Shredder Committee Discusses Key Issues at BIR Spring Convention

During the Shredder Committee Meeting held during the Bureau of International Recycling’s (BIR)  spring conference in Singapore, a panel of machinery and equipment experts outlined recent progress towards increasing the recovery of non-ferrous fractions from the shredder process, as well as maximizing values both during and after that process.

During the session, Olivier François of Belgium’s Galloo Group announced his company’s AD REM joint venture with the Valtech Group owns the exclusive rights to a bi-directional barrel separator which, in certain turnkey projects, has helped achieve end-of-life vehicle recovery rates of greater than 90 percent.

During his presentation, Uwe Habich of Steinert, Germany, focused on the products offered by his company, including the latest developments designed to “hunt down” various types of wire that can be found in automotive shredder residue (ASR). Meanwhile, with the company’s XSS-F X-ray fluorescence system at car shredders, separation of copper motors can be achieved at a capacity of up to 150 metric tons per hour.

The issue of minimizing copper content in ferrous scrap delivered to steelmakers was addressed by Jörg Schunicht of Titech. He revealed that the company’s latest X-ray fluorescence sorting development is achieving copper removal rates similar to those achieved via manual picking and has the potential to achieve even better results in the future.

In his report on European Shredder Group affairs, Manuel Burnand of France’s Coframetal company and chairman of the Shredder Committee, noted that shredders fall within the scope of the revision of the European Union’s industrial emissions directive. As a result, Burnard says, a questionnaire is being created to evaluate the current situation with regard to shredder emissions. The objective is to develop a list of best available and emerging technologies which could serve as a toolbox to help in the achievement of emission goals.

BIR’s fall meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23-25 in Munich.