Old smartphones, discarded computers, outdated control panels—behind all of them lies a hidden treasure: printed circuit boards (PCBs) packed with copper, aluminum, steel, and precious metals. But extracting those materials efficiently and safely is not magic. It’s engineering.

how does a circuit board crushing and sorting line work?

In this guide, You’ll learn how a PCB crushing and sorting line works, what machines are involved, how metals are separated, and why this process is reshaping the recycling industry worldwide.

What Is a Circuit Board Crushing and Sorting Line?

A circuit board crushing and sorting line is an integrated recycling system designed to:

• Crush waste circuit boards into small particles
• Separate metals from non-metal materials
• Sort different metals (copper, aluminum, steel) efficiently

The end goal is simple but powerful: maximize metal recovery while minimizing environmental impact.

According to industry data, waste PCBs can contain up to 20% copper and small but valuable amounts of gold, silver, and palladium—far richer than many natural ores.

How does a circuit board crushing and sorting line work

How a Circuit Board Crushing and Sorting Line Works?

1. Primary Crushing: Breaking Boards into Manageable Pieces

Next comes the primary crusher, usually a:

• Dual-shaft shredder
• Hammer crusher
• Heavy-duty shear crusher

This stage reduces circuit boards into 20–50 mm fragments, freeing metal components from resin and fiberglass.

Key insight: Proper crushing increases surface area, which dramatically improves later sorting efficiency.

2. Secondary Crushing & Milling: Precision Size Reduction

After coarse crushing, material enters a secondary crusher or milling unit, such as:

• Fine hammer mill
• Turbo crusher
• Impact mill

Here, particles are reduced to 1–5 mm, which is ideal for physical separation technologies.

3. Air Separation: Removing Light Non-Metal Materials

Now the real sorting begins.

Using airflow and density differences, air separators remove:

• Fiberglass
• Resin powder
• Plastic particles

Heavier metal particles fall, while lighter materials are blown away.

📊 Statistic to know: Efficient air separation can remove over 90% of non-metallic dust, improving metal purity dramatically.

4. Magnetic Separation: Extracting Ferrous Metals

The remaining material passes under magnetic separators, which pull out:

• Iron
• Steel screws
• Magnetic alloys

This step protects later equipment and increases the value of recovered metal streams.

5. Eddy Current Separation: Isolating Non-Ferrous Metals

Here’s where it gets exciting.

Eddy current separators use electromagnetic fields to eject:

• Copper
• Aluminum
• Brass

Non-metal materials drop straight down, while non-ferrous metals are “thrown” forward by induced currents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How efficient is a circuit board crushing and sorting line?

Modern systems can achieve:

• 95–98% metal recovery
• High purity copper output (>99%) with advanced sorting
• Efficiency depends on machine quality, particle size control, and operator experience.

Is this process environmentally friendly?

Yes—especially compared to chemical or burning methods.

No toxic chemicals

No open combustion

Dust collection systems reduce air pollution

This makes it compliant with EU, US, and global environmental standards.

Can the line handle different types of circuit boards?

Absolutely. Most lines can process:

• Computer motherboards
• Mobile phone PCBs
• TV and appliance boards
• Industrial control boards

What happens to the non-metal materials?

Non-metal fractions (fiberglass + resin) can be:

• Used as construction filler
• Processed into composite materials
• Safely landfilled if regulations require

So, how does a circuit board crushing and sorting line work?

It works by combining smart mechanical design, physics-based separation, and precise control to unlock the hidden value inside electronic waste. From crushing to air separation, from magnets to eddy currents, every step is engineered to recover more, waste less, and protect the environment.