Metallco Group installed two advanced sorting systems to improve its aluminum recycling operations in Norway. This enables the company to achieve a high purity level (up to 99%) in its aluminum scrap.
According to Laurie Feinberg, CEO and majority owner of Metallco (in an interview), international recycling businesses are facing a number of challenges and opportunities. “The life span of consumer products is much shorter, which is resulting in more and more waste,” he noted. “This means that many more people are bringing their waste to our yards for recycling. On top of that, laws and regulations stipulate that the industry needs to dismantle and sort everything which is going out of use. So, if you are tearing down a building, the iron has to be separated from the concrete. Volumes have increased a lot in recent years, as has the demand for recycled products. In addition, government regulations demand that ever more products be produced from recycled materials. It is a win-win situation for our business, I would say.”
In order to address these trends, Metallco implements advanced sorting technologies in its operations. When the company started up its most recent sorting plant in Norway in 2022, they installed advanced sorting technology from STEINERT, including two EddyC eddy current separators and several x-ray sorting systems with transmission and fluorescence technology. In addition, the company is installing a LSS I laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) sorting system for separating aluminum by alloy type.
The company opted for STEINERT as its sorting system due to its advanced technologies and high reliability. “We evaluated four different suppliers and, in the end, we found STEINERT to be the one which was competitive in price and superior in experienced quality,” said Feinberg. “These machines don’t need a lot of maintenance and servicing. This means they’re very reliable and they simply work and work and work for us, which is very good for our company.”
Metallco begins the metal recovery process by shredding the scrap that it received. It then goes through the sorting operations, with the first step involving screens and conveyors, along with magnetic and eddy current separators.
This step is followed by x-ray fluorescence and optical detection systems from STEINERT, including two XSS T EVO 5.0 x-ray transmission sorting systems. One is installed downstream of the company’s eddy current sorting machine, where it sorts aluminum from heavy metals. The second system is used to separate cast and wrought aluminum. This enables Metallco to achieve 99% purity in its scrap materials.
With the installation of the forthcoming LIBS sorting system, Metallco will be able to raise the purity level of its aluminum even higher. The LIBS technology is able to identify, quantify, and separate different alloy grades. “The latest machine that we have ordered is a LIBS machine, a laser technology that will enable us to sort aluminum alloys from series 1000 to 8000,” said Feinberg. “This makes it the ultimate solution.”