News
Cutting Scrap Metal: Efficient Processing with High-Performance Scrap Shears
Bulky sheets, steel profiles, car body parts and other metal waste present recycling operations with major challenges. In their original form, they require a lot of storage space, are difficult to transport, and can hinder downstream recycling processes.
Cutting scrap metal is therefore a decisive step in professional scrap processing. Hydraulic scrap shears reduce large and unwieldy metal parts to a defined length. This makes the material easier to store, safer to move, and more efficient to process further.
With the scrap shears of the Arno®Cut series, ATM Recyclingsystems offers robust machines for scrap yards, steel mills, foundries and industrial recycling plants. The machines combine pre-compaction and cutting of light to medium-weight scrap in a single controlled process.
Why Is Scrap Metal Cut?
Scrap metal is often generated in large, irregular and bulky shapes. Long steel profiles, large sheet metal panels or vehicle body parts cannot always be transported, melted down or fed directly into a further processing plant.
A scrap shear brings the material to a controllable format. This is not simply about reducing size. Cutting improves the entire material flow – from delivery through storage to further processing.
Key benefits include:
- easier material handling
- more compact storage
- better utilization of transport capacity
- controllable material sizes
- safer handling of large metal parts
- more consistent feeding of downstream equipment
- more efficient preparation for the melting process
ATM cites improved handling, more space-saving storage, greater safety and better dosability for melting furnaces as key benefits of cutting scrap metal.
How Does a Hydraulic Scrap Shear Work?
Hydraulic scrap shears operate with high pressing and cutting forces. The material is first fed into a filling chamber. There, the lid and side presses compact the scrap and bring it into a controlled shape.
The pre-compacted material is then transported step by step to the cutting area. A hold-down clamp fixes the scrap in place before the cutting blade separates the material with a shearing motion.
The workflow typically consists of several steps:
- The input material is fed into the filling chamber.
- Side and top presses compact the scrap.
- The material is advanced toward the cutting head.
- A hold-down clamp secures the material.
- The blade cuts the scrap to the desired length.
- The cut material is discharged or collected.
The combination of pre-compaction and cutting allows even irregularly shaped metal parts to be processed in a controlled manner. To achieve this, the Arno®Cut scrap shears use several hydraulic cylinders and blades that separate the material with a shearing motion.
Which Materials Can Be Processed with a Scrap Shear?
The Arno®Cut series was developed for pre-compacting and cutting light to medium-weight scrap metal.
Typical materials include:
- sheet metal and sheet metal waste
- stamping and production offcuts
- car body parts
- steel structures
- pipes and profiles
- metal cladding
- semi-finished products
- light mixed scrap
- medium-weight steel scrap
- aluminum and non-ferrous metal scrap
According to ATM, specially designed notch blades can also be used to cut steel rails. Which materials and cross-sections can actually be processed depends on the cutting force, blade geometry, material condition and the specific machine configuration.
Scrap Shears at the Scrap Yard
Scrap yards handle a huge variety of materials, shapes and dimensions. Long profiles, sheets and bulky metal parts often need to be processed before they can be sorted, loaded or sold.
A scrap shear makes it possible to reduce large quantities of scrap metal to a more manageable format. Consistent cutting lengths make storage easier and allow for better utilization of containers and transport vehicles.
At the same time, cut material can be sorted more precisely by metal type, size or quality. This can improve preparation for sale to steel mills, foundries or other recycling companies.
ATM lists scrap yards as one of the key application areas for hydraulic scrap shears. There, the machines serve both to handle large volumes of scrap and to prepare material for sale or further processing.
Preparing Scrap Metal for Steel Mills and Foundries
Steel mills and foundries require scrap in suitable dimensions so that it can be fed into the melting process in a controlled way. Metal parts that are too long or too large can make charging more difficult and take up more space in the scrap basket or charging system.
Cutting produces more uniform material that is easier to dose and can be combined more effectively with other scrap fractions.
