DOE E-SCRAP Prize recognizes Garner Products’ DiskMantler

Garner Products, Roseville, California, has announced that its DiskMantler has won the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement (E-SCRAP) Prize for its approach to hard drive disassembly.

Using controlled shock, harmonics and synchronized vibrations, the DiskMantler loosens and ejects hard drive screws. According to the company, in less than 60 seconds, the DiskMantler separates the PC board, cover, neodymium magnets, disks and platters from the chassis.

Photo courtesy of Garner Products

By delivering energy pulses throughout the hard drive’s structure, the DiskMangler creates a multipoint wave that loosens all screw locations at once—even those hidden beneath labels or covers, Garner Products says, unlike traditional CNC robotic systems that remove screws one by one. This process is particularly effective for modern media challenges, such as helium-filled drives with welded covers, and results in a cleaner waste stream for more effective recycling, according to the company. 

“No other tool on the market matches the DiskMantler’s effectiveness, sustainability and innovation in hard drive decommissioning,” says Michelle Stofan, vice president of Garner Products. “The DiskMantler is transforming how the industry approaches hard drive recycling. Winning the Department of Energy’s E-SCRAP Prize affirms the impact our DiskMantler technology is making in advancing sustainable e-waste solutions and promoting a circular economy.”

Traditional hard drive recycling methods, such as shredding and smelting, can destroy valuable components, generate hazardous waste and require extensive postprocessing, Garner Products says. The DiskMantler provides an automated alternative that improves material recovery while reducing environmental impact, and its efficiency in recovering rare-earth elements and other valuable materials supports the growing demand for sustainable manufacturing and resource conservation, the company adds.