On-Site Pre-Sales Consultation for Metal Chip Recycling
ENERPAT recently conducted an on-site pre-sales technical consultation with a CNC machining company in Chihuahua, Mexico, to evaluate practical recycling options for its aluminum and steel machining chips.
The customer was looking for a way to recover more value from its machining waste while reducing losses associated with the current disposal method.
During the visit, ENERPAT reviewed the customer's material flow, current collection method, estimated scrap volume, cutting-fluid content, downstream recycling requirements, and investment expectations. Several recycling approaches were discussed and compared based on the customer's actual operating conditions.
Customer Challenge: Metal Chips with Limited Recovery Value
The customer currently generates approximately:
500 kg of aluminum chips per week
500 kg of steel chips per week
The machining waste from individual processing centers is collected in 210-liter oil drums.
Because the chips contain cutting fluids, the material is currently handled as waste and collected by a local recycler. Under the current arrangement, the customer does not receive meaningful value from the aluminum and steel contained in the waste.
Based on the customer's internal assessment, the current disposal method represents an estimated loss of approximately US$7,000 per month.
The main objective was therefore to find a practical recycling method that could improve the value of the recovered metal without creating an excessive investment burden.
Evaluating Metal Chip Washing and Drying
ENERPAT first discussed the possibility of using a metal chip washing and drying system to reduce cutting-fluid content and improve the quality of the recovered metal.
A washing and drying process could provide a higher-quality material stream for downstream recycling. However, after reviewing the customer's current material volume and investment expectations, the required equipment investment and projected payback period were considered too high for the project at this stage.
Rather than recommending a solution that would be oversized for the customer's current production volume, ENERPAT evaluated alternative processing approaches with a lower investment requirement.
Solution Evaluation: AMB-H1075-250 Metal Baler
Based on the information available during the site consultation, ENERPAT proposed evaluating an AMB-H1075-250 hydraulic scrap baling machine with a compression system and scrap collection system.
The configuration is intended to compress loose machining scrap into denser blocks, helping improve material collection, storage, handling, and transportation.
The customer indicated that a residual liquid content of approximately 10% or less could be acceptable to its downstream recycler.
This requirement made the AMB-H1075-250 metal baler solution a potential lower-investment alternative to a complete washing and drying process.
ENERPAT also presented a reference application from Mexico to demonstrate how a similar metal scrap processing approach could be used in an actual recycling operation.
The customer showed interest in the AMB-H1075-250-based configuration and requested further technical information for continued evaluation.
However, the customer has not selected the AMB-H1075-250 as the final solution at this stage.
In this configuration, the MSA-F350 single shaft shredder would first process the loose aluminum and steel machining chips into more uniform, shorter-sized material. This pre-shredding step can help create a more consistent feedstock for the subsequent briquetting process.
The processed short chips would then be fed into the BM-570 Small Horizontal Briquetting Press Machine, which would compress the material into dense metal briquettes. This approach provides a different processing route from the AMB-H1075-250 solution, focusing on chip size reduction followed by briquetting.
The MSA-F350 + BM-570 configuration will be further evaluated based on:
Aluminum and steel chip volume
Original chip size and shape
Material characteristics
Cutting-fluid content
Required briquette dimensions
Acceptable residual liquid content
Downstream recycler requirements
Expected scrap value
Equipment investment
Projected payback period
At this stage, the MSA-F350 single shaft shredder + BM-570 Small Horizontal Briquetting Press Machine is an alternative option under technical evaluation. ENERPAT will compare this two-stage shredding and briquetting process with the AMB-H1075-250 metal baler solution after the customer's material characteristics and downstream recycling requirements have been further confirmed.
The final equipment configuration will be determined according to the customer's actual production conditions, material requirements, recycler specifications, and investment expectations.
Confirming Downstream Recycling Requirements
One of the most important next steps is to confirm the finished-product requirements with the customer's downstream recycler.
Before finalizing the equipment configuration, ENERPAT will work with the customer to clarify the required specifications for the processed aluminum and steel scrap.
The information to be confirmed includes:
Required finished-product size
Acceptable liquid content
Material specifications
Expected recycling value
Handling and transportation requirements
Recycler acceptance criteria
These requirements will help determine whether the AMB-H1075-250 metal baler solution or the MSA-F350 + BM-570 solution is better suited to the customer's application.
Material Samples for Further Evaluation
To support the next stage of the project, ENERPAT plans to prepare representative samples during a future shipment to Mexico.
The planned samples include approximately 250 × 250 mm compressed blocks, together with aluminum and steel briquettes produced using a chip pressing system.
These samples will provide a practical reference for evaluating finished-product dimensions, material handling, and downstream recycling requirements.
The sample evaluation will also help both sides refine the equipment configuration before any final investment decision is made.
Discuss Your Metal Chip Recycling Solution
ENERPAT can help you evaluate aluminum and steel chip recycling solutions based on your material, production volume, and recycling requirements.
Contact ENERPAT to discuss your application and find the right processing solution for your operation.
Enerpat is a global company specializing in waste-recycling and disposal solutions, with a mission to help customers build a better, more sustainable world. We are a leading global provider for municipal and industrial clients, helping them recycle and dispose of waste, reduce costs and consumption, and create more value.
We focus on sorters, shredders, balers, shears, and disposal equipment for a wide range of recycling needs. Enerpat believes that “Quality Transform The World.” We deliver the industry’s highest levels of quality and service. Choosing Enerpat means choosing trust and value.
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