Metal Chip Management:
From Chips to Briquettes
Compacting metal shavings into briquettes: greater value, lower costs, and recovered coolant
In every machine shop, machining center, foundry, or metalworking plant, metal chips are an inevitable byproduct. Managing them correctly is an economic matter: loose chips soaked in coolant are heavy, take up space, are expensive to dispose of, and have little value at the scrap yard.
COMAFER Metalpress Series briquetting machines transform these chips (if they are tangled, they must be pre-shredded) into compact cylindrical briquettes, recovering up to 90% of the coolant—especially if it is full-oil coolant—thereby increasing the commercial value by 50% and reducing disposal and transportation costs by 70–80%.
The Metalpress Series is the most advanced technical line in the COMAFER catalog: 6 models ranging from 20 to 1,200 kg/h, with a nominal pressure of 300 bar (models 500-700-900 EVO), PLC with a multilingual Siemens HMI panel (models 150S/500/700/900 EVO).
Machine shops and turning/milling centers
Steel and aluminum milling chips (turning chips must be shredded beforehand), as well as cast iron chips from lathes and milling machines, accumulate quickly. The briquetting machine handles the daily volumes, recovers the coolant, and recycles the scrap.
Automotive and component industry
High volumes and diverse material types (aluminum, steel, cast iron): Metalpress 500/700/900 EVO models handle industrial production up to 1,200 kg/h.
Foundries
Briquettes have a melting yield over 90% higher than loose chips: less oxidation, better furnace loading, and reduced risk of deposits.
Aerospace and titanium industry
Titanium, nickel, and special alloys: high-value materials that deserve optimized management to maximize recovery.
Coin and jewelry manufacturers
Gold, silver, platinum, copper: precious shavings that the briquetting machine compacts, minimizing material loss and simplifying counting and weighing. The shavings must be shredded beforehand if necessary.
Metal packaging manufacturers
Aluminum, tin, and zinc slugs: byproducts from the production of cans and containers are valorized through briquetting.
Which metals can be briquetted?
COMAFER has successfully tested all major categories of metallic materials.
Light metals (non-ferrous)
Aluminum, zinc, tin, aluminum slugs
Ferrous metals
Steel (all types), stainless steel, cast iron, iron
Precious and special metals
Copper, brass, bronze, titanium, nickel, gold, silver, platinum, lead, tungsten
Each metal has different characteristics in terms of size, hardness, and coolant presence. The optimal briquetting machine model depends on these parameters. Contact us with your material specifications.
Volume reduction and coolant recovery
two key advantages.
Aluminum chips with emulsion
Do your machining operations produce aluminum chips mixed with coolant that take up a lot of space?
No problem—COMAFER’s Metalpress series briquetting machines compress the material, reducing its volume and recovering up to 90% of the emulsion, thereby turning it into a resource.
We’ll prove it to you
Titanium chips with full-oil coating
Do your manufacturing processes produce titanium chips mixed with oil that take up a lot of space?
No problem—COMAFER’s Metalpress series briquetting machines compress them into briquettes, reducing their volume and recovering up to 90% of the oil. This transforms them into a resource.
We’ll prove it to you.
Copper shavings
Do your manufacturing processes produce copper shavings that take up a lot of space?
No problem COMAFER’s Metalpress series briquetting machines compress the material into briquettes, reducing the volume by up to 90%.
We’ll prove it to you.
The Concrete Benefits
Briquetting offers concrete, measurable advantages:
+90% Coolant Recovery
During high-pressure pressing, the coolant is separated from the chips and collected in the built-in tank. Approximately 90% of the coolant is recovered. This results in significant direct savings on the cost of purchasing the fluid, especially if it is full-oil coolant!
+50% Commercial value
Metal briquettes have a commercial value 50% higher than loose chips at scrap yards and foundries. Less oxidation, higher density, higher purity.
+90% Casting Yield
In the foundry, briquettes guarantee a melting yield over 90% higher than loose chips: reduced oxidation, less slag formation, and more uniform charging in melting furnaces.
