A Y83/T-160 Hydraulic Metal Baler was supplied to Spain for a metal recycling application.

For scrap recyclers in Spain and other European markets, selecting a baler is usually about more than pressing force. Buyers also need to consider available floor space, labor requirements, machine reliability, bale dimensions, operating simplicity and downstream transportation.

Loose metal scrap occupies considerable space before compaction. As recycling volumes increase, storing and moving this material in bins can require more handling, more yard space and more frequent internal transportation.

The objective of this project was therefore not simply to select a larger machine.

The customer needed a practical balance between processing capacity, equipment investment and day-to-day operating efficiency.

For customer confidentiality, the company name is not disclosed. However, the project provides a useful reference for recyclers evaluating a similar baling requirement.

Market: Spain
Machine: 160-ton hydraulic metal baler
Main purpose: Compaction of loose metal scrap into more manageable bales
Operation requirement: Reduced manual intervention without unnecessary automation complexity
Bale discharge: Push-out
Control: PLC semi-automatic
Reference throughput: 2–3 tons/hour, depending on actual material conditions

For small and medium-sized scrap recyclers, this type of configuration can provide a more practical alternative to investing in oversized equipment that may never operate close to its rated capacity.

Unprocessed scrap metal has an irregular shape and contains substantial empty space between pieces.

When material continues to arrive every day, loose storage can gradually consume valuable yard space and increase forklift, bin and internal handling requirements.

For recycling companies, this becomes an operating-efficiency issue rather than simply a scrap-storage issue.

Not every recycling yard requires a large, high-capacity baling line.

For operations that are not processing scrap continuously at steel-mill scale, selecting an oversized machine may increase initial investment without delivering equivalent operational value.

For this project, the Y83/T-160 offered a balanced combination of 160-ton pressing force, 2–3 t/h reference throughput and PLC semi-automatic control.

WANSHIDA supplied a Y83/T-160 Hydraulic Metal Baler for the project.

The machine uses a hydraulic system to generate 1600kN nominal pressing force, compacting loose metal scrap into dense and more regularly shaped bales.

Its standard compression chamber measures:

1600 × 1000 × 800 mm

The bale cross-section is:

400 × 400 mm

Reference bale density is:

Above 1800 kg/m³

Compared with loose scrap, compact bales are easier to organize in the yard, handle with forklifts and prepare for transportation.

The machine uses PLC semi-automatic control, providing a practical level of operating efficiency without introducing unnecessary automation into a conventional recycling application.

Note: The stated 2–3 t/h is a reference processing capacity. Actual throughput depends on scrap type, dimensions, loose density, feeding speed and operating conditions.

A higher pressing force does not automatically mean a better machine for every recycling project.

For this Spain project, the 160-ton configuration provided several practical advantages.

The 1600kN pressing force and 2–3 t/h reference throughput provided a suitable balance for an operation requiring regular scrap processing without the need for a much larger production line.

The 22kW power configuration also makes the machine practical for integration into a conventional industrial facility.

In addition, the combination of PLC semi-automatic control and push-out bale discharge supports convenient operation while keeping the overall system relatively straightforward.

Most importantly, the Y83/T-160 does not have to remain a fixed standard configuration. Machine specifications can be reviewed according to the customer's actual scrap, bale requirements, electrical conditions and operating method.

WANSHIDA has been involved in hydraulic recycling machinery manufacturing for around four decades, accumulating production and application experience in metal balers, scrap shears, briquetting presses and related recycling equipment.

For overseas buyers, the value of a supplier is not limited to delivering the machine. Long-term operating reliability and technical support are equally important.

WANSHIDA is a direct manufacturer with its own production facility and engineering team.

This allows us to review the customer's material characteristics, required throughput, bale dimensions, operating method and site conditions before finalizing the equipment configuration.

When a standard model does not fully meet the project requirement, customized engineering solutions can also be provided.

Metal baler selection should not be based on tonnage alone.

Steel scrap, aluminum scrap, sheet offcuts and other light metal materials can have very different loose densities and compression characteristics.

Before final model confirmation, we normally recommend that customers provide information such as:

• Actual scrap photos
• Hourly or daily processing volume
• Maximum material dimensions
• Required bale dimensions
• Daily operating hours
• Available electrical supply

Our engineering team can then evaluate a more appropriate configuration.

WANSHIDA can provide relevant CE documentation for its equipment, while the company operates under an ISO 9001 certified quality management system, supporting documentation requirements for customers in Europe and other international markets.

For recycling companies handling a moderate and stable quantity of scrap, a 160-ton hydraulic metal baler can be worth evaluating when loose material is creating storage and transportation pressure.

However, choosing the Y83/T-160 should not be based only on daily tonnage.

For example, low-density sheet scrap may require more attention to chamber volume and feeding efficiency.

Heavier or thicker material may require a reassessment of pressing force.

A customer planning continuous high-volume operation may require a larger-capacity machine or a different feeding system.

This Spain project can therefore serve as a reference point rather than a universal configuration.

Final selection should always be based on the actual material and operating conditions.

The Spain project illustrates an important principle in scrap-processing equipment selection:

The best machine is not necessarily the largest machine. It is the machine that matches the customer's actual material flow, site conditions and operating strategy.

With 160-ton pressing force, a 1600 × 1000 × 800mm compression chamber, 400 × 400mm bale cross-section, 2–3 t/h reference throughput and PLC semi-automatic control, the Y83/T-160 provided a balanced solution for scrap compaction and handling.

For recyclers evaluating a similar project, WANSHIDA can review actual scrap photos, required capacity and site conditions and provide model-selection or customized engineering recommendations.