Maximizing value in copper recycling

Published August 02, 2024

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Unlock your copper potential

With copper markets as they are today, many processors in the recycled materials industry are working to maximize the value of their materials.

“When the export markets changed, many operators in North America who had been exporting unprepared material shifted their model and began installing processing capacity,” says Christopher Simon of SWEED.

Since 1955 SWEED has been engineering and manufacturing high-quality, efficient machinery for a variety of industries. In the metals recycling business, they are well known for their high-level consultation and building systems to suit customers’ processing needs, whether small, medium or large. Most recently, the firm introduced the S2000 modular wire chop line.

“This new system marks SWEED’s debut of an ‘off the shelf’ turnkey granulation plant for wire processing, designed as a starting point for recyclers looking to venture into wire chopping. While other options exist, most are manufactured overseas, which can pose challenges in parts and support availability,” says Simon.

The S2000 is rated to process 2,000 pounds per hour. “Our new modular unit is designed to handle varying input materials and can achieve high throughput rates, surpassing 2,000 pounds per hour in optimal conditions. Unlike claims of up to 4,000 pounds per hour with similar configurations, we prioritize realistic production figures.”

The S2000 has a compact footprint but sets a high standard for throughput, recovery and purity of the finished product. The system includes a prechopper, conveyor with magnet for ferrous separation, a granulator, air density separation table, dust collection system and features either Allen Bradley or Siemens PLC & HMI.

“While this system can be standardized, SWEED retains the flexibility to accommodate future expansion and customization needs. For example, we can easily integrate features like stainless steel removal upon request. We recognize that processors’ requirements evolve with changes in production and quality standards. SWEED systems, including the S2000, are engineered with this flexibility in mind, ensuring we can adapt alongside recyclers as their material and processing needs evolve,” shares Simon.

While the S2000 is a standard unit, it’s not new. “We have dozens of these systems operating across the country,” Simon says. “The difference now is that we’ve packaged it all together in a standard unit. This removes all the development work in putting a system together.”

The S2000 also benefits from all the quality built into SWEED’s machinery, from superior engineering and heavy fabrication to complete domestic support. Spare parts are readily available as is all the technical support the industry has come to expect from SWEED.

There is also an S2000+, which adds a second air table and a turbo mill to increase recovery of small wire fractions.

Contact SWEED today to learn more about our modular wire chopping lines. Engineered and built by the North American leader in wire chopping systems, these units deliver unmatched efficiency, throughput and recovery.