The future is now: Steinert ISS turns the dream of full metal recovery into reality at Metal Management

Recycling Today, Sept, 2004

In their roles with Metal Management at its North Haven, Conn., facility, Jim Mosebach and Brian Sackett have studied for years how auto shredder operators can maximize their metal recovery yields from downstream shredder systems.

The North Haven facility processes the nonferrous and nonmetallic streams produced by the Metal Management shredder in North Haven and by the company's Newark, N.J., shredder, as well as other streams of mixed material generated in the northeastern United States.

The plant has employed a Steinert eddy current unit for 10 years, and more recently has added a Steinert Induction Sorting System (ISS) on the waste stream after the eddy current to further boost nonferrous metals recovery.

Mosebach and Sackett say the ISS has, like the Steinert eddy current before it, performed above and beyond expectations. "We're catching virtually all the nonferrous," says Sackett. "It has made a tremendous difference with stainless steel, recovering more stainless than we were able to recover previously."

Metal Management chose the Steinert ISS after taking a thorough look at the machine and the separation techniques it employs.

"Previously, there definitely was not a machine that could do this," says Sackett. "The theory was there, but the technology was not there to do it effectively."

The Steinert model has put theory into practice at Metal Management--North Haven, proving effective even with the plant's considerable throughput volumes. "I believe in our case, the throughput exceeds expectations," says Mosebach.

Having taken delivery of the ISS model in January, the company has already seen it perform in the depths of winter as well as the dog days of summer. "It has operated smoothly in the full gamut of conditions, from below zero to 100 degrees," notes Sackett.

Based on the performance of their 10-year-old Steinert eddy current, the duo is not surprised by the durability of the ISS. "After 10 years, our Steinert eddy current has not become obsolete or outlived its function," notes Mosebach. "We keep it well maintained, and it runs. We selected the Steinert ISS in part because we knew of the brand's performance quality and service level because of our experience with the eddy current."

The Metal Management--North Haven team has also been impressed with the service provided by Steinert US. "The people at Steinert are very good, responsive and attentive," says Mosebach. "They have always serviced us extremely well."