PML
Eddy Current Magnetic Separator
Eddy Current Magnetic Separator
Starting from Rs.216,656
Download Catalogue (PDF)
Product Details
At a Glance
An eddy current magnetic separator recovers non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper and brass from mixed recycling and processing streams, using induced eddy currents to repel them away from the material flow rather than attracting them like a standard ferrous separator. It's the only separator in PML's range built to recover non-ferrous metal rather than remove ferrous contamination.
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. See how customers are using this equipment in foundry and recycling on our foundry & recycling page, or in the steel industry on our steel industry page.
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.
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 — our engineers tune these to your specific material stream during commissioning.
What is the system built from?
A durable non-magnetic conveyor belt, a magnetic rotor built from rare-earth (typically neodymium) magnets in alternating polarity, an adjustable-speed drive, adjustable discharge splitters, and an electronic control system.
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.
Why Magnetic Strength Drops in Ferrous Separators (and When to Replace)
Separation efficiency falls as magnetic strength decreases. Below are the most common causes of reduced field strength in NdFeB (neodymium) magnetic separation equipment, along with the warning signs that indicate a magnet or separator needs replacing.
Causes of Reduced Magnetic Strength
- Thermal demagnetization: Standard Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) grades lose magnetic strength when exposed to temperatures above their rating — often starting at 80°C / 176°F for standard grades. Exceeding these limits causes a permanent loss of magnetic flux.
- Corrosion and core oxidation: NdFeB is highly iron-rich and oxidizes quickly. If moisture, washdown liquids, or corrosive chemicals breach the outer stainless steel cladding, the magnet swells, crumbles, and loses field strength.
- Mechanical damage and internal cracking: NdFeB is brittle. Dropping magnetic tubes during cleaning, or subjecting them to heavy equipment vibration, causes internal micro-fractures that break the continuous magnetic circuit.
- Strong opposing magnetic fields: A sufficiently strong opposing field can overcome a material's coercivity and flip or randomize its magnetic domain polarity. High alternating current (AC) electric fields, in particular, create powerful local alternating magnetic fields that rapidly scramble domain alignment.
- Material buildup ("air gap" effect): Accumulated fine iron on the surface acts as a barrier, pushing the active magnetic field further away from incoming material. Because magnetic force decays exponentially with distance, even a few millimetres of buildup severely reduces capture rates.
- Increased process velocity or burden depth: Running material too fast, or in overly thick layers, prevents fine ferrous particles from spending enough time in the peak magnetic field zone to be pulled out of the flow.
Signs an NdFeB Magnet or Separator Needs Replacing
- Drop in gauss rating: Annual or semi-annual gauss testing shows a permanent drop of 10–15% or more from the baseline specification.
- Bulging or "pillow" swelling: The protective stainless steel tube cladding looks warped, swollen, or cracked — a sign of internal oxidation where rust has expanded inside the shell.
- Dead spots along the field: Measuring with a gauss meter reveals localised spots with zero or drastically lower magnetic pull across the grid or tube surface.
- Downstream metal contamination: Ferrous fines or tramp iron start showing up in final product testing or downstream machinery detectors despite the separator being clean.
- Structural casing punctures: Scratches, gouges, or pinhole leaks in the stainless steel jacket expose the internal magnetic circuit to moisture and process fluids.
Regular gauss testing (at least annually) is the most reliable way to catch strength loss before it affects downstream product purity — PML's own range of Gaussmeters and magnetic field meters covers this. If you're seeing any of the signs above, talk to our team about testing or replacing your separator.
