A Guide to the ideal location for Magnetic Separators, Magnets and Metal Detectors

Determining the best location to remove metal in a Plastics Processing plant can be difficult and so Bunting has released a series of Typical Plant Flowsheets showing ideal locations for different designs and types of Magnetic Separator and Metal Detector.

On the flowsheet, the Plastics plant is divided into different areas and each has potential locations to remove metal.  In many cases, a combination of Magnetic Separator and Metal Detector is recommended as the Magnet captures and holds ferrous metal (the vast majority of metal contamination in any plant) leaving the Metal Detector to focus on removing the more difficult non-ferrous metals whilst minimising product loss and production downtime.  The type and suggested location of Metal Separation equipment is as follows:

1. On the primary feed into the Bulk Storage Silo to remove metal before it enters the process:
   • Pneumatic Inline Magnet (PIM) for ferrous metal removal
   • Metal Detector for all metal removal
2. From the Bulk Storage Silo to capture any metal from the storage silo:
   • HF Drawer Magnet for ferrous metal removal;
   • Pneumatic Inline Magnet (PIM) for ferrous metal removal;
   • Centre Flow Magnet (CIM) for ferrous metal removal
3. On the Moulding Line to protect processing equipment;
   • Grate Magnet to remove ferrous metal;
   • Machine Mounted All-Metal Separator to remove all metals;
4. On the 1st Extruder to protect processing equipment
   • FF Filter Drawer Magnet to remove ferrous metal;
   • 
   • Machine Mounted  All-Metal Separator to remove all metals;
5. On the Hot Runner System to protect processing equipment
   • FFV Vacuum Drawer Magnet to remove ferrous metal;
   • Quicktron 03 Metal Detector to remove all metal;
6. Molding (just in time material handling) to protect processing equipment
   • Torpedo Magnet to remove ferrous metal;
   • Machine Mounted All-Metal Separator to remove all metals;
7. On the 2nd Extruder to protect processing equipment
   • Plate Housing Magnet to remove ferrous metal;
   • Machine Mounted All-Metal Separator to remove all metals;
   • Inline Magnet (TIM) to remove ferrous metal;
   • 
8. On the Regrind Line to remove metal introduced during reprocessing
   • Suspended Plate Magnet for ferrous metal removal;
   • Metron C Metal Detector to remove all metals;
   • Magnetic Head Pulley for larger ferrous metal removal;
   • 
   • Pneumatic Inline Magnet for ferrous metal removal;
   • pTRON 05 Metal Detector to remove all metals;
   • Plate Housing Magnet for ferrous metal removal;
   • HS Metal Detector to remove all metals;
9. On the Cleaning Station as a final metal removal stage
   • Duplex Separator

The type and design of Magnetic Separator and Metal Detector and the recommended location has been determined following several decades of working with plastics producers and processors all over the world.  There are always variations to plant designs and layouts that mean different types of Metal Separation equipment is needed and an onsite review by a Bunting engineer will help ascertain the best solution.

For further information on removing Metal from a plastics processing plant using Magnetic Separators and Metal Detectors, please contact the Bunting technical sales team on:

Phone: +44 (0) 1442 875081
Fax: +44 (0) 1442 875009
Email: sales@buntingeurope.com
Web: http://www.buntingeurope.com