Coast-effective scrap sorting
August 18th 2008

A novel way of employing blowers for extracting ‘lights’ (paper, plastic, cardboard etc.) from skip loads of waste for more effective - and more financially rewarding - recycling has been employed by McCloskey International.

Typically, when skips arrive at the sorting depots large items, such as fridges and TVs, are removed. Fines (-40mm) are then extracted using a trammel screen.

The next stage is a conveyor where material like wood and metal is hand-picked. At the end of the conveyor the material drops onto a second conveyor. Here a blower is used extract ‘lights’ by blowing a continuous curtain of air horizontally across the drop diverting lights into a collection bin.

A similar blast of air is delivered as media falls off the second conveyor after final picking and magnetic extraction of metals.

The blowers used by McCloskey are forward bladed, centrifugal units supplied by air movement specialist, Air Control Industries. ACI recommended centrifugal blower units because compared to other designs, on a size-by-size basis.

“Because the ACI units are so efficient they are compact for their output performance”, said Declan Dooley, Engineering Manager, McCloskey International. “Their compactness and mounting arrangement also means the blowers are easy to install.”

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