In a recent innovation, MBA Polymers integrated a groundbreaking manual self-cleaning magnet insert into one of their existing Drawer Filter Magnets at their Worksop plastics recycling site in the UK. This new drawer magnet insert has significantly cut down the time needed to clean ferrous metal captured by the powerful tube magnets, making operations faster and safer for the team.

Bunting is a leading global manufacturer of magnetic separators, eddy current separators, metal detectors, and electrostatic separators. Their European production facilities are based in Berkhamsted and Redditch, both located in the UK.

Founded in California in 1997, MBA Polymers began as a small-scale operation in Richmond, Virginia. Through steady growth and smart investments, the company has become a major player in the global recycling industry, specializing in recovering plastics from end-of-life durable goods such as electronics, appliances, and vehicles.

MBA Polymers UK operates the world's largest and most advanced plastics recycling facility, focusing on extracting waste plastics and rubber from "shredder residue." This residue comes from the shredding process of end-of-life vehicles, appliances, and other metal-rich equipment that would otherwise be sent to landfills.

Seven years ago, the company installed four Bunting Drawer Filter Magnets, each equipped with rows of high-strength rare earth neodymium tube magnets enclosed in sealed housings. These magnets attract and retain magnetic particles, ensuring only clean material moves forward in the recycling process, which is vital for protecting downstream equipment and improving overall efficiency.

To improve the cleaning process, Bunting introduced a new drawer magnet insert. This insert fits seamlessly into existing units without requiring any modifications. Operators simply pull out the entire drawer, clear any blockages, and then extract the tube magnets through the front Perspex cover. The metal contamination is attracted to a front plate with sturdy plastic washers, preventing it from escaping. As the magnets are fully removed, the trapped metal falls into a separate collection area due to gravity.

This new system reduces cleaning time to just 40 seconds, dramatically cutting downtime. It also eliminates the need for manual removal of trapped metal, greatly improving safety for workers.

Guy Hughes, Extrusion Manager at MBA Polymers, highlighted the benefits of the upgrade, saying, “With the new magnet system, we can ensure that contamination is removed before screening, delivering a higher quality product to our customers.”

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