South Africa: ENERPAT Hydraulic Metal Baler Installed

In South Africa’s fast-growing scrap recycling market, efficiency, reliability, and safety are no longer optional — they are essential. Recently, ENERPAT successfully installed a Hydraulic Metal Baler for a South African recycling company specializing in the trading and processing of recyclable materials, including scrap metal.

This project not only solved the customer’s long-standing operational problems but also strengthened ENERPAT’s presence in the South African recycling equipment market.

Customer Background: A Growing Scrap Recycling Business in South Africa

The customer is a South Africa–based recycling and trading company focused on purchasing, processing, and reselling recyclable materials, with scrap metal being one of its core businesses. Like many recycling operators in South Africa, the company handles mixed metal streams such as steel scrap, aluminum cans, and irregular industrial offcuts on a daily basis.

The customer found ENERPAT through a Google search for “Hydraulic Metal Baler”, actively looking for a more reliable solution to replace their aging baling equipment.

The Real Challenges: Why the Old Hydraulic Metal Baler Failed

From the customer’s perspective, the existing machine created serious production and maintenance issues:

1. Excessive Noise and Frequent Jamming

During the main cylinder return stroke, loud friction noise occurred regularly. Inspection showed that aluminum cans often became trapped between the main cylinder and side cylinder gaps, forcing operators to stop production and manually clean material behind the cylinder every day.

2. Unstable Side Cylinder Operation

The side cylinder occasionally stopped during retraction. Although the frame had been previously impacted by a forklift, the main issue was later identified as stroke limit switches failing to reach position accurately — creating unpredictable downtime.

3. Unreliable Pressure Performance

The machine could not operate under normal system pressure. Even after replacing parts of the valve group, the problem persisted. Eventually, the customer had to reduce working pressure just to keep the baler running — at the cost of bale density and productivity.

These issues directly increased labor costs, reduced output, and created safety risks — a common pain point for scrap processors using outdated hydraulic baling presses in South Africa.

ENERPAT’s Solution: Fast, Practical, and Proven on Site

After understanding the customer’s urgency, ENERPAT invited them to visit an existing ENERPAT Hydraulic Metal Baler installation in South Africa. Seeing the machine running under real working conditions — processing similar materials — gave the customer full confidence.

Thanks to available stock, ENERPAT was able to immediately recommend and supply the AMB-L2017-250 metal baler press machine, significantly shortening delivery time and helping the customer resume efficient operations without delay.

This quick response and transparent on-site demonstration were decisive factors in closing the deal.

Machine Overview: AMB-L2017-250 Hydraulic Metal Baler

The AMB-L2017-250 is a heavy-duty, multi-purpose hydraulic baling press designed for demanding scrap recycling environments.

Key Technical Parameters:

• Pressing Force: 250 tons

• Feeding Chamber Size: 2000 × 1750 × 1200 mm

• Bale Size: 500 × 500 mm

• Power: 22 kW × 2

• Design: Lid-type (door-closing) structure for higher stability and durability

This ENERPAT scrap metal compressing machine uses cold hydraulic compression, producing dense and uniform metal bales without binders or changes to metal properties — ideal for downstream melting and transport.

How the Hydraulic Metal Baler Works (From the Operator’s View)

1. Material Loading

Scrap metal is loaded into the chamber by forklift or tipping device.

2. Hydraulic Compression

The hydraulic system compresses irregular, high-strength metal scrap into compact bales.

3. Automatic Bale Ejection

Finished bales are pushed out automatically through the discharge door, reducing manual handling.

This stable workflow eliminates jamming issues, minimizes noise, and delivers consistent bale density — exactly what the customer was missing before.

Customer Benefits After Installation

From the customer’s feedback, the improvements were immediate:

✔ No more cylinder jamming or abnormal noise

✔ Stable pressure and reliable hydraulic performance

✔ Higher bale density, lower transport cost

✔ Reduced downtime and maintenance workload

✔ Safer, cleaner working environment

The customer has since become one of ENERPAT’s South Africa reference sites, welcoming potential buyers to visit and inspect the machine in operation.

Why South Africa Has Strong Demand for Hydraulic Metal Balers

South Africa’s scrap metal industry provides a solid foundation for Hydraulic Metal Baler demand:

• 2.5–3 million tons of scrap metal recycled annually

• Market value of approximately ZAR 15–20 billion per year

• Over 3,500 registered scrap dealers nationwide

Steel scrap accounts for more than 90% of recycled metal, making efficient baling essential for storage, transport, and furnace charging.

Industries driving demand include:

• Scrap metal recycling and trading companies

• Steel mills and foundries

• Mining and heavy manufacturing

• Construction and demolition waste processors

Policy and Market Trends Supporting Investment

South African government policies continue to favor local scrap processing:

• Scrap metal export restrictions encourage domestic processing

• National Waste Management Strategy promotes recycling infrastructure

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) increases recovery targets

• IDC equipment financing programs support recycling investments

Market research indicates that South Africa’s metal recycling sector is expected to maintain over 7% annual growth toward 2030, directly supporting demand for modern hydraulic metal balers and wire baler machines.

Interested in the AMB-L2017-250?

Why Choose ENERPAT as Your Scrap Baling Partner?

As a global Scrap Baling Machine Manufacturer, ENERPAT delivers:

• Proven installations across Africa, Europe, and the Americas

• Machines designed for harsh recycling environments

• Fast delivery and practical engineering support

• Equipment built to reduce operating cost and downtime

Contact ENERPAT – Visit a Live Installation in South Africa

If you are planning to upgrade or invest in a Hydraulic Metal Baler, contact ENERPAT today. Our team can:

• Design a customized scrap baling solution

• Provide competitive pricing and layout planning

• Arrange site visits to existing South African installations

Talk to ENERPAT and turn scrap into value — faster, safer, and more efficiently.