Possible benefits include:
- more even filling of scrap baskets
- better dosing of different scrap grades
- fewer bulky individual parts
- more controllable material feed
- simpler in-house handling
ATM specifically names steel mills as an application area for the Arno®Cut scrap shears. Here, scrap metal is cut to the required size before being fed into the melting process.
Cutting or Shredding: What Is the Difference?
When cutting, scrap metal is brought to a specific length using a hydraulic shear. The individual pieces remain comparatively large and can still be easily distinguished by material type or quality.
A shredder, on the other hand, reduces the material much more significantly. This produces smaller and more irregular pieces of material, which are often subsequently screened and sorted.
Cutting is particularly suitable for:
- long steel profiles
- large sheet metal panels
- car body parts
- light to medium-weight scrap fractions
- material required in defined lengths
- preparation for transport or melting
Shredding, by contrast, is the better choice when composite materials need to be broken apart, particularly small grain sizes are required, or downstream sorting processes need to be prepared.
Many recycling plants combine both technologies. The right solution depends on the type of material, the desired final size and the subsequent recovery process.
Pre-Compaction and Cutting in a Single Process
A key feature of modern scrap shears is the combination of pre-compaction and the cutting process.
Loose sheets and car body parts often contain large voids. If they were cut without pre-compaction, they could move uncontrollably or be difficult to feed into the cutting area.
In the Arno®Cut, the scrap is compacted inside the filling chamber by hydraulic lid and side presses. The pre-compacted material can then be advanced and cut in a controlled manner.
This process enables:
- more consistent material feed
- better utilization of the cutting chamber
- controllable cutting lengths
- more efficient handling of bulky materials
- automated and repeatable workflows
The Arno®Cut Series at a Glance
ATM Recyclingsystems offers the Arno®Cut scrap shears in six sizes:
- Arno®Cut 400
- Arno®Cut 600
- Arno®Cut 700
- Arno®Cut 850
- Arno®Cut 1000
- Arno®Cut 1300
Depending on the model, cutting forces range from 4,000 to 13,000 kilonewtons. This allows the machines to cover a wide range of requirements – from smaller and medium-sized recycling operations to plants handling large volumes of material.
High Throughput for Industrial Applications
The right machine size depends largely on the required throughput and the material to be processed.
ATM specifies model-dependent throughput rates of up to around 50 tonnes per hour for the Arno®Cut series. However, actual performance is influenced by factors such as material type, bulk density, the shape of the scrap pieces, the charging method and the desired cutting length.
The specified cutting widths within the model range span from 420 to 1,200 millimeters. Filling height and filling length also increase with the respective machine class. This allows the machines to be adapted to different scrap volumes and material dimensions.
Robust Wear Plates for Continuous Operation
Compacting and cutting scrap metal generates high loads. Sharp-edged sheets, profiles and heavy metal parts act directly on the filling chamber, the pressing surfaces and the cutting area.
The wear-prone areas of the Arno®Cut scrap shears are therefore fitted with high-strength wear plates. Depending on the version, ATM uses Hardox 400 to Hardox 500 for this purpose.
Depending on the application, straight wear plates as well as special square or trapezoidal profiles are available in different material grades. These designs are intended to increase durability and enable adaptation to different types of scrap.
Efficient Hydraulic Technology
The hydraulic system is the central drive system of a scrap shear. It generates the forces required for pre-compacting, advancing, holding down and cutting.
The Arno®Cut series features a two-chamber system that supplies the load-dependent, regulated hydraulic pumps with filtered and cooled oil.
In addition, PZT pump activation technology regulates the amount of oil required for the respective cylinders. This is designed to match the required drive power to the actual work process and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
Optimized Cutting Cycles
Maximum cutting force alone is not the only factor in economical plant operation. The duration of the individual work cycles also influences throughput.
