Frequently Asked Questions

Magnetic separation is a process that uses magnetic fields to remove metallic contaminants or recover valuable metals from mixed material streams. It works by attracting ferrous (magnetic) metals such as steel and iron, while specialist technologies like eddy current separators can also recover non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and copper.

Magnetic separation is widely used across recycling, waste management, and manufacturing to protect equipment from tramp metal damage, improve product purity, and recover valuable materials for resale. Common methods include overband magnets, magnetic drum separators, and eddy current separators each suited to different metal types and stages of the separation process.

In recycling, metals are typically grouped into three categories based on their composition and magnetic properties. Ferrous metals — such as steel and iron — contain iron and are strongly magnetic, making them straightforward to recover using overband magnets or magnetic drum separators. Non-ferrous metals — including aluminium, copper, brass, and zinc — contain no iron and are not magnetic, so they require different technology, such as eddy current separators, which use induced electrical currents rather than magnetic attraction to eject them from the material flow.

Stainless steel sits between the two: most grades are weakly magnetic or non-magnetic, depending on their composition, which makes them harder to recover than standard ferrous metals. Specialist equipment such as our Induction Sensor Sorter or Magstar is designed to detect and separate these weakly magnetic and non-magnetic metals from residual waste streams.

Understanding these differences matters commercially too, non-ferrous and stainless steel fractions often command higher resale values than ferrous scrap, so correctly separating all three categories can significantly improve a recycling plant’s overall revenue.

Metal separation equipment is used across a wide range of industries wherever metal contamination needs to be removed or valuable metals need to be recovered. The largest user is the recycling and waste management sector, including Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), scrap metal processors, and plants producing RDF/SRF (refuse-derived fuel/solid recovered fuel) from municipal waste.

Other key industries include:

• Plastics recycling: removing metal contaminants to protect shredders and ensure clean, saleable plastic output
• WEEE and electronic waste processing:  recovering valuable metals such as copper and aluminium from circuit boards and components
• Construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling:  extracting rebar, wiring, and other metal debris from aggregate and rubble
• End-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling:  recovering ferrous and non-ferrous metals from shredded vehicle material
• Mining and quarrying: protecting crushers and conveyors from tramp metal
• Food and pharmaceutical manufacturing: removing metal fragments to meet safety and quality standards
• General manufacturing: protecting machinery and ensuring product purity on production lines

Because contamination and recovery needs vary so much between industries, Magnapower’s engineers work with customers to specify the right combination of separators for their specific material stream and application.

An eddy current separator is designed to recover non‑ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, and zinc from mixed waste streams. Inside the machine, a rapidly rotating magnetic rotor creates high‑intensity, alternating magnetic fields. These fields induce electrical currents – eddy currents – within conductive metals, generating a repelling force that ejects them from the material flow.

This makes eddy current separators one of the most effective technologies for non‑ferrous metal recovery in recycling. They are widely used in:

• MRFs (Materials Recovery Facilities)
• Plastics recycling plants
• WEEE and electronic waste processing
• Municipal waste and RDF/SRF production

By integrating a Magnapower Eddy Current Separator into a system recycling plants achieve high purity non‑ferrous outputs and maximise overall metal recovery.

A rotor with high intensity magnetic poles rotates at high speed inside the head drum of the ECS conveyor. It induces a magnetic field into non- ferrous metals on the belt surface. These magnetically induced metals react with the magnetic field of the rotor causing them to be propelled further forward than the other material on the belt.

Our proprietary Rare Earth Neodymium magnet system delivers a highly focused magnetic force for stronger extraction yields, with resistance to demagnetisation that means consistent performance without the recovery drop-off some systems see over time.

Ferrous metal will be held by the magnetic field of the rotor and should discharge with the non-metals or behind the flow of non-metals. However, ferrous metal heats up rapidly on the ECS rotor and will cause wear and damage to the belt and then the rotor. It is strongly recommended that ferrous metal is removed prior to material reaching the ECS belt.

Contact our technical team for a consultation or material testing. We’ll recommend the most efficient solution based on your material type, throughput, and separation goals.

Our superfines eddy current separator has all the features of a standard Magnapower eddy Current Separator, it’s high intensity and higher frequency makes it suitable for material down to just 1-2mm

Magnapower eddy current separators recover non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and copper from mixed waste streams, including shredded scrap, WEEE, and dry recyclables. Our Superfines model can recover particles as small as 1–2mm.

Yes. Our engineers routinely design ECS systems to integrate with existing equipment and workflows, assessing compatibility with your current conveyor and sorting setup before recommending the right configuration.

Yes. We offer sample material testing, so we can assess your specific material and recommend the right ECS configuration before you commit.

Magnapower ECS units are built for long-term reliability. With proper maintenance, many remain in excellent working condition for 15–20 years or more.

A drum magnet is an industrial separator used to continuously remove ferrous metals from bulk material as it passes over a rotating magnetised drum. Unlike an overband magnet, which sits above a conveyor and lifts metal out from a distance, a drum magnet has the material flow directly across its surface, making it highly effective for capturing fine or small ferrous particles.

