How to Recycle Electric Motors
What are Electric Motors?
Electric motors are gadgets that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. All gadgets have an end-of-life cycle. At that point, you need to recycle these electric motors, and its important to choose a reliable source. Lucky for you, we are a reputable ISRI electric motors recycler. A few devices that utilize an electric motor include:
- Industrial fans
- Blowers
- Pumps
- Disk drives
- Various machine tools
These electric motors generate mechanical energy (force) through the interaction of its windings and the magnetic field. Since electric motors themselves have been analyzed, it is important to understand the process.
How to Recycle Electric Motors
Recycling electric motors is for the most part done on a large scale and is very simple. It consists of:
- First, recyclers collect as many electric motors as possible to increase the chance of getting enough copper.
- Then, a hammer or hammering mill breaks the metallic casting of the motor.
- Afterwards, they separate the components and categorize them according to their materials.
- Finally, they take the separated components to their different recycling points and recycle them.
We have lots of experience purchasing and recycling scrap electric motors. With a heavy presence of copper, it is important to work with copper wound electric motors recycling companies. Recycling electric motors reuses valuable materials, decreases solid waste, reduces overall pollution and more.
Since the process has been examined, one must be acquainted with the mechanics of an electric motor.
Electric Motor Mechanics
Electric motors have three main classifications of size. The classifications are:
- Small motors. Small motors vary in size from that of a basketball to just slightly larger than an apple. Even smaller electric motors, like those found in radio-controlled cars, are less valuable due to their lower copper and aluminum content.
- Large motors. Motors like this fluctuate from larger than a basketball to under 2,000 pounds.
- Over-sized motors. These motors are larger than 2,000 pounds. They vary in demand because of their size and nonferrous metallic content.
The outside of most electric motors is a solid steel shell that protects the delicate parts inside. Additionally, most motors contain important copper and aluminum components. A few motors contain aluminum rather than copper which is still a significant, reusable material. In any case, more copper inside an electric motor makes it more valuable; behind copper is aluminum. Steel can be recycled however it is not as significant as copper or aluminum. Thus, wood and plastic components are viewed as a contaminant so the presence of these materials on a motor really brings down its worth.
Electric motors are a very typical item to recycle. Basically, every electric item with a mechanical movement utilizes an electric motor. A portion of these may even have an AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) electric motor. Some basic household, industrial and automotive items that utilize electric motors are…
Common household items with electric motors:
- Microwaves
- Hand tools
- Air conditioners
- Power supplies
- Starters
- Washing machines
- Computers
Common industrial items with electric motors:
- Transformers
- Pumps
- Machinery
- Manufacturing Equipment
Common automotive items with electric motors:
- Starters
- Alternators
- Generators
Now that the mechanics and recycling process of electric motors has been discussed, it is crucial that one comprehends the significance and impacts of electric motor recycling.
Why Recycle Electric Motors?
Recycling electric motors:
- Reuses valuable materials
- Reduces landfill pollution
- Reduces solid waste
- Protects natural resources
- Reduces overall pollution
Since all pieces of electric motors are metallic, they are 100% recyclable. Likewise, the copper elements of electric motors are very valuable and utilized in a wide range of electrical gadgets. Electric motor recycling allows these materials to be reused for different items which keeps them out of landfills. Hence, less motors in landfills means less solid waste which protects natural resources. These steps lead to a general decline in pollution which enables the environment to become cleaner and greener.
How to Recycle Electric Motors: The Process
Overall, electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Gadgets like industrial fans, blowers, pumps and more use electric motors. There are small, large and over-sized motors that can be found in everyday items, for example, microwaves, hand tools, air conditioners and more. What is the best company to recycle scrap electric motors? We have one of the largest scrap electric motors processing facility in the nation, we are your solution.
When professional recyclers at Interco recycle electric motors, this reuses valuable materials, decreases solid waste, diminishes overall pollution and more. Interco will even buy scrap electric motors to recycle them appropriately, plus, we offer the best prices scrap electric motors.
To learn more about recycling electric motors, click here to contact us.