TSI Chemlogix displays ChemLine sorting system

TSI Chemlogix, Shoreview, Minnesota, featured its ChemLine Aluminum Scrap Sorting System during the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) convention, ISRI2018 during the event’s April 16-19 exhibit hall hours. This new, patented inline process uses a LIBS sensor to automatically sort aluminum alloys at a capacity of up to 5 tons per hour.

The ChemLine LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) sensor analyzes the elemental concentration of each scrap piece, measuring the copper, ferrous, magnesium, manganese, silicon and zinc levels. Sorting occurs based on the actual concentrations, TSI says, and the system’s high-speed, high-powered laser burns through contamination and coatings. The device can sort magnesium from aluminum, wrought from cast aluminum and 5000 series from 6000 series aluminum, according to the company.

“Previously, LIBS technology had shown promise in research applications as a potential tool for automatic scrap metal sorting,” says Todd Hardwick, global marketing manager at TSI Chemlogix. “TSI has turned that promise into a reality. With an industrial sorting system based on the ChemLine sensor, this new LIBS reality will allow customers to sort aluminum alloys automatically. This advancement will benefit the scrap industry as they adapt to the large increase in aluminum usage that is occurring in the automotive and aerospace markets today.”

The ChemLine Aluminum Scrap Sorting System provides fast payback and less downtime with its 24/7 sorting design, according to TSI, which also notes that the technology is being used by one of the world’s largest aluminum manufacturers.