PRAB engineers metal scrap conveyors for the full range of metalworking operations, from high-speed CNC machining and stamping to die casting and foundry production. PRAB conveyor systems have been proven to increase productivity by up to 50% and improve worker safety by up to 25%, with service lives that routinely reach 20-30 years in continuous production environments. Backed by the Performantee® Guarantee, every system is lab-tested and performance-verified before shipment.
Choosing the right chip conveyor depends on three things: what your chips look like (fine and powdery vs. heavy tangled turnings), how wet they are, and how they need to route through your plant. PRAB conveyors are engineered to solve all three — connecting directly to machine tools on one end and to chip processing or Guardian coolant recycling equipment on the other, so scrap moves through your plant as one automated line instead of a series of manual handoffs.
Read our full guide to chip conveyor types and how to choose the right one →
| Up to 50% | 20-30 Years | Up to 25% |
| Productivity Increase | Typical Service Life | Worker Safety Improvement |
PRAB‘s Conveyor Selection Framework evaluates four variables to specify the right system for your operation: scrap type, coolant load, throughput volume, and plant layout. This evaluation is conducted by PRAB’s engineering team using your actual scrap and coolant data before any system is specified or quoted.
Scrap type: Chip size, chip form (fine vs. bushy), and material (aluminum, steel, cast iron, titanium) determine belt style, trough geometry, and drive sizing.
Coolant load: Wet vs. dry scrap affects belt perforation, carryover prevention, and fluid retention design. Pivot Belt Conveyors handle oily, sticky scrap. Oscillating Conveyors excel in wet, abrasive environments, with over 98% uptime documented in stamping operations.
Throughput volume: High-volume multi-shift operations require continuous-duty designs with long-life wear components. Steel Belt Conveyors and Drag Chain Conveyors are specified for the highest throughput environments.
Plant layout options, Z-style, L-style, straight, in-floor trough, and pneumatic routing, accommodate virtually any floor plan. Pneumatic Conveyors are specified when scrap must travel over long distances or overhead without floor-level routing.
| Click to Use PRAB’s Conveyor Selection Tool |
PRAB conveyors feature integrated PLC programming, sensors, and HMI controls for automated operation, jam detection, and energy-efficient performance.
PRAB conveyors are engineered to integrate with the full downstream material value chain. When integrated with chip processing systems, conveyors move scrap directly to wringers, centrifuges, or briquetters, recovering up to 98% of embedded cutting fluid before the chips leave the system. When connected to a Guardian Coolant Recycling System, recovered fluids are returned clean to your machining operation, closing the loop on both scrap and fluid management costs.
PRAB’s closed-loop approach extends beyond individual systems. Combining chip reduction, fluid separation, and coolant recycling into a single integrated line lets manufacturers reclaim up to 75% of cutting fluid and reduce waste disposal costs by up to 90%. One metal stamping operation that partnered with PRAB on a full conveyor and processing upgrade saw measurable gains in scrap handling efficiency and reduced downtime within the first year of operation.
Every PRAB conveyor is backed by the Performantee® Guarantee, with ROI verified through lab testing and throughput analysis before shipment. PRAB also offers a Managed Maintenance Program that, in one documented machining operation, reduced unplanned downtime by 40% over 18 months through scheduled inspections, OEM parts, and 24/7 technical support.
Through our Demo Before You Buy™ and Materials Testing and Fluid Testing programs, we validate your application and define measurable performance specifications before you purchase.
| FREE Materials Testing | FREE Fluid Testing | On-site Demo Equipment | Performantee™ |
|---|---|---|---|
| ■ Eliminate uncertainty by providing real, tested performance data.
■ Select correctly sized components and configurations ■ Quantify expected ROI and payback timelines ■ Support accurate conveyor, hopper, and system design |
■ Prove that your fluids can be recycled, reused, or treated to meet environmental compliance
■ Solids removal performance ■ Filtration clarity and turbidity reduction ■ Expected throughput and operating parameters – and more |
■ Engineered Confidence, Documented Results.
■ Your materials ■ Your infrastructure ■ Your team ■ De-Risking with on-site and our Kalamazoo, MI Facility |
PRAB’s Performantee is a true performance guarantee. We ensure that our equipment will achieve the specific results for which it was designed and manufactured. If it does not, we will revise, repair, or make any necessary changes to deliver the results you specified. So when you have questions or concerns about the performance of your PRAB equipment. 24/7 Live support. |
When Youngers and Sons Manufacturing moved from third-party metal scrap and coolant hauling to a PRAB Crusher/Wringer Chip Processing System paired with Guardian coolant recycling, the company began capturing value from material it had previously paid to have removed. Read the full case study →
Industrial conveyors are the backbone of automated manufacturing. PRAB conveyor systems are engineered for continuous duty, long equipment life, and energy-efficient operation in demanding metalworking environments. We collaborate with your machine tool builders, integrators, and maintenance teams to ensure the conveyor system fits seamlessly into your production flow, improving uptime, safety, and overall plant efficiency.
We’re still providing parts for conveyors sold 65+ years ago.
Using the right conveyor for the right application.
