Crushes motors and mixed metal scrap and automatically separates pure copper, iron and aluminum.
| Feedstock | Electric motors, stators, transformers, mixed metal waste |
| Stage 1, Shredding | Hammer or knife shredder for reduction to small fractions |
| Stage 2, Magnetic separation | Iron and steel extraction |
| Stage 3, Eddy current | Copper and aluminum separation from the non-ferrous fraction |
| Recovered products | Pure fractions of copper, iron/steel, aluminum |
| Dust capture | Integrated filtration system |
| Control | PLC, continuous flow, automatic alarm |
| Components | CE marked where applicable |
| Capacity | Configurable according to the project |
| Material | Recovered metals |
| Used electric motors | Copper (winding), steel (casing), aluminum |
| Wound stators | Copper, laminated steel |
| Small transformers | Copper, steel, sometimes aluminum |
| Mixed metal waste | Iron, steel, copper, aluminum |
| Various electrical components | Ferrous and non-ferrous metals mixed together |
Used electric motors, stators, and mixed metal waste contain valuable copper, iron, aluminum, and steel, but mixed together and hard to separate by hand. A metal shredding and sorting line solves this problem in a single automated flow: it shreds the material into small fractions, then separates the metals through magnetic separation for iron and steel and through an eddy current separator for the non-ferrous metals, producing copper, iron, and aluminum fractions of high purity.
A metal shredding and sorting line is the choice of recyclers who process electric motors, stators, transformers, and mixed metal waste and want to automatically separate the valuable metals to sell at premium prices compared with unsorted mixed scrap. See the full range of recycling equipment and the solutions for metal recovery.
• Shredding and sorting in a single flow, combines mechanical reduction with automatic metal separation, eliminating costly manual sorting.
• Magnetic separation for iron and steel, the magnetic separator precisely extracts the ferrous fractions from the shredded mix.
• Eddy current separator for non-ferrous metals, eddy currents separate copper and aluminum from non-conductive materials and from each other.
• Pure, sellable fractions, copper, iron, and aluminum separated at high purity, sellable at premium prices compared with mixed scrap.
• Motor and stator processing, especially suited to electric motors, wound stators, and transformers with mixed metal content.
• Automatic control, continuous PLC flow, with automatic feeding and an alarm on anomalies.
• Dust capture, the filtration system keeps the work environment clean.
• Scalable, the capacity is sized for the volume of metal waste processed.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Feedstock | Electric motors, stators, transformers, mixed metal waste |
| Stage 1, Shredding | Hammer or knife shredder for reduction to small fractions |
| Stage 2, Magnetic separation | Iron and steel extraction |
| Stage 3, Eddy current | Copper and aluminum separation from the non-ferrous fraction |
| Recovered products | Pure fractions of copper, iron/steel, aluminum |
| Dust capture | Integrated filtration system |
| Control | PLC, continuous flow, automatic alarm |
| Components | CE marked where applicable |
| Capacity | Configurable according to the project |
A metal shredding and sorting line serves non-ferrous metal recyclers, electrical equipment dismantling centers, and operators who collect used electric motors, transformers, and mixed metal waste. Electric motors are a particularly valuable source: they contain high-quality copper in the windings, steel in the casings and stators, and aluminum in some components, all mixed together and hard to separate without dedicated equipment.
Metal waste management is regulated at the European level from the perspective of material recovery and environmental protection; a metal shredding and sorting line delivered in Europe is designed in line with the requirements of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. For integration into a complete metal recovery flow, see also the complete industry solutions.
The copper recovered from motor windings is a high-value raw material: winding copper has high purity and sells at premium prices to smelters and refineries. Automatically separating the copper from the shredded mix, without the labor-intensive manual dismantling of the motors, turns a slow and costly operation into a profitable automated flow.
The eddy current separator is the key technological component: it produces an alternating magnetic field that induces eddy currents in the conductive non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum), generating a repulsion force that separates them from non-conductive materials and, through the difference in conductivity, separates them from each other as well. This technology allows the automatic recovery of non-ferrous metals with an efficiency impossible to achieve by hand.
Wound stators, a major component of electric motors, are notoriously hard to process by hand: the winding copper is tightly wrapped around the laminated steel core, and manual separation is extremely slow. The line shreds the whole stator, freeing the copper from the winding through mechanical action, after which the separators recover the copper and steel separately, fully automating an operation that was previously labor-intensive.
Using the three separated fractions, copper, iron/steel, and aluminum, generates three revenue streams from the same input of mixed metal waste. Each metal has its own market and price: copper at premium prices, steel at the LME price for scrap iron, aluminum at the price of light non-ferrous metals. Separation at high purity maximizes the price of each fraction compared with selling unsorted mixed scrap.
| Material | Recovered metals |
|---|---|
| Used electric motors | Copper (winding), steel (casing), aluminum |
| Wound stators | Copper, laminated steel |
| Small transformers | Copper, steel, sometimes aluminum |
| Mixed metal waste | Iron, steel, copper, aluminum |
| Various electrical components | Ferrous and non-ferrous metals mixed together |
1. The metal waste (motors, stators, mixed) is fed into the shredder.
2. The shredder reduces the material to small fractions, freeing the metals from one another.
3. The magnetic separator extracts the ferrous fractions (iron, steel) from the mix.
4. The remaining non-ferrous fraction enters the eddy current separator.
5. The eddy current separates copper from aluminum through the difference in conductivity.
6. The three fractions (copper, iron/steel, aluminum) are collected separately; the dust is captured.
The PLC system coordinates the flow and signals anomalies. A correctly adjusted metal shredding and sorting line produces pure metal fractions at consistent quality, batch after batch, maximizing the value recovered from each ton of mixed metal waste.
