Metal Scrap Briquetter Machines for Chips, Turnings & Swarf

Loose, wet chips cost you twice — once in lost cutting fluid, again in storage and haul-away volume. PRAB’s chip processing and briquetting equipment recovers both: shredding and wringing stages reduce volume and reclaim bulk fluid, while the DualPak Briquetter densifies the output into a scrap-buyer-ready puck. Systems are sized to your actual hourly throughput and matched to your feedstock — aluminum, steel, copper, brass, or specialty alloys each briquette differently. See how briquetting increases scrap value and which press type fits your material →

9 Models for Any Size Shop

PRAB DualPak™ briquetters are available in nine models to match your production volume and alloy type. Every machine is backed by the Performantee® Guarantee with documented ROI and test data. FREE Materials Testing is available to help you build a credible ROI model before committing to a purchase.

With heavy-duty hydraulic systems, hardened wear surfaces, replaceable components, and robust seals designed to withstand abrasion, resist contamination, and maintain pressure and alignment, PRAB units process the full spectrum of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including aluminum, cast iron, steel, stainless, titanium, copper, and brass.

The DualPak™ Difference: Dual-Ram Compression Technology

Most briquetting machines use a single hydraulic ram, which results in inconsistent density, violent cycling, and variable puck quality. The PRAB DualPak™ eliminates these problems by pressing metal equally from both sides simultaneously. This dual-ram action produces a stable, consistent, more compact puck every cycle. One DualPak™ unit has surpassed 3,500,000 cycles without a single issue, a durability record that reflects PRAB’s overbuilt, continuous-duty construction philosophy.

Great Performance: Conservative, Realistic Numbers

• Coolant recovery (typical): ~98%
  • In day-to-day operations, customers typically reclaim about 98% of cutting fluids for reuse, sometimes 99.0%, helping reduce the need to purchase new coolant.
• Residual moisture (typical): 2–4%
  • Briquettes are near-dry, with a residual moisture content of 2–4%, which keeps floors cleaner and simplifies storage, staging, and transport.

Metals and Materials the DualPak™ Handles

PRAB DualPak™ briquetters handle a full range of machining scrap materials:

• Aluminum, steel, stainless steel, cast iron
• Copper, brass, titanium, magnesium

PRAB engineers select the correct DualPak™ model based on your mass flow rate, alloy mix, chip geometry, inlet moisture, and target puck size, then confirm the specification with lab test data from your actual materials.

Documented ROI: What PRAB Briquetter Customers Achieve

Martin-Baker (aerospace safety systems manufacturer):

• 5x volume reduction of loose aluminum chips in PRAB materials testing
• $0.17 per pound premium for briquetted material over loose chips
• Approximately $5,000 per year in coolant savings from recovered and recycled fluid. Read the Martin-Baker Case Study.

Aerospace components manufacturer:

• Full equipment ROI in approximately 18 months
• Coolant cost payback in approximately 8-10 months
• Scrap turned from loose, dripping chips into a 90% solid commodity sold at a premium. Read the Aerospace Case Study.

The PRAB Briquetter Sizing Framework

PRAB engineers size DualPak™ briquetters using five variables. This is the same framework PRAB used when sizing Martin-Baker’s system and the aerospace components manufacturer’s installation.

1. Mass flow rate: How many pounds of chips per hour or per shift need to be processed?
2. Alloy mix: Aluminum briquettes are different from steel or titanium. Mixed-alloy streams require specific model selection.
3. Chip geometry: Fine chips, long turnings, and swarf each affect throughput and require different infeed configurations.
4. Inlet moisture (coolant content): Chips with high coolant content may require an upstream horizontal screw press to reduce fluid content before briquetting to achieve optimal puck quality.

Target puck size and density: Scrap buyers and furnace operations each have specific requirements. PRAB engineers confirm the right compression force and puck geometry in lab testing before shipment

Integrate Your DualPak™ with PRAB’s Full Chip Processing Cell

The DualPak™ performs best as part of an integrated cell. Upstream metal turnings shredders convert long, tangled turnings into consistent chips before they reach the briquetter. For chip streams with high coolant content, an upstream horizontal screw press removes up to 85% of fluid before compression, with the DualPak™ then capturing an additional 99% of residual coolant during briquetting. Recovered fluid routes to a PRAB Guardian Coolant Recycling System for return to your machining operation, closing the loop on fluid management costs.

Features of the PRAB Dualpak^™ Briquette include:

• Exclusive dual hydraulic ram within the compression chamber provides a stable, consistent, more compact scrap puck
• Heavy-duty hydraulics last for hundreds of thousands of cycles
• Fluid recovery tank captures valuable coolants and cutting oils for fluid reclamation or recycling
• PLC controls with an HMI operator panel, including error reporting and diagnostics
• Position and pressure feedback 0-10 volt DC
• Swivel steel belt discharge conveyor rotates to fill multiple containers
• Fan-cooled heat exchanger
• System capacity up to 14,000 lbs/hr
• Auto lube systems for automatic greasing of bearings.

Options include:

• Live-bottom hopper available in 1, 2, 3, or 4 cubic yards for increased capacity
• Dual-feed hopper system for multiple materials
• Water-cooled heat exchanger for increased efficiency

*Note: live-bottom hopper sizes are available: 1, 2, 3, or 4 cubic yard capacities

Image below and far Right: Auto lube systems are designed to automatically supply a small quantity of clean grease or oil to bearings on a regular basis, improving bearing performance and eliminating the maintenance required for manual greasing.