Electric motors are found everywhere, from heavy equipment and household appliances to industrial facilities and electric vehicles. They contain significant amounts of materials like copper, brass, aluminum, and steel that have some scrap value, though harvesting these materials in an efficient and cost-effective manner can be a challenge. The basic steps for recycling an electric motor include:
- Disassembly: All the fasteners that secure brackets and endplates to the housing are removed, and the motor is stripped of all external components like capacitors, bearings, pulleys, or controls.
- Splitting the case: To access the rotor, stator, commutator, and windings, the case must be opened. This can be done with hammers and chisels, hydraulic shears, or a hammer mill.
- Separating the components: The copper windings need to be separated from the ferrous core. Cutting or splitting the iron or laminated steel core is often the easiest way to access the copper windings.
- Sorting the materials: Any tape and insulation layers, cording, and plastics need to be removed, then the materials can be stripped and sorted according to metal type for scrap recycling.
At Solid Equipment Company, our electric motor recycling machines make quick work of scrapping electric motors. They feature specialized hydraulic shears to split cases, steel stator or transformer cores, and a semi-automatic copper extraction system that uses clamps and presses to extract the copper windings. Our systems make recycling electric motors less labor-intensive, faster, and more cost-efficient.
Electric Car Recycling
Electric vehicles have far more in scrap value than just the materials in the electric motors. Steel and aluminum from the body and frame can be recycled, as well as the batteries powering the car.
To recycle an electric vehicle, it is important to disconnect and remove the battery packs safely. They have extremely high and dangerous DC voltages, leading to potential electrocution and fire hazards. Once the battery is safe, the aluminum and steel components can be salvaged, while plastics, fabric, and other materials can be discarded or redirected to other recycling channels.
Batteries that have some useful service life remaining can be transferred to secondary markets like solar battery storage systems, while batteries that have no service potential can be discharged and stripped down to salvage valuable metals such as aluminum, steel, cobalt, and lithium. Recycling batteries takes special training and equipment to complete safely, so this is usually done by third parties that specialize in the service.
To learn more about the recycling processes for electric motors and electric vehicles, as well as the equipment that can make these tasks easier, browse our industrial recycling equipment guide or talk to our experts at Solid Equipment Company. Call us at 855-909-0424 or contact us online.
Electric Motor & Vehicle Recycling Equipment for Your Scrap Facility
Are you interested in equipment that makes it easier and more cost-effective to scrap electric motors and vehicles? Contact our team at Solid Equipment Company. We offer reliable, high-quality electric motor recycling machines, hydraulic shears, hammer mills, vehicle recycling equipment, scrap metal balers, high-volume wire strippers, and more. We serve scrapyards, recycling centers, demolition companies, and construction firms throughout the United States, and we offer both new and used equipment at great prices. With unsurpassed service and support, a knowledgeable team, and quality products, we are here to help with all your scrap and recycling needs.
Call 855-909-0424 or contact us online to learn more about our electric motor recycling equipment or to request a quote.
