If you run a medium-scale recycling operation, the first question you ask a supplier is almost always about money: what is the price of cable recycling equipment for my business? It is a reasonable question, but there is no single answer. The price of a cable recycling plant can differ several times over depending on how the line is configured, how much you process per hour, and which models you choose. This article breaks down the realistic budget range for a medium-scale cable recycling line, explains what actually drives the cost, and shows you how to keep the investment aligned with the copper you expect to recover.
A complete cable wire granulator system is usually made up of several stations: a scrap cable stripper machine to peel thick or over-sheathing cable, a granulator that chops the wire into small granules, a dry or water separator that divides the granulated mixture into clean copper, aluminium and plastic, and in many cases a pulverizer and dust collector on top. Some buyers only need a compact stripping machine, while others want a full plant with feeding, conveying and bagging. That difference alone can move the quoted figure by several times, which is why comparing one vague price to another is rarely useful.
A good rule of thumb is to look at throughput first. In general, budget cable recycling machines that process roughly 100 to 300 kg per hour are the entry-level tier, while medium-scale lines handling roughly 500 to 1,000 kg per hour sit above them, and high-output industrial granulators and complete plants for 1,000 kg/h and more are the top bracket. The most practical configuration for a medium-scale plant is normally a dry-processing line that combines a granulator with an air separator, because it needs no water and is compact enough to install indoors. Once you settle on the capacity band, the price range becomes much easier to estimate.
Even within the same capacity band, several factors change what you pay:
Configuration. A stripping machine plus a compact granulator is the most economical option. Adding a pre-shredder for large or mixed cable, an electrostatic separator for higher purity, or a full pulverizer for very fine copper powder raises both capability and cost.
Capacity and motor power. Bigger motors, heavier shafts and more powerful sorting systems are built to run continuously, so higher hourly output naturally costs more upfront.
Separation precision. Equipment that keeps copper purity consistently high and metal loss low pays back over time because the recovered copper sells at a better rate. A high-precision separator is worth weighing against a simpler one.
Material adaptability. If your feed varies between clean copper wire, aluminium-clad cable and jelly-filled or over-sheathing cable, you need more flexible stripping and pre-treatment, which adds to the investment.
Manufacturer and after-sales. A supplier that provides installation guidance, a documented commissioning process, spare-parts availability and troubleshooting support will quote higher than one selling bare machines with no backup, but that margin protects your uptime.
For a company entering or expanding in the market, a practical medium-scale line usually starts with a scrap cable stripper machine to handle large-diameter and over-sheathing cable, followed by a granulator such as a WCD series machine with an integrated dry separator that recovers clean copper granules and plastic. If your scrap contains thick mixed cable, adding a shredder as a pre-chopper prevents jamming and improves the feeding rate. San Lan Technologies manufactures this type of modular cable recycling machine range, and its engineers can recommend a combination matched to your actual scrap material and hourly target instead of asking you to adapt to a fixed package.
The purchase price is only part of the total cost. When you budget for a medium-scale cable recycling plant, factor in shipping and customs clearance to your country, site preparation including power supply and ventilation, installation and commissioning, and the electricity the machines consume each day. More importantly, the real return depends on your raw material supply and the price you can sell recovered copper. Consistent scrap intake and a stable local copper price shorten the payback period far more than shaving a few percent off the machine price.
Because configuration changes the price so much, the most reliable way to get a true number is to describe your situation to a manufacturer in detail: what types of cable you have, roughly how many tonnes you expect to process per day or week, and whether you need a compact machine or a complete plant. A reputable supplier will then quote for a specific configuration rather than a ballpark figure, and will make clear what is included in the price, such as the separator, dust collector or control panel. San Lan Technologies invites customers to send a sample of their scrap cable for a recommendation, so the equipment and the budget are matched to the material you actually handle.
In short, a medium-scale cable recycling line is a meaningful but recoverable investment. Keep your capacity realistic, choose a configuration built for the material you have, and compare total delivered and running cost rather than the first listed price. If you are ready to plan a line, contact San Lan Technologies with your scrap type and target output, and you will receive an equipment suggestion and a clear quote based on your needs.
