eddy current separator sort non-ferrous metal?
A fast-spinning magnetic rotor induces eddy currents in conductive particles. Those currents create a opposing magnetic field that throws the particle forward, while non-conductive material falls away normally. The result is a split between aluminium, copper and other non-ferrous metal on one side and plastic, glass and stone on the other.
What size material does a separator need?
Sorting works best on material that has already been reduced to a narrow size band — a separator cannot pick metal out of a piece that is still too large for the belt, and fines behave differently from coarse pieces. The upstream shredder or trommel defines the band the separator sees.
Often specified together
Copper Wire Granulator
Dry-type granulator that turns mixed insulated cable into clean copper granules, from a 220 V workshop unit to a 600 kg/h production machine.
Industrial Metal Shredder
Single-, dual- and four-shaft shredders that reduce bulky metal scrap to a consistent 50–300 mm output, with anti-jam reversal and hardened blade sets.