Aluminum cable is one of the most common materials that arrives at a scrap yard, yet it is often undervalued. Power cables, communication lines, automotive wiring, and construction scrap all contain aluminum conductors wrapped in plastic or rubber insulation. A cable wire granulator is the machine that turns this mixed scrap into clean, sellable aluminum granules. It works by cutting the cable into small pieces and then separating the metal from the insulation using density and airflow. This article explains, step by step, how a cable wire granulator handles the recycling of aluminum cables, and what recyclers should look for when choosing this equipment.
Why aluminum cables need a different approach
Aluminum differs from copper in several ways that matter for recycling. It is lighter, so the same machine capacity produces a lower weight of output per hour even though the volume is similar. It is also softer, which means less stress on the cutting blades and often a longer blade service life. At the same time, aluminum typically trades at a lower price per tonne than copper, so the economics depend on processing cost as much as on the metal value itself. Because aluminum scrap is so abundant in utility and construction waste, a granulator that can handle both copper and aluminum gives a recycling business more flexibility and steadier throughput.
Step 1: Pre-processing and stripping
Before granulation, thick or armored aluminum cables are usually passed through a scrap cable stripper. This machine peels away the outer insulation so the metal core is exposed. Stripping large cables first protects the granulator from overload and makes the downstream separation cleaner. For thin wires and mixed household cables that cannot be stripped economically, the material can go straight into the granulator.
Step 2: Shredding
Long cables are first cut into short pieces by a shredder or pre-chopper. This stage is only about size reduction, not separation. A double-shaft shredder is often used for thick cable because it can grab and pull the material into the cutting chamber. The shredded pieces are typically 30 to 100 mm long, ready for the next stage.
Step 3: Granulation
The shredded pieces then enter the granulator, where rotating blades cut them into fine particles, usually between 2 mm and 8 mm. At this size, the aluminum conductor and the plastic insulation begin to separate naturally because they have different densities, shapes, and flexibility. Getting the particle size right is the most important part of the whole process. If the particles are too large, aluminum stays attached to the insulation; if they are too fine, metal is lost as dust.
Step 4: Separation
Once the material is granulated, the separation system divides the metal from the plastic. Two main methods are used:
- Dry separation: an air separator or vibrating screen uses airflow and density differences to lift the lighter plastic away while the heavier aluminum granules fall to one side. This is the most common method because it is fast, energy-efficient, and needs no drying.
- Wet separation: the granules pass through a water tank where metal sinks and plastic floats. This gives very high purity and also washes away dirt, but the material must be dried afterwards.
Many modern cable granulators combine granulation with a dry separator in one compact unit, so the whole job is done on a single machine. For example, the WCD-200C cable recycling machine is a compact cable granulator with a built-in dry separator, ideal for small and medium operations.
Step 5: Dust collection and safety
Shredding and granulating old cable creates fine dust from the insulation. A good cable recycling machine includes a dust collection system that captures this dust, keeping the workshop clean, protecting the machine, and reducing fire risk. Some lines also add magnetic separation to remove steel or iron contamination before the final product is collected.
Step 6: Final collection
The clean aluminum granules are collected in bags or bins. Buyers pay more for granules with high purity, low moisture, and consistent particle size, because they can be melted directly without extra sorting. This is why investing in a complete granulator line usually earns more than selling raw cable scrap.
Choosing the right machine for aluminum cables
When selecting a cable wire granulator for aluminum cable recycling, recyclers should consider:
- Whether the machine handles both copper and aluminum cables
- Whether it uses dry or wet separation
- Hourly capacity and how it matches the input material
- Dust collection and safety features
- Blade quality and maintenance cost
San Lan's cable recycling equipment
San Lan Technologies Co., Ltd is a professional manufacturer of e-waste recycling machinery with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Its cable recycling equipment range includes:
- WCD-200C: a compact cable granulator with dry separator, ideal for small and medium operations
- WCD-600S and WCD-1200S: larger cable granulators for higher throughput
- WCD-100C: a compact cable recycling machine for smaller volumes
- Scrap cable strippers such as the D01-6B for stripping thick cables before granulation
- Complete cable recycling plant solutions for full production lines
All of these machines are part of San Lan's cable recycling equipment range, and the company also provides installation, commissioning, and technical support for recycling plants in more than 20 countries around the world.
Conclusion
A cable wire granulator handles aluminum cable recycling through a simple but carefully balanced sequence: strip, shred, granulate, separate, and collect. Each stage affects the final purity and the profit per tonne. For recyclers who process aluminum cable scrap, choosing the right granulator and keeping it well maintained is the difference between selling low-value mixed waste and selling clean, marketable aluminum granules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can a cable wire granulator process both copper and aluminum cables?
Yes. Most modern cable granulators can handle both metals. Aluminum is lighter and softer than copper, so it produces a lower weight of output per hour but causes less blade wear.
Q2: What is the difference between dry and wet separation?
Dry separation uses airflow and vibration to separate metal from plastic and needs no drying. Wet separation uses water, gives very high purity, and also removes dirt, but the granules must be dried afterwards.
Q3: Why is particle size important in granulation?
If the particles are too large, aluminum stays attached to the insulation. If they are too fine, metal is lost as dust. The right size, usually 2 to 8 mm, gives the cleanest separation.
Q4: Do I need a cable stripper before the granulator?
For thick or armored cables, yes. Stripping first protects the granulator and improves separation. Thin wires and mixed household cables can go straight into the granulator.
Q5: How can I improve the purity of my aluminum granules?
Keep the blades sharp, feed the material evenly, use the correct screen size, and make sure the dust collection and separation systems are working properly.
