Transforming waste copper wire into copper rice: Understanding the selection and process of copper wire recycling equipment in one article

In various metal recycling projects, the recycling of scrap copper wire has always been a relatively low entry threshold but lucrative track due to mature processes, stable profits, and high market demand. However, for the same copper wire recycling equipment, there are significant differences in copper purity, processing capacity, and energy consumption performance among equipment from different manufacturers, which directly determines the profitability level of the project. Today we will systematically explain the key points for selecting copper wire recycling equipment.

The basic logic of copper wire recycling

The core of recycling waste cables (copper wires) is “copper plastic separation” – separating the copper core from the outer plastic insulation layer to produce pure copper rice (or copper wire) and plastic particles, which are sold separately. The price of copper rice is usually between 60000 and 80000 yuan/ton, and the price of plastic pellets is about 3000-5000 yuan/ton. The comprehensive recycling value of one ton of waste cables exceeds 60000 yuan, and the economic benefits are considerable.

Comparison of mainstream processes for copper wire recycling

There are currently two mainstream copper wire recycling processes in the market:

Process 1: Granular Copper Rice Machine

The granular copper rice machine is the most mainstream copper wire recycling equipment in the world. During work, waste cables are crushed and enter the copper plastic separation system. Through multiple processes such as blade cutting, screening, and airflow sorting, copper and plastic are separated into a 2-5mm granular mixture of copper and plastic particles. The residual plastic is then thoroughly separated by an electrostatic sorting machine to produce pure copper rice.

Advantages: High degree of automation, one machine can complete crushing, sorting, and dust removal; Copper rice has high purity (up to 99.5% or more); Strong processing capacity (ranging from 300-2000kg/h); Equipped with pulse dust removal system, dust emissions meet the standard.

Process 2: Stripper

The wire stripping machine is suitable for thicker waste cables (with a diameter of 10mm or more). By rotating the blade wheel or hydraulic device, the outer skin of the cable can be peeled off while retaining the internal copper core, and copper wire can be directly produced. Its advantages are simple structure and low price, but its disadvantage is that it is only suitable for thick cables and has limited ability to handle fine miscellaneous wires.

Selection of core parameters

When selecting, the following parameters should be focused on: processing capacity (kg/h) matched with your raw material supply; Copper rice with a purity of ≥ 99% is considered high-quality equipment; Energy consumption (kW · h/ton) affects operating costs; Whether the crushing system adopts wear-resistant materials affects the service life and maintenance frequency of the equipment; Whether the dust removal system configuration is complete affects the workshop environment and workers’ health.

Advantages of Renewable Copper Wire Recycling Equipment

The Renewable cable copper rice machine adopts independently developed high-strength alloy blades, combined with a three-level sorting system (vibration sorting+airflow sorting+electrostatic sorting), with a stable copper rice purity of ≥ 99.5% and a plastic particle copper content of less than 0.3%. The equipment models cover a full range from small 300kg/h to large 2000kg/h, supporting incoming testing and can be customized according to needs. Exported for many years, it has a good reputation in Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, and South American markets.