Frequently Asked Questions

Recycling plants typically rely on a combination of high‑performance magnetic separation systems to extract every valuable metal fraction from mixed waste streams. Magnapower systems often include overband magnetic separators, magnetic drum separators, eddy current separators, stainless steel separators, and magnetic head pulleys.
Each technology targets a specific metal type:

Ferrous metals are removed using overband magnets, drum magnets, and magnetic conveyors.

Non‑ferrous metals such as aluminium and copper are recovered with high‑intensity eddy current separators.

Stainless steel and weakly magnetic metals can be captured using our induction sensor sorter or Magstar.

By combining these systems, recycling plants achieve maximum metal recovery, improved product purity, and reduced waste disposal costs, ensuring the most efficient and reliable metal separation process.

Yes – recycling plants can recover stainless steel, even though many people assume it is completely non‑magnetic. Several stainless‑steel grades contain weak magnetic properties, which means they can be separated using specialist technology.

Magnapower systems such as the Induction Sensor Sorter and the Magstar are designed to detect and remove these weakly magnetic metals from residual waste streams. This significantly increases overall metal separation efficiency and boosts recovery rates for high‑value stainless steel.

To confirm performance on your specific material, you can send a sample for testing in our dedicated Magnapower test facility. Our engineers will demonstrate the most effective separation technology for your application.

Choosing the right magnetic separator depends on a detailed understanding of the material characteristics and the performance requirements of the recycling process. Key factors include the type of material being processed, throughput rate, particle size distribution, metal content, conveyor width, burden depth, and the level of product purity required.

Some recycling plants achieve the highest recovery rates by combining several technologies rather than relying on a single unit. A typical system may include overband magnetic separators for primary ferrous removal, magnetic drum separators for continuous ferrous recovery, and eddy current separators for non‑ferrous metals. Additional equipment such as stainless steel separators or sensor‑based sorters can further increase recovery from residual streams.

By analysing the material and process layout, Magnapower engineers specify the most effective combination of magnetic separation technologies to maximise metal recovery, protect downstream equipment, and deliver the required product purity.

The most valuable metals depend on the waste stream, and different separators target different fractions. Overband magnets and magnetic drum separators recover ferrous metals such as steel and iron, which are essential for protecting equipment and generating a clean ferrous product.

However, in many recycling plants, the highest financial return comes from non‑ferrous metal recovery. Eddy current separators recover high‑value non‑ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, and zinc. Because these metals command significantly higher market prices, the non‑ferrous fraction often generates the greatest revenue.

For this reason, eddy current separators are typically one of the most profitable components in a modern metal separation system, especially when combined with upstream magnetic separation stages that ensure clean, consistent feed material.

Yes effective magnetic separation has a direct and measurable impact on recycling plant profitability.  By installing the right separator, operators can significantly increase the quality and quantity of recovered metals while reducing operational costs.

Key profit drivers include:

• Higher metal recovery rates using technologies such as overband magnets, magnetic drum seperators and eddy current separators.
• Improved product purity, which increases the value of both ferrous and non-ferrous metal fractions.
• Reduced equipment damage by removing tramp metal early, lowering maintenance and downtime costs.
• Additional revenue streams from high-value non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and copper.
• Lower waste disposal costs due to more efficient metal extraction from residual streams.

For many recycling operations, metal recovery is one of the largest contributors to overall plant profitability, and optimising magnetic separation is one of the fastest ways to improve financial performance

An overband magnet is an industrial machine used to sort ferrous metals from non-metals. It is often used in the waste management and scrap metal industries for recovering steel, or to remove ferrous materials in a two stage process before using an eddy current machine.

Mixed material pass underneath the overband magnet. The magnetic field of the overband attracts ferrous metal towards the magnet face and the constantly rotating belt of the overband carries the extracted metal away from the magnet face. When the metal reaches past the end of the magnetic field it drops away from the cleaned material.

Overband magnets are installed above conveyor belts to provide continuous ferrous metal separation from mixed waste streams. As material passes underneath, the magnet lifts out steel and iron, ensuring reliable removal of ferrous contaminants. This protects downstream equipment such as shredders, crushers, screens, and conveyors from costly damage caused by tramp metal.

Typically an overband magnetic separator forms one of the first stages of metal recovery. By extracting ferrous metals early, plants improve product purity, increase recovery rates, and create a cleaner feed for subsequent processes such as magnetic drum separation and eddy current separation.

An overband magnet only separates magnetic ferrous metal such as mild steel. It won’t separate most stainless steel as it is often non-magnetic.

A cross belt overband magnet can be easier to fit across a conveyor and it may be more convenient to discharge ferrous metal to the side of a conveyor. An in-line overband magnet tends to produce a cleaner ferrous metal and will usually have less belt wear than a crossbelt. Overband magnets need to be positioned above a non-magnetic section of conveyor. This includes the head pulley of the conveyor if it is an in-line installation.

No. While both inline and crossbelt overband magnets are designed to deliver optimal separation when mounted correctly, their magnetic fields are focused differently. Mounting an inline magnet as a crossbelt (or vice versa) will result in inconsistent magnetic coverage across the belt, reducing separation efficiency.

Eddy Current Separators are ideal for non-ferrous metals like aluminum, while Induction Sensor Sorters can detect and separate a broader range of conductive materials, including stainless steel.

Yes. We have a dedicated test lab where we can run trials on your materials and provide detailed performance reports.

Through physical testing in our lab, with documented results including recovery rates, purity levels, and throughput analysis. We believe in transparent performance metrics to support confident decisions.

Yes, we provide full installation support and on-site commissioning to ensure optimal performance from day one.

Our engineers can attend site after installation and provide general
training for operation and maintenance of your Magnapower separators.

Our machines are built for durability, but regular inspection of belts, bearings, and magnetic components is recommended. We provide detailed maintenance guides with every unit.

Absolutely. We support all our equipment, including legacy models, with genuine spare parts and expert servicing.

You can reach us by phone, email, or through our website. For the fastest
response, please have your machine’s serial number and a brief
description of the issue ready.

We hold a large stock of critical spares and can typically dispatch them within 24–48 hours.

Yes, we provide remote diagnostics and guidance to help resolve issues quickly, reducing the need for on-site visits.