Suspended Magnetic Separator is a magnetic device that realizes material separation by hanging installation, which is widely used in mining, metallurgy, waste treatment and other fields.

The core principle of Suspended Magnetic Separator is to use the strong magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet or electromagnetic system to adsorb ferromagnetic impurities (such as nails, bolts, ore debris) from the material flow, thereby improving the purity of the raw material and protecting downstream equipment.

Unlike traditional drum Magnetic separators, Suspended magnetic separators are contactless and can be mounted directly above the conveyor belt for continuous automation.

A Suspended Magnetic Separator is an overhead magnetic separation system installed above a conveyor belt to automatically remove ferrous metals such as steel, iron, nails, bolts, rebar, cans, and metal scraps from continuously moving materials.

Unlike magnetic drums that require direct contact with materials, a suspended magnetic separator operates without touching the material stream. It generates a powerful magnetic field to lift ferrous contaminants from municipal solid waste (MSW), construction waste, RDF production lines, biomass recycling plants, mining ores, plastic recycling facilities, and industrial recycling systems.

Modern suspended magnetic separators are available in both permanent magnet and electromagnetic designs. Permanent magnetic separators require no external power for magnetic force generation, making them highly energy-efficient and suitable for continuous 24/7 operation. Electromagnetic separators provide adjustable magnetic intensity for heavy-duty industrial applications.

ELASN Suspended Magnetic Separators can be integrated into complete Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Sorting Plants together with trommel screens, air separators, waste shredders, chain plate feeders, balers, and intelligent conveyor systems to maximize ferrous metal recovery and protect downstream equipment from metal damage. Suspended magnetic separators are one of the most widely used metal recovery solutions in modern recycling plants worldwide.

The working principle is simple but extremely effective.

Mixed waste materials are transported by conveyor belts through the recycling line. When the materials pass beneath the suspended magnetic separator, the strong magnetic field attracts ferrous metals while allowing non-magnetic materials such as plastic, wood, glass, paper, textiles, and organic waste to continue moving.

Depending on project requirements, the recovered ferrous metals are either discharged manually or automatically through a self-cleaning conveyor belt system.

Typical process:

Raw Municipal Waste

↓

Waste Shredder

↓

Trommel Screen

↓

Air Separator

↓

Suspended Magnetic Separator

↓

Ferrous Metal Recovery

↓

Remaining Materials Continue To Optical Sorting Or RDF Processing

This automated separation process significantly improves metal recovery rates while reducing manual labor and preventing metal contaminants from damaging downstream recycling equipment.

Mining and metallurgy

Suspended Magnetic Separator (Suspended Magnetic Separator) is used for presorting iron ore and removing iron from copper mine to improve concentrate grade. For example, after installing the equipment in the crushing link of an iron ore enterprise, the grade of iron concentrate powder increased from 62% to 67%.

Construction waste recycling

In the construction aggregate production line, Suspended Magnetic Separator separates steel bars, wire and other metals to ensure that recycled aggregates meet concrete mixing standards.

Grain processing

Remove metal impurities from wheat and rice, avoid damage to processing equipment, and meet food safety regulations (e.g. FDA, HACCP).

Sorting of plastic and electronic waste

Recovery of ferromagnetic metal from waste plastic fragments or PCB board crushing materials to improve the resource recovery rate.

ELASN Suspended Magnetic Separator is suitable for removing ferrous metals from:

• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
• Construction & Demolition Waste (C&D Waste)
• RDF Production Lines
• Biomass Recycling
• Wood Waste Recycling
• Plastic Recycling
• Electronic Waste (E-Waste)
• Scrap Metal Recycling
• Glass Recycling
• Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA)
• Mining Ore
• Coal Processing
• Cement Plants
• Aggregate Production
• Steel Slag Processing
• Foundry Sand
• Industrial Solid Waste

The machine effectively removes steel bars, iron nails, bolts, screws, metal cans, iron wires, reinforcing bars, scrap steel, cast iron parts, and other ferromagnetic materials from mixed waste streams.

As a leader in Magnetic separation technology in China, ELASN’s Suspended Magnetic Separator has the following unique advantages:

Modular design:

Quickly adapt to different bandwidths (500~2000mm);

Lifetime magnetic protection:

NdFeb magnet 30 years magnetic decline < 5%;

Intelligent early warning:

Real-time monitoring of magnetic field strength through the Internet of Things module, early warning of failures.

ELASN specializes in complete municipal waste sorting equipment rather than supplying a single machine. Our engineering team designs customized magnetic separation solutions according to waste composition, conveyor width, processing capacity, installation height, magnetic field requirements, and plant layout.

