Product Details
Every separator on this page catches ferrous metal by attracting it to a magnetic field. The PML Eddy Current Magnetic Separator does the opposite job — it recovers non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper and brass from mixed recycling and processing streams by repelling them away from the material flow, using electromagnetic induction rather than simple attraction.
The Principle: Faraday's Law of Induction
As a non-ferrous metal particle moves through the rapidly changing field of the rotating magnetic rotor, an electromotive force is induced within it, generating circulating eddy currents. Those eddy currents create their own magnetic field — one that opposes the rotor's field — producing a repulsive force that physically flings the non-ferrous particle away from the material stream, into its own collection trajectory.
How the Full System Works
- Feeding
Mixed material is fed onto a vibratory tray feeder, which carries it toward a magnetic drum separator.
- Ferrous Removal First
The magnetic drum separator removes ferrous material from the feed before it reaches the eddy current stage.
- Induction & Repulsion
The remaining material passes over the rapidly rotating magnetic rotor; eddy currents induced in non-ferrous particles generate a repulsive force that ejects them from the stream.
- Collection
Adjustable splitters direct the separated non-ferrous metal, non-metallic material and any remaining residue into separate collection bins.
Construction
The system comprises a durable, non-magnetic conveyor belt; a magnetic rotor built from powerful rare-earth (typically neodymium) magnets arranged in alternating polarity; a drive mechanism with adjustable rotor speed to optimise separation for different materials; adjustable splitters at the discharge end; and an electronic control system regulating belt and rotor speed.
What Affects Separation Performance
Rotor speed, magnetic field strength, particle size and shape, material feed rate and composition, splitter position, conveyor belt speed, and environmental conditions all influence how cleanly the system separates — our engineers tune these to your specific material stream during commissioning.
Key Advantages
- Recovers Value from Waste
Pulls saleable non-ferrous metal out of streams that would otherwise go to landfill or low-value disposal.
- High Efficiency, Low Maintenance
A largely passive rotor-and-belt system with few wear-prone components.
- Versatile Across Material Streams
Works on municipal solid waste, e-waste, shredded vehicle residue, glass, wood and foundry sand.
- Environmental and Economic Benefits
Reduces landfill volume while creating a recoverable revenue stream from separated metal.
Where It's Used
Recycling (recovering aluminium, copper and brass from municipal solid waste and e-waste), automotive shredding operations, glass and wood recycling, foundry sand recycling, and construction and demolition waste processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from a magnetic drum or pulley separator?
Those attract and hold ferrous (magnetic) metal. The eddy current separator does the opposite — it repels non-ferrous metals like aluminium and copper away from the material stream using induced eddy currents, recovering metals that a standard magnetic separator can't touch.
Do I still need ferrous separation first?
Yes — the system is designed with a magnetic drum stage upstream to remove ferrous material before the eddy current stage, so each stage handles the metal type it's built for.
What materials can it recover?
Primarily aluminium, copper and brass, from streams like municipal solid waste, e-waste, shredded vehicle residue, and construction and demolition debris.
Why Buy From PML
- 65+ years of magnetic separation engineering — extending our core expertise into non-ferrous recovery systems.
- Custom-engineered systems — rotor speed, field strength and splitter configuration tuned to your material stream.
- Excellent after-sales support — including calibration and performance audits.
Looking to recover non-ferrous metal from your waste or process stream? Enquire now and our engineering team will assess your material.