Raising the Bar in Ferrous Recovery: The Power of Advanced Magnetic Drum Separation

In the recycling and materials processing industries, the efficient removal of ferrous metals is crucial for maintaining product quality, promoting resource recovery, and ensuring profitability. Magnetic drum separators have long been a workhorse in this field, and with today’s advanced designs, their capabilities have never been greater.

One standout example is the Eriez Magnetic Drum Separator, engineered for durability, high-strength separation, and low-maintenance operation. Backed by over 80 years of separation expertise, Eriez drum separators help operations worldwide boost recovery rates and reduce operating costs.

Built to Withstand, Designed to Perform
Eriez Scrap Drums feature a rugged manganese steel shell, making them an ideal choice for harsh, abrasive environments. The drums’ enclosed construction eliminates jamming risks and allows for both indoor and outdoor installation. With just two bearings and minimal lubrication requirements, these drums are virtually maintenance-free.

Installation is streamlined thanks to shaft clamp mounting blocks, which allow the separator to be suspended or supported to fit a wide range of plant layouts.

A Breakthrough in Magnetic Technology: The P-Rex® Drum Magnet
The real innovation lies inside the drum. The P-Rex® (Permanent Rare Earth Xtreme®) Drum Magnet sets a new benchmark in ferrous separation:

• Stronger Pickup Power: Offers up to 40% more magnetic strength than traditional electromagnetic drums, especially effective at recovering dense, spherical items from shredded scrap.
• Consistent Performance: Unlike electromagnets, P-Rex maintains its strength without heat buildup, ensuring its magnetic profile remains stable over time and providing reliable, high-yield operation.
• Wider Coverage: P-Rex’s edge-to-edge magnetic field ensures greater surface pickup and more efficient separation.
  For added performance, the optional Traction Plate Drum Wrap agitates the material on the drum surface, releasing non-metallic contaminants such as fluff and improving product purity.

Permanent vs. Electromagnetic Drums: What Sets Them Apart?
Eriez permanent drum separators offer several clear advantages over traditional electromagnetic designs:
• Higher Magnetic Strength that doesn’t degrade
• Consistent operation, unaffected by temperature
• Zero energy consumption—no power supply needed
• Lower maintenance requirements

The result? Better recovery, lower running costs, and dependable long-term performance.
Flexible Configurations to Suit Any Plant

Eriez offers a variety of magnetic drum configurations to match specific materials and flow requirements:
• Double Drum Systems for maximum metal recovery and cleaning
• Suspended Drums placed at conveyor discharge points
• Top Feed Units, ideal for large, liberated ferrous items
• Side Feed Styles used in foundries to extract iron from shakeout sand

With multiple field orientations available, such as agitating for cleaner recovery or radial for high-volume applications, users can fine-tune their setup for optimal results.

Custom Options to Meet Your Needs
Eriez also supplies a wide range of enhancements, including:
• Wear-resistant shell wraps for abrasive materials
• Drive systems and zero-speed switches
• Heavy-duty frames and mounting accessories
• AC-to-DC rectifiers for electromagnetic models

Each system is custom-built to meet your specific requirements, ensuring a perfect fit for your process.

Built-In Safety and Easy Maintenance
Routine checks and simple lubrication are all that’s needed to keep the system running at peak performance. Eriez recommends installing appropriate safety guards to protect personnel, in line with industry best practices.

A Proven Investment in Efficiency
Whether processing shredded vehicles, municipal waste, foundry sand, or incinerator ash, Eriez P-Rex technology delivers robust and consistent ferrous recovery with minimal intervention.

For operations seeking to increase throughput, enhance product purity, and minimize maintenance headaches, upgrading to an Eriez magnetic drum separator is a prudent move that yields long-term benefits.