Magnetic separation is a technique widely used across industries to separate ferromagnetic materials such as nails, metal chips, rust, welding burrs, and other magnetic materials from the industrial raw materials. Magnetic separators are also used for processing non-metallic minerals and rare earth elements. Different types of magnetic separators include grid, drum, pulley, plate, eddy current, tubular, pole type, and high-speed drum-type separators. Application of theaforementioned types depends upon industry and end-use.
Magnetic separators find high demand in various industries such as mining, recycling, food processing, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, plastic and chemicals. It is used to remove unwanted magnetic particulates from raw materials or finished products. The demand for magnetic separators is growing due to their widespread adoption from various sectors for quality control purposes.
Widespread usage of cost-effective separation solutions and growing demand for rare earth magnets will drive demand. Increasing focus on environmental sustainability is likely to bode well for demand. Another factor expected to boost demand is the development of new technologies and expansion of industries such as mining and recycling.
There are various kinds of separators that are available in the market. It includes drum, overband, pulley, plate, and grates. These separators are used to separate magnetic impurities from non-magnetic materials. The products are segmented on the basis of strength of the magnetic field and the type of material being used.
Mining industry is the prominent end-use segment for magnetic separators. It is used to extract iron ore and other materials from the earth. The recycling industry is also a key growth driver of magnetic separators. In recycling industry, it is used to separate ferrous metals from non-ferrous metals in recycled materials.
Asia Pacific is a leading market for magnetic separators. China and India spearhead the growth contribution in the region. The region is expected to continue dominating the market due to increasing demand for magnetic separators in various industries.
Growing demand for rare earth magnets is likely to push demand over the upcoming decade. Rare earth magnets are essential components in magnetic separators. They possess several characteristics such as high magnetic strength and resistance to demagnetization.
There is also an increasing focus on the development of new and advanced magnets to meet evolving demands. Magnetic separators are also used in automated production lines and robotics system to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs.
Key manufacturers are developing new and improved magnetic separation technologies to meet evolving demand. Few companies are developing high-gradient magnetic separators that can separate weak magnetic materials, while others are using superconducting magnets to improve separation effectively.
Magnetic separators are used for separation of steel materials and recovery of iron particles in the steel and mining industry. It is also used for treatment of scrap and collection of flux in the machining and process industry, for removal of iron from raw materials in the food and beveragesand paper industry, for recovering iron and ferromagnetic materials from waste or processed fluids in the chemical industry, and for removal of iron castings in foundries. Other forms of separation include wet type and dry type, where suspensions are removed from dry bulk and sludge respectively. Selection of magnetic separators depend on water content in bulk, grain size of raw material, raw material temperature, average ratio of magnetic material substances, volume of bulk handled, and other process characteristics.
Growing concerns towards safe disposal of waste, recycling of materials, extensive use of metals across all industry verticals and industrial sectors, wide scope of applications, and rapid industrialization across the globe are some of the chief drivers leading to growth of this market. The magnetic separators market is expected to witness firm double-digit growth of between 10% and 15% in emerging economies across the globe. Some players in the marketplace include Kantec USA Corp., Magma Magnetic Technologies, Allgaier Process Technology, Metso Group, and other industrial equipment manufacturers.
