Recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals – modern technologies for a circular economy

Metal recycling is one of the central pillars of the modern circular economy. Whether we are talking about steel, aluminum, copper or zinc, these materials can be reused almost infinitely without the loss of mechanical properties.
Through modern integrated technologies WEX Recycling, ferrous and non-ferrous metals are collected, sorted, shredded and refined efficiently, helping to reduce the consumption of natural resources and CO₂ emissions.

What are ferrous and non-ferrous metals

ferrous metals

are the metals containing iron: steel, cast iron, tin, industrial scrap metal. . . It is characterized by hardness, strength and magnetic properties, being massively used in construction, automotive and heavy industry.

Non-ferrous metals

They do not contain iron and include Aluminum, Copper, Bronze, Zinc, Nickel, Lead etc. They are lighter, corrosion resistant and excellent conductors of electricity, being indispensable in electronics, energy and transport.

The recycling process

Collection and pretreatment of metal waste

Waste comes from industrial sources (factories, construction, automotive) or from municipal flows. At this stage, impurities, plastic, rubber or glass are removed.

Automatic metal sorting

Wex Recycling Integrates Technologies Optical, magnetic and induction For automatic separation:

• Magnetic separators for ferrous metals;
• Swirl current dividers (Eddy Current) for aluminum and copper;
• NIR cameras and inductive sensors for precise sorting.

Shredling and chopping

After sorting, the materials are entered into Industrial shredders Vecoplan (Vaz, Vez, Vvz series) With capacity up to 20 t/hour, which fragments the materials into uniform sizes, ready for refining.

Deferring and refining

Magnetic separators remove the waste iron, and ITR Recycling Refiners Technologies Cleans non-ferrous fractions for pure aluminum, copper or bronze grains.

Melting and reprocessing

Refined metals are melted and turned into bars, ingots or granules, ready for reuse in industry.

Equipment and technological lines recommended by Wex Recycling

Benefits of Metal Recycling

• Reducing ore consumption – Each ton of recycled steel saves 1.1 tons of iron ore.
• Energy savings – Aluminum recycling reduces energy consumption by up to 95% compared to primary production.
• CO2 emission reduction – a direct contribution to the climate neutrality of the industry.
• High profitability – Metals have high market value and can be resold in the form of secondary raw materials.
• EU compliance – All WEX equipment complies with the European Waste Management Directives (Directive 2008/98/EC).

Wex Recycling Solutions

Wex Recycling provides Full „turnkey” lines for Recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, which include:

• Designed customized technological flows
• Delivery, installation and commissioning
• Operator training and periodic maintenance
• Consulting for European funds (PNRR – component C3 I1.D)

Technological partners:

• Vecoplan (Germany) - global leader in Industrial and refining choppers.
• ITR Recycling Technologies & O.M.A.R. (Italy) – Specialized in separation, filtration and treatment of metal waste.

The recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals is not only an ecological necessity, but also a major economic opportunity for the Romanian industry.
With WEX Recycling solutions, factories can turn metal waste into a profitable resource, reducing environmental impact and creating new sustainable income streams.

FAQs

1. What difference is there between ferrous and non-ferrous metals?
Ferrous metals contain iron (eg: steel, cast iron), and non-ferrous ones do not (eg: aluminum, copper, zinc).

2. What equipment is needed for a complete metal recycling line?
Shredders, magnetic separators, eddy current separators, sorting and refining stations.

3. Can aluminum be recycled indefinitely?
Yes, aluminum retains its properties at every melting, without loss of quality.

4. What is the average capacity of a Wex Recycling line?
amongst 2 and 20 tons/hour, depending on the flow configuration.

5. What economic benefits does a factory that recycle metals have?
Low production costs, recovery of valuable materials and income from the sale of refined metals.