Sorting Scrap Metal
Generally, when scrap metal arrives at a processing plant, it is mixed in with other recyclables; like wood, plastic, rubber, and paper materials. In order to extract the metal pieces from the rest of the reclaimed materials, all contents must be sifted through. A giant shredding machine is commonly used for this purpose, either shredding everything except the metal, or using magnetic technology to pull the metal away from everything else. When all is said and done, the processing plant should have a pure-metal pile aside from the mixture they started with.
Recycling Scrap Metal
When metal is sifted, extracted, and thoroughly cleaned, it can then be smelted down to a liquid form and reused in later applications. In order to melt metal, it must be heated to extremely high temperatures. For this, metal recycling plants use giant industrial-sized furnace-like machines that burn at incredibly high temperatures. Not only does this melt metal, it cleans it of any leftover impurities or films. Liquid metal is poured into molds so that it is easily distributable, reusable, and manageable.