Less forklift traffic and ergonomic production
Keep your process moving whenever you need it most.
We can guarantee results like this because of our experience building and servicing conveyors that are still operating after 70+ years. Our team collects application data to provide a solution that moves your material in your unique plant situation. We back it up with 24/7 support to keep your equipment working for you around the clock. When you’re ready to start, contact us or use our conveyor selection tool.
Efficiently transfer machining scrap via various modes inside and outside your plant.
Transport die-cast scrap, regardless of temperature, size, or weight.
Clean, efficient transfer of metal stamping scrap from presses to load-out.
Ruggedized, high-volume conveyors built for the toughest working conditions.
Move non-fragile finished parts through your metalworking operation.
Metalworking’s most versatile conveyor for transporting metal scrap. Move wet or dry metal with multiple options for directional configuration. Convey bushy wads, turnings, die scrap, stamping scrap, or small chips.
Learn More >
Perfect for moving oily, thin-gauge trim scrap, stamping slugs, motor laminations and eyelet press scrap without carryover. Rigidized™ belt surface prevents scrap from sticking to the belt, and exclusively-designed pivoting hinges flip scrap into hoppers.
Learn More >
Vibrating system ideal for moving hot, dry, or wet abrasive metal chips, die scrap, or finished parts across horizontal distances. Built for machine-side or in-pit operation.
Learn More >
Liquid-tight scrap handling system to collect, transfer and elevate stamping scrap. Leak-proof construction retains 100% of cutting fluids when moving scrap to its destination.
Learn More >
Cost effective scrap conveyor system for collecting, transferring, meter feeding, and distributing a wide range of wet or dry metal chips and turnings.
Learn More >
Move highly abrasive, severe-duty metal scrap- both wet or dry. Exclusive bolt-free flight bar connection to stay strong under grueling conditions.
Learn More >
Air transfer system for moving wet or dry chips from CNC machining centers to a central chip processing system or load-out. Reconfigurable when modifying plant floor.
Learn More >
Cool parts and metal scrap where air cooling is not sufficient or practical. Liquid-tight conveyors for die cast, heat transfer, parts cooling and coating operations.
Learn More >
Ideal for air cooling of hot die castings. Eliminate misting and air quality issues associated with water quench conveyors.
Learn More >
Meter feed abrasive die scrap directly to the melting furnace. Batch-loaded or used as the final component in a complete scrap-to-remelt system.
Learn More >
Transfer wet or dry ferrous scrap including metal chips, stamping slugs, turnings, parts or die scrap without carryover.
Learn More >
Ideal for high-volume, coolant-flow applications. Quiet, efficient transfer of metal chips, fines and turnings, wet or dry bushy wads, die scrap and tramp metal solids.
Learn More >
Scrap handling system designed for final load-out of metal scrap into large trailers or railcars for maximum container fill.
Learn More >
Custom-built, system-integrated solutions remove contaminants so that water can be used, reused, or disposed of.
Learn More >A metal scrap conveyor is a system used in manufacturing to transport metal chips, turnings, swarf, and other waste for recycling or disposal. Common types include steel belt, oscillating, drag chain, magnetic, pneumatic, and specialty conveyors—each chosen based on scrap size, abrasiveness, coolant content, or temperature. These systems improve efficiency, safety, and the value of metal scrap while preventing downtime.
PRAB metal scrap conveyors are engineered for 30+ years of continuous operation—with documented installations exceeding 40 years. Systems handle up to 2,000 lb/hr of scrap and integrate seamlessly with metal chip processing and coolant recycling systems. Known for their low maintenance and durability, PRAB metal handling systems are trusted by automotive, aerospace, die-casting, CNC, and heavy manufacturing plants worldwide.
Resources:
Durable metal scrap conveyors are engineered with abrasion-resistant components, heavy-gauge steel, sealed bearings, and bolt-free flight connections.
Metal scrap conveyor durability in harsh metalworking environments is required to reduce downtime and extend lifespan. Factors like temperature resistance, magnetic properties, incline, and maintenance requirements should be considered.
PRAB incorporates AR-steel wear bars, NEMA-rated motors, and replaceable side wings in its steel belt and drag conveyors. In high-volume machining environments, these design choices have doubled belt life compared to light-duty competitor units. Documented cases show PRAB conveyors requiring 50% fewer unscheduled maintenance interventions annually.
Resources:
Conveyors integrate with metal chip processing and coolant recycling systems by automatically moving metal chips and swarf to downstream equipment such as crushers, wringers, centrifuges, or briquetters. This seamless flow allows for fluid reclamation, cleaner scrap handling, and more efficient scrap load-out.
PRAB engineers metal scrap conveyors to function as part of complete chip and fluid management cells, with built-in integration points for crushers, wringers, and fluid recycling systems. In one aerospace components facility, a full PRAB system increased scrap value by 25% and recovered more than 90% of machining fluids, saving over $120,000 annually in coolant purchases.
Metal scrap conveyors eliminate manual scrap handling, reduce forklift traffic, spill risks, and operator injuries. They improve workplace safety by keeping floors cleaner, reducing slip hazards, and improving workflow efficiency.
