Magnetic separators remove ferrous contaminants from the shredded material flow: nails, screws, wires, steel fragments, and hardware. Removal protects downstream equipment, increases final product purity, and enables the sale of the metal fraction as a by-product.
Equipment types
Overband magnetic separator: a permanent magnet or electromagnet suspended above the conveyor belt. In the longitudinal installation, over the head pulley, the material is loose at discharge and the result is the best. The cross-belt installation takes less space but requires more magnetic force. The self-cleaning version has a circulating belt with cleats that removes the captured iron continuously. It handles particle sizes from 10 to 300 mm, material bed depth up to 1 m, and working distance up to 1 m. The permanent-magnet model suits sites with limited power availability or where a short working distance is required.
Magnetic drum: operates in two configurations. In the traversing arrangement, a chute distributes the material over the drum, which rotates with the flow; iron extraction is maximized and product losses are low. In the extracting arrangement, the drum sits above the discharge and rotates against the flow: it lifts the ferrous material and discharges it beyond the splitter, prioritizing purity. With permanent magnets, it handles medium-coarse to fine material, including below 1 mm. Diameter is selected by particle size; width, by the required throughput. Robust construction and high durability.
Magnetic pulley: integrated into the existing belt as the head pulley. It retains the ferrous material against the belt while the non-magnetic material follows the normal discharge parabola; outside the field, the ferrous material falls into a separate chute divided by a splitter. It suits retrofits on existing belts, with low need for structural adaptations, even in limited space.
Sizing criteria
Belt width, belt speed (it changes the discharge parabola at the pulley), installation distance and height, material bed depth, particle size, throughput, and the separation objective determine the configuration: maximum extraction, product purity, or protection of downstream equipment.
Typical market ranges: magnetic drum with width from 350 to 2,000 mm and diameter from 300 to 500 mm; magnetic pulley with width from 300 to 2,000 mm and diameter from 240 to 640 mm; electromagnetic overband with width from 750 to 1,800 mm; permanent-magnet overband with width from 600 to 1,300 mm.
Jaguar Industrial does not manufacture the magnetic assembly. We use equipment validated and certified by Jaguar’s engineering team, with a focus on efficiency and availability according to each project. Specification and integration also take into account the other separation accessories in the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the ferrous metal extractor and the ECS separator? The ferrous extractor removes magnetic contaminants (nails, screws, wires, and steel fragments) by magnetic field. The ECS separator recovers non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, brass, and zinc through eddy currents. In complete lines they complement each other: ferrous first, then non-ferrous.
Does Jaguar manufacture the magnetic separator? No. Jaguar Industrial does not manufacture the magnetic assembly. We use equipment validated and certified by Jaguar’s engineering team, with a focus on efficiency and availability according to each project. Jaguar’s role is engineering specification and integration, sized per project.
Where should the magnetic separator be installed in the line? Installation depends on the flow to protect: suspended above the belt (overband), longitudinally over the head pulley or cross-belt; or at the conveyor head (drum or magnetic pulley). Correct positioning protects downstream equipment and enables the sale of the metal fraction as a by-product. In ferrous scrap processing lines, extraction comes before downstream classification stages.
What data is needed to size the equipment? Belt width, belt speed, installation distance and height, material bed depth, particle size, and throughput. The separation objective also matters: maximum extraction, purity, or protection of downstream equipment. With this data, Jaguar engineering defines the configuration and installation point.