EQUIPMENT SPOTLIGHT | JULY 2025 Aluminum Processing

Spherical Insights LLP expects that the global aluminum scrap recycling market will reach a value of $25.12 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.16 percent between 2021 and 2030. After silicon, aluminum is the world’s second most abundant resource, and it has been utilized commercially for over a century. Scrap aluminum is recycled via processes such as melting, sorting, purifying, and solidifying the scrap. In recent years, various technological advancements in scrap metal recycling processes have aided in the sorting and processing of the material. There are many environmental problems related to the recycling of scrap aluminum which, in turn present major challenges for those involved in this market.

Aljon

For over 20 years, Aljon’s 580 CL baler, a portable unit, has been used by many for processing high volumes of material, including nonferrous materials like aluminum. Other machines that may bale have been adapted for performing various functions and may be mounted on flat bed trailers. This may result in a scale weight that prevents them from being transported legally in many states. In contrast, the 580 CL can be legally transported in all 50 states. Over 800 580 CL units have been sold globally. “We design and manufacture all products in the U.S. and we sell directly to you, the end user. Ergonomic cabs are the standard today and the key to maximized production. Our cabs are large, comfortable and offer climate and other controls that are easy to reach. These benefits are far more desirable over products that offer no means of cooling the baler cab and/or those with a heat source that is fueled by a plastic kerosene tank, hung outside the cab. Even access to the cab has been maximized, to insure operator safety and features a stairway with guard rails vs merely a ladder, as seen with some other products. We recommend taking the time to look at cab configuration for access to controls and other elements, as well as operator comfort. It won’t take you long to see what conditions will make your operators more productive,” stated Curt Spry, sales manager.

Applied Recovery Systems (ARS), a manufacturer of scrap metal briquetting presses, offers a large selection of product options, which offer output ranging from ½ ton per hour, up to 15 tons per hour. “We’re the largest, most reliable briquetting partner in North America, supplying presses for aluminum turnings for scrap metal recyclers, secondary mills and primary mills. We have been in business for 25 years and our main focus has always been manufacturing reliable briquetting equipment for the scrap metal recycling industry,” said Steven Vejil, vice president of sales.

Applied Recovery Systems

“Utilizing an ARS briquetting press, low density aluminum turnings can be converted into near solid briquettes that are suitable for every type of melting furnace. Our unique design creates output densities that rival even solid varieties, yet also provide exceptional melt yields. Because of the low density of loose, aluminum turnings, briquettes make it possible to ship truck loads at maximum weight, as opposed to partial weight truck loads. Depending on how global market activity may affect exports, aluminum briquettes may be in high demand domestically at any given time. If exporting options don’t happen to be as profitable for some, it may result in new opportunities for scrap recyclers,” explained Vejil.

He added that ARS is doing well, with a healthy backlog of orders and new inquiries that arrive on a weekly basis. “We pride ourselves in being flexible and able to meet most challenges, whether a situation involves lead time, customized equipment, or even unique materials that need briquetting,” he concluded.

TOMRA Recycling has expanded its portfolio of advanced metals recycling with a groundbreaking AI-based solution to upgrade wrought aluminum scrap. New GAINnext™ leverages deep learning-based sorting technology to upgrade wrought aluminum scrap. The process produces exceptionally high purity fractions by instantly recovering low alloy cast from the wrought fraction and reducing alloying elements such as silicon.

TOMRA Recycling

GAINnext complements TOMRA’s X-TRACT™, which features X-ray Transmission (XRT) technology and sorts aluminum from heavy metals based on atomic density. X-TRACT initially sorts shredded mixed nonferrous metals (Zorba) to produce high-purity aluminum scrap (Twitch), and then removes high alloy aluminum cast and high-density wrought aluminum to further refine the Twitch. This process yields a high quality fraction, containing both wrought aluminum and minor amounts of low alloy cast, which other currently available sorting methods cannot fully separate.

Post X-TRACT, GAINnext produces a pure wrought fraction using RGB cameras, to rapidly process tens to hundreds of thousands of images per millisecond. GAINnext perceives and classifies materials by shape, size and dimension with exceptional accuracy at high throughput speeds of up to 2,000 ejections per minute. By precisely detecting and removing low alloy cast from the wrought fraction that TOMRA’s X-TRACT produces, GAINnext delivers high purity wrought that commands premium market prices.

To achieve even higher granularity levels in aluminum sorting, the wrought fraction recovered by GAINnext can be further refined using TOMRA’s AUTOSORT™ PULSE system, which employs dynamic laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (Dynamic LIBS) for precise identification and sorting of different alloy types. “This combination of X-TRACT, GAINnext and AUTOSORT PULSE represents the pinnacle of sorting innovation, delivering the highest levels of material separation available on the market today. TOMRA metals recovery solutions in North America can be tested by and are made available through our exclusive metals partner, WENDT CORPORATION,” noted Giuseppe Pietro Granara, area segment manager, metals.

Published in the July 2025 Edition of American Recycler News