PRAB conveyor systems have helped facilities cut forklift scrap transport by up to 80%, reducing accident risk and freeing floor space for production. In one metal stamping plant, installation of an in-floor trough conveyor system reduced housekeeping labor by 15 hours per week, improving both safety and productivity metrics.
Resources:
Choose a metal scrap conveyor supplier that offers documented performance guarantees, preventive maintenance programs, and long-term parts availability.
Every PRAB conveyor is backed by the Performantee® Guarantee—verifying ROI through lab testing and throughput verification before shipment. PRAB also offers a Managed Maintenance Program, which, in one machining operation, reduced unplanned downtime by 40% over 18 months through scheduled inspections, OEM parts, and 24/7 technical support.
Resources:
Consider scrap size (fine chips vs bushy turnings), material (aluminium vs steel vs cast iron), coolant content (wet vs dry), and elevation/incline.
PRAB’s engineering teams conduct scrap and coolant testing before specification, ensuring conveyors meet throughput and wear requirements. In one stamping plant, a PRAB pivot belt conveyor reduced carryover delays by 35% and improved scrap evacuation speed by 28%. This data-driven selection process extends belt life and minimizes energy use.
Resources:
Rule of thumb:
A magnetic conveyor and a magnetic separator both use magnets to handle ferrous material, but they perform opposite functions. A magnetic conveyor is a material handling device that transports solid ferrous chips and parts. A magnetic separator is a fluid filtration device that pulls ferrous fines out of coolant. One moves metal. The other cleans fluid.
| Magnetic Conveyor | Magnetic Separator | |
| Primary job | Transports solid ferrous scrap | Removes ferrous fines from fluid |
| Acts on | Chips, slugs, turnings, small parts | Coolant or cutting oil |
| Category | Material handling and conveying | Fluid filtration |
| Typical position | Machine side, feeding downstream processing | In the coolant loop, often as a pre-filter |
| Output | Scrap delivered to a bin or processor | Cleaner fluid returned to the process |
The difference is what they act on. A magnetic conveyor transports solid ferrous scrap such as chips, stamping slugs, turnings, and small parts from the machine to downstream equipment or a container. A magnetic separator removes suspended ferrous fines and sludge from a fluid stream so the coolant or oil runs cleaner. A conveyor is used for material handling. A separator is fluid filtration.
A magnetic conveyor moves ferrous material cleanly and without carryover. PRAB uses a beltless slide design, with permanent magnets on a chain beneath a stationary stainless steel slider bed that grip the material and carry it to the release point, including up inclines. It is the right tool when the goal is to reliably move fine or thin ferrous scrap to a wringer, centrifuge, briquetter, or bin. See the full magnetic conveyor product page for models and configurations.
A magnetic separator removes ferrous contaminants from liquid. PRAB separators use a rotating drum fitted with ferrite or rare-earth magnets. As contaminated coolant or cutting oil flows across the drum, ferrous particles are captured and carried out of the fluid stream, and the cleaned fluid continues on. It is commonly used in grinding, honing, and gear cutting, and often runs as a pre-filter ahead of other fluid filtration equipment. PRAB ferrite models remove up to 97 percent of ferrous particles larger than 40 microns, and rare-earth models capture down to 15 microns, per PRAB published specifications.
Choose based on the problem you are solving. If solid ferrous chips are piling up at the machine and need to be moved away cleanly, you need a magnetic conveyor. If your coolant is loaded with fine ferrous particles that hurt tool life and surface finish, you need a magnetic separator. Many operations end up using both because moving the scrap and cleaning the fluid are two separate goals.
Yes, and they often work as a pair. A magnetic conveyor handles the solid scrap leaving the machine, while a magnetic separator keeps the coolant clean in the same cell. Both feed the larger goal of recovering fluid and scrap value, which is where coolant recycling systems complete the loop.
No. A magnetic conveyor is a conveying and material handling device, not a filtration device. It can help the coolant drain off the scrap as it moves, which reduces fluid carried away with the chips, but it does not filter the fluid itself. Removing particles from the fluid is the job of a magnetic separator or other fluid filtration equipment.
Both use permanent magnets, but are configured differently. A PRAB magnetic conveyor uses ceramic magnets, with rare-earth available, mounted on a moving chain under a fixed slider bed to grip and carry solid scrap. A PRAB magnetic separator uses ferrite or rare-earth magnets inside a rotating drum to attract fine particles out of flowing fluid. The conveyor holds and transports. The separator attracts and extracts.
For non-ferrous or mixed scrap that a magnet cannot hold, a steel belt conveyor is the appropriate transport choice instead of a magnetic conveyor.
Start by separating the two questions: how do I move the scrap, and how do I keep the fluid clean. For the scrap side, use PRAB’s conveyor selection tool or browse the full conveyor lineup. For the fluid side, the surest path is to test your actual coolant. PRAB offers free fluid testing for separator sizing and free materials testing for conveyor selection, so the equipment is matched to your real material rather than a generic profile.
Not sure which one fits, or whether you need both? Contact an expert at PRAB, or explore magnetic conveyors and magnetic separators to compare them side by side.
(800) 968-7722
(800) 493-3462