Solutions

Metal Recycling

Challenging conditions in industrial recycling

A large proportion of the costs in industrial recycling are caused by powerful motors that drive numerous machines. However, during the energy crisis, electricity costs have exploded - and will remain above pre-crisis levels in the medium to long term. This not only increases the operating costs of recycling companies, but also jeopardizes the profitability of the industry. In metal recycling, the technology used must be able to withstand extreme conditions such as temperature fluctuations, moisture and dirt and heavy loads. To survive in this demanding environment, systems must be robust, reliable and durable. Our frequency inverters can address this.

Contents

Energy saving solutions for your metal recycling plant
Advantages of our frequency inverters for recycling process
Individual integration into existing systems
More efficiency through digital solutions
Sustainability that pays off
Competencies

Energy saving solutions for your metal recycling plant

Frequency inverter for the shredder

Frequency inverter for conveyor belts

Frequency inverter for air treatment

Advantages of our frequency inverters for recycling process

Frequency inverters from Mitsubishi Electric regulate motor speed and torque to suit every application, enabling energy-optimised operation even under partial load. Smooth starting and stopping of machines avoid load peaks, minimises failure risks, and significantly reduces energy costs in central metal recycling applications such as shredders, conveyor belts, and air treatment.
Controlled operation also increases the life time of the machine and reduces maintenance costs. Your recycling system works more efficiently and the quality of your end products is improved.

Savings by using a frequency inverter

Convert easily, save threefold: Frequency inverters reduce costs for energy, penalties and maintenance in equal measure.

Frequency inverters adjust the speed and torque exactly as your machine requires it. The result: significantly lower energy consumption.

7-10 % less energy costs on the main motor of a shredder
50 % less energy costs when used in exhaust air devices.

With the help of our software, you can visualize the data from the inverter and evaluate it to save even more energy.

Lower peak loads, avoid fines

The prices charged by energy suppliers are based on the highest fluctuations in consumption. By avoiding peak loads, you can significantly the network charges and thus the overall electricity costs. High consumption peaks also put a strain on the electricity grid and can lead to supply breakdowns. A system failure costs money and high penalties are payable to energy suppliers. With frequency inverters from Mitsubishi Electric, you can avoid system downtimes and penalties and stabilize the power distribution grid. The IEEE-519 standard for mains harmonic loading is complied with.

Less starting current also increases the life time of your motors.
This is because: if a motor starts directly from the line, it requires full load motor current. This excess energy puts a strain on the drive in the long term because it generates an enormous amount of heat. Frequency inverters also work electronically and are therefore very low-maintenance.

Our frequency inverters increase the life time of heavy appliances through smooth starting and stopping.

Extend the life time of your recycling systems

Maintenance, wear and tear and replacement are significant cost factors for a recycling system. Frequency inverters reduce these costs in two ways: Firstly, through the optimized operation of the motor, which reduces the load on the machine and avoids peak loads. Secondly, the devices function electronically, which means that mechanical drive components are no longer required and maintenance costs are reduced. In addition, frequency inverters are usually housed in control cabinets in a separate room. This protects them from moisture, dirt, wind and extreme temperatures - and therefore also from wear and tear.

Replacement of high-maintenance mechanics

Frequency inverters replace vulnerable components such as hydraulic clutches or fluid starters. This prevents material losses on mechanical parts such as gearboxes and couplings.

Reduced load on motors

By controlling the speed, torque and motor temperature as well as the smooth start and stop of the motors, load peaks are avoided and the drive is less stressed. This increases the life time of your machine.

Fast availability of spare parts

Thanks to its high level of vertical integration, Mitsubishi Electric is largely independent of suppliers. This applies to components such as the power modules, the heart of the frequency inverter.

Individual integration into existing systems

Recycling systems can easily be converted to low-maintenance frequency inverters.
And it pays off: depending on the condition of the existing system and the development of energy costs, the decision to invest in energy-efficient drive technology can pay for itself in less than a year.
We advise, plan and help with the retrofit. The retrofit is simple: the old mechanical drive technology is removed and the possible usage of existing motor proved. The motor is then connected directly to the frequency inverter and this is connected to the corresponding machine. This is followed by programming. We will be happy to advise you on the selection of a suitable frequency inverter, the design and the necessary structural measures.

Increase motor utilization	Predictive maintenance
A drive controller with data logger, for example, which is set to a frequency inverter, can further increase the overall system efficiency. Flexible control of the frequency inverter makes it possible to increase motor utilization depending on the material feed. This increases the productivity of the recycling plant by up to 30 % and reduces power consumption by up to 20 %.	The Mitsubishi Electric Asset Portal also enables predictive maintenance of your system. This is because the transmitted machine data can be analyzed to identify matches of events that precede a failure. In this way, maintenance measures can be planned and carried out before the machine breaks down.

Sustainability that pays off

Saving electricity doesn’t just boost your company’s financial performance — it also reduces your ecological footprint and strengthens your brand image.
By optimising your processes, you can improve efficiency, cut costs, and enhance sustainability.

For recycling companies, these practices are especially vital — after all, protecting the environment is part of their core mission.

Download and read the case study below to see how sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.