PRAB promotes testing programs for scrap processing, fluid recycling decisions

PRAB Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, says materials and fluids testing can help metalworking operations evaluate metal scrap processing and fluid recycling equipment before making capital equipment investments.

According to the company, testing metal chips, turnings, swarf, coolants and process fluids under application-specific conditions can provide empirical data to guide equipment selection, scrap value improvement, volume-handling capacity and projected return on investment. PRAB says this approach can help manufacturers address rising disposal costs and environmental requirements, and recover more value from waste streams.

For metal scrap processing, testing can help determine whether an operation would benefit from chip crushers or shredders, wringers and centrifuges, swarf presses or briquetters. These systems are used to reduce scrap volume, separate residual coolants or cutting oils for reuse, and prepare material for storage, transport or recycling.

PRAB also says fluid testing can establish performance benchmarks for coolant recycling and wastewater treatment applications. Testing can identify the amount of reclaimable coolant, the effectiveness of oil-water separation and solids removal, and whether treated fluid is suitable for reuse or discharge. Equipment options may include centralized coolant recycling systems, pH adjustment systems and ultrafiltration systems.

The company says documented test results can support engineering reviews, capital expenditure approvals and financial forecasting by giving manufacturers application-specific data before equipment is installed. PRAB offers fluid and materials testing programs for manufacturers evaluating metal scrap processing, fluid recycling and industrial wastewater treatment systems.