-90% Volume
Loose metal chips occupy enormous volumes. When briquetted, they are reduced by up to 90%, making management and transport much more efficient.
-70% Recycling costs
The lower volume and higher value of the compacted chips translate into significantly lower disposal costs and higher sales revenues.
COMAFER models from the Metalpress series for briquetting metal chips
Metalpress 100 EVO
Application
Stand-alone
Estimated production
20-50 kg/h
Briquette dimensions
Ø 50mm
Metalpress 150 EVO
Application
SMEs
Estimated production
50-150 kg/h
Briquette dimensions
Ø 60mm
Plus
Oil cooling system
Metalpress 150 EVO S
Application
SMEs
Estimated production
50-150 kg/h
Briquette dimensions
Ø 60mm
Plus
Automatic briquette length adjustment, oil cooling system, Siemens HMI
Metalpress 500 EVO
Application
Medium-sized companies
Estimated production
100-400 kg/h
Briquette dimensions
Ø 60/70 mm
Plus
300 bar pressure, automatic briquette length adjustment, oil cooling system, Siemens HMI
Metalpress 700 EVO
Application
Large companies
Estimated production
100–600 kg/h
Briquette dimensions
Ø 60/70 mm
Plus
Pressure: 300 bar; top briquette specific pressure; automatic briquette length adjustment; oil cooling system; Siemens HMI
Metalpress 900 EVO
Application
Structured companies / high volumes
Estimated production
400–1200 kg/h
Briquette dimensions
Ø 80 mm
Plus
300 bar pressure, top power and hourly production, automatic briquette length adjustment, oil cooling system, Siemens HMI
COMAFER Industrial Connected Services
From our headquarters in Brescia to your briquette machine and plant, anywhere in the world
Industry 4.0 readiness, remote assistance, and remote monitoring via the Secomea Site Manager 1529 module, included as standard equipment on the Metalpress 150S-500-700-900 EVO Series models, for online connection via the company’s fixed network. With this system, operations can be monitored directly from headquarters via the control panel.
Automated Centralized Systems: From Collection to Briquette Management
COMAFER specializes in turnkey centralized systems for the automated handling of material, from chips to stored briquettes.
For high production levels, our automated systems can be connected directly to your processing or storage plant, achieving a fully automated production cycle.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Metal Briquetting
How much coolant is recovered from briquetting?
The estimated recovery rate is up to 90% of the coolant contained in the chips. This figure varies depending on the amount of fluid in the chips, the type of metal, and the compaction pressure. Using the collection tank and electric pump, the recovered fluid can be filtered and reintroduced into the production cycle, significantly reducing the cost of purchasing coolant , especially if it is full-oil coolant.
Can metal briquettes be loaded directly in the foundry?
Yes. Metal briquettes contain significantly less coolant than loose chips because they are compressed; they can be loaded directly into melting furnaces and crucibles without any pretreatment. The advantage over loose chips is a 90% higher melting yield, a reduced risk of deposits on the walls, and less slag formation.
What is the difference between Metalpress 150 EVO and 150 EVO S?
The basic technical specifications are identical (output, pressure, briquette size). The S version adds automatic adjustment of the briquette length via position transducers, which allows for the briquetting of chips of different sizes without manual intervention, and the Siemens HMI operator panel to keep everything under control. Recommended when processing different types of metal or varying particle sizes.
How does the Siemens PLC with HMI (models 150S/500/700/900 EVO) work?
The multilingual Siemens HMI panel allows you to modify working parameters by loading custom recipes for each material, check real-time diagnostics, view production status, and monitor maintenance deadlines via the integrated program. It is also accessible remotely via the assistance module.
How often should the hydraulic oil be replaced?<br />
The frequency depends on the intensity of use and the operating environment. The maintenance program integrated into models with Siemens HMI automatically calculates deadlines. COMAFER offers scheduled maintenance contracts and guarantees the availability of spare parts for all machines, including those out of production for years.
Maximize the value of your metal chips
COMAFER sales representatives will help you choose the right model and configure the optimal system for your workshop. You can estimate your ROI as early as the first consultation.