Drum magnets are commonly used as a secondary separation stage, often after shredding or screening to produce a cleaner ferrous product and to protect downstream equipment from residual tramp metal. They’re widely used in recycling, waste processing, and material recovery applications where continuous, reliable ferrous separation is needed.

A drum magnet and an overband magnetic separator both remove ferrous metals, but they work in different ways and suit different stages of a recycling process.

• Overband magnets sit above a conveyor and lift ferrous metal out of the material flow as it passes underneath. They provide continuous removal of steel and tramp metal, making them ideal for primary separation and protecting downstream equipment such as shredders, crushers, and screens.
• Drum magnets are positioned so that material flows directly across the rotating drum surface. They continuously separate ferrous metals from bulk material, making them highly effective for secondary ferrous recovery, especially after shredding, screening, or when a cleaner ferrous product is required.

In short, overband magnets are typically used for early‑stage ferrous removal and equipment protection, while drum magnets are used for high‑efficiency, continuous ferrous recovery later in the process.

Drum magnets can be configured in three different feed methods, each suited to a different plant layout and material flow. With top-fed systems, material is delivered directly onto the top surface of the drum, all material travels a short distance around the drum, with ferrous metal held and carried further before discharge. This suits compact layouts where a gravity-fed system is preferred.

Curtain-fed systems present material as a falling stream past the drum’s surface. Ferrous metal is attracted mid-fall and held to the drum, while non-ferrous material continues to drop away — this method works well where visual inspection or a consistent, even flow across the drum face is needed.

Bottom-fed systems present material to the underside of the drum via a feeder or conveyor. Ferrous metal is attracted upward and carried over the drum, while non-ferrous material drops away below.  This is typically used in heavier-duty systems or where material flow needs to be controlled from below.

Magnapower offers all three feed types, allowing the drum magnet to be adapted to your existing plant layout rather than requiring the layout to be built around the machine.

The best feed type depends on your plant layout, material flow, and processing requirements rather than a single universal answer.

The right choice depends on your specific site and material characteristics, our engineers will work with you to assess your process and recommend the most effective feed configuration for their application.

Magnapower drum magnets are available with either permanent deep field ferrite magnets or permanent rare earth magnets, and the right choice depends on the application. Deep field ferrite magnets are the standard option for most uses and are available in single or double pole configurations, offering reliable, cost-effective ferrous separation across a wide range of applications.

Rare earth magnets are ideal for lightweight, high-performance units, offering a stronger magnetic force for a given size or weight. This makes them well suited to applications where compact, high-intensity separation is needed. Our team can advise which magnet type best matches your material, throughput, and performance requirements.

Yes. Drum width, diameter, housing, feed chute, discharge splitter, and mounting dimensions can be designed to suit.

Yes, customising machinery in different colours and branding is absolutely possible, and increasingly popular among manufacturers and clients alike. Contact us to discuss the details.

Yes — we offer tailored solutions designed to meet your specific process requirements. Whether you need adjustments to magnet strength, frame size, or integration with existing systems, our engineering team will work closely with you to ensure the equipment fits seamlessly into your operation.

Yes, we specialise in creating customised material handling systems using components such as vibratory screens, feeders, compactors, and lifts.
Each system is tailored to your unique operational requirements, optimising material flow, improving safety, and enhancing overall efficiency. Our engineers integrate every element to work seamlessly together, delivering a scalable solution built around your workflow, material characteristics, and production goals.

Yes, our engineers routinely design systems to integrate with existing equipment and workflows. We’ll assess compatibility and recommend options to optimise performance.

Magnapower’s proprietary magnet design utilises rare earth magnets in a unique configuration to create a focused magnetic force that is proven to create higher extraction yields. This results in maximising metal recovery whilst minimising contamination.

To place an order, simply contact our sales team. We’ll guide you through the best system options and provide a tailored quotation.

Lead times vary by product and customisation level, contact us for a precise estimate.

Yes. While Magnapower is engineered and manufactured in the UK, we supply metal separation equipment to customers worldwide, including operators across Europe and North America. Recent installations include Eddy Current Separators for Scrap King in Florida, USA, and equipment supporting nitrous oxide canister removal at AEB Amsterdam, one of Western Europe’s largest waste-to-energy facilities. Our UK and US facilities also support sample material testing for customers wherever they’re based.

We’ve worked with many diverse applications – and we’re confident we can help. Our technical team can assess your material and offer expert recommendations, backed by full testing capabilities in our laboratory. By analysing your material under real-world conditions, we provide data- driven insights to guide your decision with clarity and confidence.

We combine expert technical support with proactive maintenance planning. Our team has decades of experience in separation technology, and we’re committed to keeping your equipment running at its best, whether it’s one year old or twenty.

We offer comprehensive support including installation guidance, sample testing, repairs, and refurbishment. Our team is available to assist with troubleshooting and performance optimisation.

All products come with a 12-month standard warranty. Extended warranties and service agreements are also available.

Yes. We provide comprehensive documentation with every machine, and digital copies are available upon request for existing customers.