In June 2026, the ENERPAT team conducted a pre-sales technical consultation at a metal recycling facility in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. The visit was led by ENERPAT’s COO and focused on evaluating the customer’s metal chip recycling process, identifying operational challenges, and recommending a more efficient material handling and compaction solution.
The customer specializes in collecting and recycling metal chips and turnings generated by manufacturing plants across the northeastern United States. The visit aimed to better understand the customer’s current workflow and provide a customized recycling solution capable of processing multiple metal chip streams while improving material density, oil recovery, and workplace cleanliness.
Customer Background
The customer is a well-established family-owned industrial recycling company located in Pennsylvania, USA.
The business specializes in collecting and processing metal chips, turnings, and machining scrap generated by manufacturing facilities across the Northeastern United States.
Materials handled include:
Aluminum chips
Stainless steel turnings
Steel chips
Mixed machining scrap
The company focuses on providing recycling and resource recovery services for manufacturing customers and is recognized as a regional specialist in industrial metal scrap management.
Existing Equipment and Recycling Process
During the visit, the customer demonstrated several pieces of equipment currently used in their operation.
According to the local equipment supplier, material contamination frequently enters the bearing areas at both ends of the rotor shaft, resulting in premature bearing failures and increased maintenance requirements.
The line is dedicated to aluminum chip recycling and was not running during the site visit.
Multiple Material Streams
The facility processes a wide variety of machining waste materials, including:
Aluminum chips
Stainless steel chips
Steel turnings
Ferrous machining scrap
This creates a need for flexible equipment capable of handling different materials without lengthy changeover procedures.
Key Challenges Identified On Site
During the factory tour, ENERPAT observed that loose metal chips were being discharged directly into large collection containers before transportation.
Large amounts of residual cutting fluids and oils were observed on the workshop floor, creating housekeeping and environmental concerns.
Material Changeover Requirements
Because the customer processes multiple metal types, equipment must be easy to clean internally when switching materials to avoid cross-contamination.
For this reason, the customer expressed a preference for a baling solution rather than a briquetting system, as briquetting presses are generally more difficult to clean between material batches.
ENERPAT Recommended Solution
After evaluating the customer's requirements, ENERPAT proposed a customized metal chip compaction solution based on the:
AMB-H2014-250 Metal Baler
The larger AMB-H2014-250 model was recommended instead of the smaller chamber configuration to better accommodate forklift dumping operations and improve loading efficiency.
Fixed lifting device for bale handling and palletizing
Material Feeding Method
The customer plans to use forklifts to dump metal chips directly from plastic bins into the hopper.
The larger charging chamber provides greater flexibility for handling variable material volumes and different chip types.
Liquid Recovery System
Because many incoming materials contain residual cutting fluids, a dedicated liquid collection system was recommended to capture and manage recovered oils and liquids during the compaction process.
Bale Handling Improvements
To improve worker safety and reduce manual handling, ENERPAT also proposed a fixed lifting system to assist operators with bale stacking and pallet preparation.
What Is an ENERPAT Hopper Style Metal Baler?
The ENERPAT Hopper Style Metal Baler is designed to efficiently compact loose and lightweight metal scrap such as aluminum chips, steel turnings, stainless steel swarf, and other machining waste into high-density bales. Featuring a large hopper-fed design, the machine allows materials to be loaded directly by forklift or conveyor, making it ideal for recycling facilities that handle continuous volumes of metal chips. In this project, ENERPAT recommended the larger AMB-H2014-250 Hopper Style Metal Baler to accommodate the customer's forklift feeding method and diverse material streams. Combined with a liquid collection system and pre-compression device, the solution helps reduce transportation costs, improve workplace cleanliness, recover residual cutting fluids, and simplify the handling of multiple metal chip materials within a single recycling operation.
Project Progress & Customer Feedback
Following the on-site evaluation and technical discussions, the customer expressed strong interest in the proposed ENERPAT solution and confirmed that the recommended configuration aligns well with their operational requirements.
During the consultation, ENERPAT engineers worked closely with the customer to analyze material characteristics, loading methods, liquid recovery requirements, and daily production needs. Based on the findings from the site visit, the original configuration was further optimized to improve material handling efficiency, workplace cleanliness, and bale logistics.
Key enhancements to the proposed solution include:
Upgraded to the larger AMB-H2014-250 Metal Baler to better accommodate forklift dumping operations and mixed metal chip volumes.
Added a pre-compression device to improve feeding efficiency and material density.
Integrated a liquid collection and drainage system for oil-contaminated metal chips.
Designed a 5-meter gravity roller conveyor for smoother bale transfer.
Added a fixed lifting system to simplify bale stacking and palletizing operations.
The customer was highly satisfied with the customized solution and confirmed that the proposed lead time of approximately three months meets their project schedule.
With the technical direction finalized, both parties have entered the quotation and layout confirmation stage, and the project is progressing toward equipment procurement.
ENERPAT Service Value
At ENERPAT, every successful recycling solution begins with understanding the customer’s operation firsthand.
Through on-site technical consultations, process evaluations, and customized engineering recommendations, our team helps recyclers and manufacturers identify practical opportunities to improve efficiency, recover more value from scrap materials, and create safer working environments.
Whether the requirement involves metal chips, aluminum turnings, steel scrap, or complete recycling systems, ENERPAT engineers are ready to provide professional support wherever our customers operate.
Where recycling challenges exist, ENERPAT is there.
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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