For brass recyclers, crushing brass shell casings prior to shipping or other downstream recycling operations can have a lot of value depending on how much material they handle, how far it needs to move, and what the next buyer wants.
Although fired casings are, in simple terms, empty metal, they take up a disproportionate amount of space relative to their weight. Crushing them reduces volume, which makes them easier to handle, lowers storage demands, and can greatly reduce transportation costs.
“For brass recyclers moving large quantities over long distances, crushing cuts the volume way down so you are not shipping air. These efficiencies can result in a reduced number of shipments overall or allow each truckload to be utilized more effectively, maximizing transport value and lowering total logistics costs,” says John Neuens, industrial consultant at BCA Industries. BCA provides complete custom recycling systems for complex industrial and commercial applications.
Crushed casings are also easier to feed into hoppers, conveyors, balers, or shredders used in industrial scrap processing. What happens downstream of the brass recycler matters too. Some smelters prefer crushed or compacted brass because it is easier to load when charging a furnace and there are less complications from air pockets.
In this application, roller mills function more like heavy-duty crushers than grinders.
BCA’s Cartridge Crusher RLLR-4001-0001 Roller Mill is an industrial-grade solution engineered to streamline the processing of spent ammunition casings for efficient recycling and material handling.
Manufactured entirely in the United States, the RLLR-4001-0001 features a generously sized hopper capable of accepting a wide range of casing sizes from .22 caliber through .50 caliber. Built with a robust dual-roller system, the machine compresses and crushes spent shells quickly and consistently.
An integrated magnetic separation system further improves efficiency by automatically removing ferrous components before crushing, ensuring that recovered materials are cleaner and more valuable for downstream recycling processes.
According to Neuens, safety considerations remain critical in systems handling cartridge brass. However, the equipment is specifically engineered to safely process material even in the presence of live rounds, minimizing risk.
The roller mill is available in several scalable configurations, including a compact, self-contained mobile unit.
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For more information: call 414-353-1002; fax 414-353-1003; email john@bca-industries.com; visit www.bca-industries.com; or write to BCA Industries, 7036 N. Teutonia Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53209.