Which metals does a metal shredding and sorting line separate?
It separates the ferrous fractions (iron, steel) through magnetic separation and the non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum) through an eddy current separator. The result is three distinct fractions: copper, iron/steel, and aluminum, each at high purity and sellable separately at better prices than unsorted mixed metal scrap.
Can it process whole electric motors?
Yes. The line shreds whole electric motors, freeing the copper from the winding, the steel from the casing and stators, and the aluminum from components. The separators then recover each metal separately, automating an operation that by hand would require the slow dismantling of each motor.
What is the eddy current separator and how does it work?
The eddy current separator generates an alternating magnetic field that induces eddy currents in the conductive non-ferrous metals. The induced currents generate a repulsion force that throws the non-ferrous metals away, separating them from non-conductive materials. The difference in conductivity between copper and aluminum allows them to be separated into distinct fractions.
What purity do the recovered metal fractions have?
The purity of the fractions depends on the adjustment of the separators and on the composition of the input material. A well-adjusted line produces copper, iron, and aluminum fractions pure enough for direct sale to smelters. Finer sorting of the input material improves the purity of the output fractions.
URSTAG is a premium brand of recycling equipment, with over 15 years of experience. You don't just get a machine, you get a solution engineered by specialists, built from top-tier components and backed by a team that supports you from design through commissioning.
• European engineering, every machine and every complete line is designed by our engineering teams in Europe, with a focus on reliability, safety and energy efficiency.
• Premium components, we build on motors and automation from industry leaders: Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli.
• Over 15 years of experience, we know how materials and machines behave in real-world operation, and we configure each solution for your flow and volume.
• New equipment, configured for you, we supply new units, made to order for your application, with complete technical documentation.
• Delivery, installation and training included, we handle transport, commissioning and operator training, with support throughout the equipment's life.
As a premium brand, URSTAG relies on European engineering, top-tier components and experience. You choose a partner that supports your production long term, with equipment built to run reliably in demanding industrial environments.
Products and services that have earned the appreciation and trust of clients across industry.
with a 3-in-1 laser machine (welding + cleaning + cutting) and a smart capital decision
All delivered equipment meets European quality standards and the DNSH principle, is eligible for acquisitions through EU and PNRR funding, and includes interactive AI-powered manuals for operation, maintenance and operator training.
Media appearances, technical demos and presentations from the most important industrial trade fairs in Europe. See our technology in action.
Over 100 companies in manufacturing, logistics and industry have chosen Uzinex as their strategic partner.
All references→
„We do stainless-steel metal fabrication dedicated to restaurant kitchens. The UZINEX equipment was a radical change: modernization, an increase in production and quality.”
„I had no idea, I was completely clueless. And you started to explain to me. You told me what technologies to choose, what packaging to produce, what would work better on the market.”
„We use a single person who can operate 3-4 machines. Before, we needed 3-4 people to do the same thing.”
„We have multiple challenges in making special structures that serve our systems, and the laser welding machine solution helped us enormously.”
„Laser welding on stainless is something else, it's a completely different thing. The quality of the machines is undeniable: the samples say it all.”
„With Uzinex, I felt very well protected by the assistance they provided. When you have a whole shift stalled and you need someone to answer quickly, it matters enormously.”
„The proof that everything went well is that the equipment now works. We have over three years of experience with no problems. Or when there were issues, there was support. We're satisfied with the collaboration.”
„I can do even 5 boxes for one person, I can also do 10 boxes. Which other firms can't do. That is, they'd have to change dies, set up a whole 12-hour affair.”
„Whether I called at 2 in the morning or at 9 in the morning, the problems got solved. We're satisfied and we'll work together again.”
„A good, smooth collaboration. We always had support and help.”
„We're among the top producers in Romania for this product. I wouldn't have imagined that when I started, but things fell into place.”
„On price and quality ratio, they were the best price and the best quality on the market. We got along well and we're satisfied.”
Six technology directions we integrate turnkey: from plug & play IIoT sensors, to cobots, predictive maintenance, optical inspection, MES connectivity and custom industrial software.
See in real time how much each machine produces and how long it sits idle. We fit sensors on any equipment, new or old, and within a few hours you have the OEE dashboard on your phone. No complex wiring, no production downtime. The first concrete step toward digitalization, with ROI visible from the very first month.
Solve your labor shortage without tripling your costs. The cobot works safely alongside your people (palletizing, feeding the CNC, welding) while you recover the investment in 12-18 months. Prices 30-40% below European distributors, with installation and programming included from us.
Stop waiting for things to break. Our algorithms analyze sensor data and tell you exactly which part will fail and when, and we bring it to your production line before the breakdown. Zero unplanned downtime, zero contractual penalties, complete operational peace of mind.
Eliminate defects before they reach the customer. Our cameras inspect every part at speeds no operator can match, detecting sub-millimeter defects. They mount onto your existing line, with no modifications. Ideal if you produce for export and have strict quality clauses.
Connect your machines to your office, regardless of brand or age. Our gateway automatically translates the data from any machine into your ERP's format: no manual entry, no paper forms, no human error. The manager sees production live, the operator receives digital instructions.
Have a process that no off-the-shelf software can solve? We build custom industrial applications: from tailored SCADA panels and HMI interfaces, to production planning systems, lot traceability and automated reporting. The code is yours, it runs on your servers, with no monthly subscriptions or vendor lock-in.
Answers to the most common technical and commercial questions. Can't find what you're looking for?
Contact the team →Contact our team and receive a personalized offer within a maximum of 24 working hours.
