Metalworking operations have the unique benefit of generating revenue through waste material.
When processed effectively, there are dollar signs attached to every turning, chip, and filing. But many operations feel challenged to reclaim that value. Implementing or augmenting an efficient metal scrap processing program requires careful planning and the right equipment, which can feel like an expensive gamble.
CapEx for new equipment in a processing system is never a small or quick decision, and critical-but-common questions must be answered:
Which system is best for our specific material and process?
Can it handle the volume we need?
How much will it affect scrap value?
When can we expect ROI?
But here’s another question: What if you already knew those answers before buying?
Before committing to a metal chip processing system, you can test your materials to ensure compatibility and compliance. In North America alone, an estimated $4 billion in recoverable value is lost every year due to inefficient chip and sludge handling—primarily through lost coolant and undervalued scrap. PRAB’s “Test Before You Buy” program uses your shop’s actual material to provide a proof-of-concept tailored to your operation that guides you to the exact system best suited to your needs, and eliminates the risk of a CapEx mistake.
One of the biggest challenges in effective metal scrap management is reducing volume and moisture. Loose, stringy turnings are difficult to transport and store, and they contain expensive fluids that should be recycled for reuse. Testing your material allows our engineers to determine which size-reduction and separation equipment can optimize your process, such as:
When you need to maximize scrap value, briquetting is the optimal process. By compressing chips and swarf into dense pucks, you transform waste into dollars. Testing your material beforehand ensures the briquettes maintain their integrity during transport and meet your recycler’s requirements and compliance regulations.
Every shop is unique. One manufacturer has completely different material processing requirements than another. Materials testing helps us design equipment and lay out a processing configuration that integrates seamlessly with your existing process, facility, and material.
Investing in metal scrap processing equipment isn’t just buying machinery; it’s about elevating your bottom line and future-proofing your operation.
PRAB’s FREE Materials Testing Program gives you a data-driven report that shows moisture levels, volume reduction, and a factual path to ROI based on real inputs from your material. Testing gives you peace of mind knowing you’re investing in the right equipment that will optimize and improve your process because you’ve already seen it work.
Don’t leave revenue on the scrap heap. Learn more about PRAB’s materials testing program and talk with our experts about improving your metal scrap processing program at PRAB.com.
Start Your Materials Testing Here.
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