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News & Knowledge

Valuable Insight for Making Your Operation Safer, More Productive and More Efficient

From blogs, and technical briefs to case studies and application reviews – read and download some of our valuable examples of metalworking waste stream solutions, new technology and the challenges facing others in your industry with today’s material handling applications. To see how you can join our other customers who are profiting more from properly managing their scrap and fluid handling processes, contact us.

Automated pH Adjustment Systems for Manufacturers -What They Are and Why You Need One

Written by Paul Montgomery, Published July 31, 2026  |  Last updated July 31, 2026 Quick Answer: Automated pH adjustment systems, also called pH neutralization systems or pH adjusters, continuously monitor acidic or alkaline wastewater and dose acid or caustic chemistry to bring it into the 6.0 to 9.0 pH range required for compliant discharge. Beyond compliance, batch-based systems verify every […]

What Is Tramp Oil?

Published July 30, 2026  |  Last updated July 30, 2026 Quick Answer: Tramp oil is unwanted hydrocarbon-based oil, such as way lubricant, hydraulic fluid, or rust-preventive coating, that leaks or migrates into metalworking coolant and washwater. It floats, disperses, or emulsifies in the fluid, where it reduces cooling performance, feeds bacterial growth, shortens tool life, and drives up disposal costs. […]

What Is the Best Industrial Wastewater Treatment System for Manufacturers?

Published July 20, 2026. Last updated July 20, 2026. Quick Answer: There is no single “best” industrial wastewater treatment system. The right system depends on your wastewater composition, flow rate, and discharge or reuse goals. Most manufacturers combine two or more of five core technologies: ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, vacuum evaporation, automated pH adjustment, and oil-water separation. PRAB customer installations have […]

How Much Can a Coolant Recycling System Save My Manufacturing Facility?

Published July 20, 2026. Last updated July 20, 2026. Quick Answer: A coolant recycling system typically reduces new coolant purchases by 50 to 75 percent and cuts coolant disposal costs by up to 90 percent, while recovering 95 to 98 percent of metalworking coolant for reuse. Most manufacturers see full return on investment within 6 to 18 months, with high-volume […]

How Do You Turn Metal Scrap Handling and Coolant Recycling Into a Connected, Plant-Wide Automation System?

Written by Paul Montgomery, Marketing Leader at PRAB. Reviewed by [Reviewer Name, Title]. Published July 6, 2026. Last updated July 6, 2026. Quick Answer You turn metal scrap and coolant recycling into a connected automation system by treating conveyors, chip processors, coolant recycling units, and wastewater treatment as one engineered line rather than separate equipment purchases. This means specifying PLC […]

How Can Testing Fluids and Materials Reduce Manufacturing Waste?

Written by Mike Hook, Director of Sales & Marketing at PRAB. Reviewed by Paul Montgomery, Marketing Leader at PRAB. Published June 30, 2026. Last updated July 2, 2026. Quick answer Testing metal scrap and process fluids before purchasing recycling equipment removes the guesswork from a capital expenditure decision. Lab-based testing produces shop-specific data — reclaimable coolant volume, chip reduction potential, […]

The Real Source of Complexity in Industrial Metal Chip Processing and Coolant Recycling Systems

Written by Paul Montgomery, Marketing Leader at PRAB. Reviewed by Mike Proos, Director of PRAB Engineering, PRAB, Inc. Published 7/1/2026. Last updated July 2, 2026. Quick Answer How does PRAB handle integration, commissioning, and long-term support for complex systems? PRAB provides system integration and support as well as engineering support from specification through startup, including system layout review, integration coordination […]

How Does PRAB Handle Commissioning, Integration, and Long-Term Support for Complex Systems?

Written by Paul Montgomery, Marketing Leader at PRAB. Reviewed by [Application Engineering, name/title TBD]. Published [Date]. Last updated [Date]. Quick Answer What is a closed-loop metalworking system? A closed-loop metalworking system is a plant-wide architecture in which metal chips, coolant, and wastewater are continuously captured, processed, and returned to productive use rather than being discharged or hauled away as waste. […]

Why the Material You Cut Determines the Metal Scrap Handling System You Need

Written by Paul Montgomery, Marketing Leader at PRAB. Reviewed by [Application Engineering, name/title TBD]. Published [Date]. Last updated [Date]. Quick Answer Does the material being machined affect which metal scrap conveyor or chip processing system I need? Yes, significantly. Chip morphology, bulk density, abrasiveness, and coolant affinity vary widely by material. Aluminum produces fine, stringy chips with high coolant retention […]

How Do Chip Wringers Affect Coolant Concentration and Quality Upon Recovery?

Written by Paul Montgomery, Marketing Leader, PRAB, Inc. Reviewed by Mike Proos   |   Published July 2, 2026   |   Last updated July 2, 2026 Quick Answer: A wringer uses centrifugal force to fling cutting fluid off metal chips, recovering fluid that would otherwise leave with the scrap. The recovered fluid is mechanically separated, not chemically cleaned, so it can carry fines […]