In the Arno®Cut, cutting cycles are optimized using linear position measuring systems in the cylinders. This allows the positions of the hydraulic components to be monitored and the movement sequences to be coordinated with one another.
Depending on the model, ATM specifies up to approximately six cuts per minute. The number of cuts actually achievable in practice depends on the material, the charging method and the set cutting length.
Monoblock Design Simplifies Installation
Large recycling machines often require elaborate foundations and extensive structural preparation.
According to ATM, the Arno®Cut scrap shears are built in a monoblock design. This means an especially elaborate machine foundation can be avoided. The actual installation must nevertheless be coordinated with local ground conditions, machine dimensions and operational requirements.
Depending on the model, the required installation area ranges from approximately 6 × 15 meters for the Arno®Cut 400 to 9 × 24 meters for the Arno®Cut 1300.
A Safe and Ergonomic Workstation
Scrap shears work with large volumes of material and very high forces. A clear, protected workstation is therefore of central importance.
The Arno®Cut operator cabin is sound-insulated and air-conditioned. Control is via two joysticks and a multifunction display. Monitor visualization and video surveillance support oversight of the work area.
The protected cabin gives operators a good overview of charging, pre-compaction and cutting without having to be directly in the machine’s danger zone.
Maintenance and Machine Availability
Scrap shears are often in daily use for many hours at a time. Ease of maintenance and rapid fault detection are therefore important prerequisites for high machine availability.
According to ATM, the Arno®Cut series features:
- a central lubrication system
- various contamination indicators
- integrated fault analysis
- visualized machine states
- easily monitored hydraulic components
These features support regular maintenance and help detect deviations at an early stage.
Integrating Scrap Shears into Complete Recycling Plants
Cutting is often only one part of the overall recycling process. Additional plant components may be required both upstream and downstream of the scrap shear.
These include, for example:
- loading cranes and grapples
- material bunkers
- conveying systems
- screening machines
- sorting machines
- magnetic separators
- container and loading systems
- central plant control systems
After cutting, the material can be screened and sorted by different sizes or metal types. ATM therefore lists the scrap shear together with the Arno®Screen screening machines and the Arno®Sort sorting machines as possible components of a coordinated recycling plant.
Which Scrap Shear Is the Right One?
The selection should not be based solely on maximum cutting force. What matters is that the machine, the material and the downstream process fit together.
Before sizing a machine, the following questions, among others, should be answered:
Which Materials Are Being Cut?
Thin sheets, car body parts, heavy profiles and steel rails place different demands on cutting force, blades and wear protection.
What Volumes of Material Are Involved?
Average throughput is just as important as short-term production peaks. Future increases in material volume should also be taken into account.
What Cutting Length Is Required?
The desired final size depends on transport, storage, sorting and the melting process.
How Is the Machine Charged?
Charging can be carried out, for example, using a stationary crane, a mobile material handler, or an existing conveying solution.
What Further Processing Steps Follow?
Is the material to be loaded directly, melted down, screened, or sorted? This question influences the design of the entire plant.
What Wear Parts Are Required?
Material hardness, scrap shape and contamination influence the selection of blades, wear plates and maintenance intervals.
Conclusion: Cutting Scrap Metal in a Controlled and Economical Way
Cutting scrap metal improves the conditions for storage, transport and further processing. Bulky metal parts are reduced to controlled dimensions, making them easier to move, sort, load or feed into a melting process.
With the Arno®Cut series, ATM Recyclingsystems offers hydraulic scrap shears for different performance classes. Six machine sizes, cutting forces from 4,000 to 13,000 kilonewtons, and robust wear and hydraulic technology enable use at scrap yards, in steel mills, foundries and industrial recycling plants.
In addition to individual machines, complete processing solutions with material handling, screening and sorting technology can also be implemented.
Would you like to efficiently pre-compact and cut bulky scrap metal?
ATM Recyclingsystems supports you in selecting and sizing an Arno®Cut scrap shear that matches your material, your desired throughput and your further processing steps.
