How to Recover Non-Ferrous Metals from ASR
Automotive shredder residue (ASR) is one of the more difficult recycling streams to process consistently. After end-of-life vehicles are shredded and major ferrous metals are removed, the remaining material can contain plastics, rubber, glass, foam, wire and residual metal pieces in a wide range of sizes.
A September 2026 study in Construction and Building Materials again described ASR as a highly heterogeneous material whose composition and particle-size distribution can vary considerably. For metal recyclers, that variability matters because downstream separation equipment performs best when the incoming material is reasonably controlled.
Start by Controlling Particle Size
Sending large pieces, medium fragments and fines through the same separation stage can produce unstable results. Their mass, shape and trajectory differ, even when some pieces contain the same type of metal.
A trommel screen can divide shredded material into controlled size ranges before metal recovery. CurrenTek specifically lists ASR recycling as a trommel-screen application and notes that classification can create more stable feed conditions for subsequent separation.
The correct screen opening is not universal. It should be selected according to the actual ASR size distribution and the requirements of the downstream equipment rather than simply creating as many fractions as possible.
Remove Ferrous Metals Before Non-Ferrous Recovery
Iron and steel remaining in the stream should generally be addressed before the main non-ferrous recovery stage.
A magnetic separator uses the magnetic response of ferrous material to remove these pieces from the mixed stream. This produces a cleaner feed for later processing and prevents easily recoverable steel from remaining mixed with aluminum-rich and non-metallic fractions.
For ASR plants, magnetic separation and eddy current separation therefore perform different jobs. One targets ferrous metals; the other targets conductive non-ferrous metals.
Use Eddy Current Separation for Non-Ferrous Metals
After suitable preparation and ferrous removal, an eddy current separator can recover conductive non-ferrous metals from non-conductive ASR components.
A rapidly changing magnetic field induces electrical currents in conductive particles. The resulting force changes their discharge trajectory, allowing materials such as aluminum to separate from plastics, rubber, glass and other non-conductive material.
CurrenTek lists aluminum, copper, brass and other conductive non-ferrous metals among the target materials for its eddy current separators. Its ASR process information positions eddy current separation as the bulk non-ferrous recovery stage after material preparation and ferrous removal.
This does not mean every metal particle will respond identically. Particle size, shape, conductivity, feed distribution, moisture and material entanglement can all influence separation behavior.
ASR Recovery Works Best as a Process
The key equipment decision is therefore not simply which separator to purchase. It is how the incoming ASR should be prepared so each separation stage receives material it can handle effectively.
A practical sequence can begin with size classification, followed by ferrous removal and then bulk non-ferrous recovery. If selected stainless steel, wire or other visually identifiable material remains afterward, CurrenTek's AI Separator is positioned as an optional upgrading stage rather than the primary recovery machine.
For recycling operators, the objective is a controlled process matched to the real feed. Better preparation can make downstream separation more predictable and help recover valuable metal that might otherwise remain in the residue.