We provide:

• Complete MSW Sorting Plant Design
• Permanent Magnet & Electromagnetic Models
• Customized Conveyor Width
• Automatic Self-cleaning Belt System
• Heavy-duty Industrial Structure
• CE Standard Manufacturing
• Factory Direct Price
• Professional Installation Guidance
• Worldwide Technical Support
• Spare Parts Supply
• One-stop Recycling Plant Solution

Whether your project processes 10 TPH or over 100 TPH, ELASN can provide customized magnetic separation systems to improve metal recovery efficiency and reduce equipment maintenance costs.

Every recycling plant is different.

ELASN engineers design suspended magnetic separators based on:

• Processing Capacity (TPH)
• Conveyor Belt Width
• Conveyor Speed
• Material Thickness
• Waste Composition
• Installation Height
• Permanent Magnet or Electromagnet
• Self-cleaning or Manual Cleaning
• Plant Layout
• Power Supply Requirements

Send us your project information, and our engineers will recommend the most suitable suspended magnetic separator solution for your recycling plant.

Both permanent magnetic separators and electromagnetic separators are designed to remove ferrous metals from conveyor systems, but they are suitable for different operating conditions.

A permanent suspended magnetic separator uses high-performance permanent magnets to generate a constant magnetic field without consuming electricity. It offers lower operating costs, minimal maintenance, and reliable 24/7 operation, making it an ideal choice for most municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling plants.

An electromagnetic suspended separator generates its magnetic field through energized coils. Because the magnetic strength can be adjusted, it is better suited for handling large steel objects, deep material layers, or heavy-duty mining and aggregate applications. However, it requires continuous electrical power and generally has higher operating and maintenance costs.

For most MSW recycling lines, permanent magnetic separators provide the best balance of efficiency, energy savings, and long-term reliability, while electromagnetic models are recommended for demanding industrial environments with larger or deeply buried ferrous contaminants.

The installation position directly affects metal recovery efficiency.

A suspended magnetic separator is typically mounted above a conveyor belt after the primary shredding stage, where waste materials are evenly distributed. The most effective installation point is usually above the head pulley or discharge end of the conveyor, allowing ferrous metals to be lifted more easily as the material stream loosens before discharge.

In a typical Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) sorting line, the equipment sequence is:

Bag Opener → Waste Shredder → Trommel Screen → Air Separator → Suspended Magnetic Separator → Eddy Current Separator → Optical Sorter → Baler

This configuration maximizes ferrous metal recovery while protecting downstream equipment such as optical sorters, crushers, and conveyors from metal damage.

Selecting the right suspended magnetic separator depends on several engineering factors rather than choosing the largest magnet available.

Key considerations include:

• Processing capacity (TPH)
• Conveyor belt width
• Conveyor speed
• Material layer thickness
• Iron contamination level
• Installation height
• Type of waste materials
• Permanent or electromagnetic design
• Automatic self-cleaning or manual cleaning
• Available plant space

At ELASN, our engineers evaluate the complete recycling process before recommending a customized magnetic separation solution. This ensures maximum ferrous recovery, stable production, and lower operating costs throughout the life of the equipment.

Several factors influence the performance of a suspended magnetic separator.

The most important include magnetic field strength, suspension height above the conveyor, conveyor speed, material thickness, particle size, and the amount of ferrous metal contained in the waste stream. If the material layer is too thick or the installation height is too high, smaller iron particles may not be fully recovered.

Proper waste preparation also improves recovery. In most MSW recycling plants, waste is first shredded and screened before magnetic separation. This exposes metal objects, allowing the magnetic separator to capture them more effectively while increasing metal purity and reducing contamination. Regular inspection and maintenance also help maintain consistent separation performance.

Yes.

One of the major economic benefits of a suspended magnetic separator is the recovery of valuable ferrous metals that can be sold as recyclable scrap steel.

During municipal waste processing, the separator automatically removes steel cans, reinforcing bars, iron pipes, bolts, nails, wire, structural steel, and other ferromagnetic materials from the waste stream. After collection, these metals can be cleaned, compressed, and sold to steel recycling companies or metal processors.

Recovering ferrous metals not only generates additional revenue but also reduces landfill disposal, lowers equipment wear, and improves the overall recycling rate of the plant. Many modern MSW facilities use magnetic separation as one of the first resource recovery stages because it provides both environmental and economic value.

Yes. In modern recycling plants, suspended magnetic separators and eddy current separators are complementary technologies rather than competing solutions.

The suspended magnetic separator is installed first to recover ferrous metals such as iron and steel. The remaining material then passes through an eddy current separator, which removes non-ferrous metals including aluminum, copper, and brass.

Using both technologies in sequence significantly increases the overall metal recovery rate, improves the purity of recycled materials, and enhances the profitability of municipal solid waste, construction waste, and electronic waste recycling plants. This combined solution is widely adopted in advanced Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and MSW sorting systems worldwide.