Applications & Markets
Scrap Metal Recycling & Handling Systems
Conveying, screening, and separation systems built for the most punishing material stream in recycling — ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, from yard infeed to shredder downstream recovery.
Sherbrooke OEM designs, manufactures, and integrates heavy-duty handling and separation systems for scrap metal operations. Typical systems combine steel-pan apron infeed conveyors fabricated in wear-resistant plate, vibratory and finger screens for fines removal and size classification, overhead magnets for ferrous recovery, and eddy current separators for non-ferrous metals — including shredder downstream recovery lines. Systems are fabricated in Sherbrooke, Quebec and installed across Canada and the United States.
How a Scrap Recovery Line Works
- Infeed. Grapple- or loader-fed steel apron conveyor absorbs surge loading and meters dense scrap onto the line.
- Screening. Vibratory or finger screens remove dirt and fines and classify the stream into workable size ranges.
- Ferrous recovery. Overhead self-cleaning magnets pull steel and iron continuously off the line.
- Non-ferrous recovery. Eddy current separators eject aluminum, copper, and brass from the remaining stream.
- Quality control. Picking stations or sensor-based sorting purify products to market grades.
- Storage & load-out. Sorted grades accumulate in heavy bunker bays for shipping or further processing.
Key Equipment in Scrap Systems
Z-Pan & Apron Conveyors
Impact- and cut-resistant steel-pan infeed for grapple-fed scrap.
Vibratory & Finger Screens
Fines, dirt, and size classification of shredded or loose scrap.
Overhead Magnets
Electro and permanent self-cleaning ferrous recovery.
Eddy Current Separators
Aluminum, copper, and brass recovery from mixed streams.
Picking Stations
Elevated QC platforms for product purification.
Bunker Walls & Storage
Heavy push-wall storage engineered for dense material.
Scrap Metal Recycling — Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment is used in scrap metal handling and recovery systems?
Scrap systems are built around heavy steel-pan apron conveyors for infeed, vibratory or finger screens to remove fines and dirt, overhead magnets for ferrous recovery, eddy current separators for non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper, picking stations for quality control, and bunker walls or storage bays sized for dense material.
Why do scrap yards use steel apron conveyors instead of belts?
Scrap is dense, sharp, and frequently loaded by grapple or loader bucket in heavy surges. Overlapping steel pans absorb that impact and resist cutting and gouging that destroys rubber belts. Apron conveyors built from wear-resistant plate handle shredded scrap, cast pieces, and demolition steel for years where belt conveyors would fail in months.
How are non-ferrous metals recovered from a mixed scrap stream?
After overhead magnets remove the ferrous fraction, an eddy current separator induces opposing magnetic fields in conductive non-ferrous pieces, physically ejecting aluminum, copper, and brass from the remaining stream. Screening ahead of the eddy current into narrow size ranges significantly improves recovery and product purity.
Can sorting equipment be integrated downstream of a shredder?
Yes. Shredder downstream systems are a common application: the shredded stream is screened into size fractions, ferrous is taken off magnetically, and the remaining mix passes through eddy current and sensor-based sorting stages to recover non-ferrous metals from residue. The layout depends on shredder capacity and the products the yard markets.
Moving dense, abrasive scrap?
Tell us your material, loading method, and throughput — our engineering team will propose equipment built to survive it. Engineered and manufactured in Sherbrooke, QC, serving Canada and the United States.
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