Scrap Baler Applications: Which Roter Machine Suits Which Scrap Stream?

Which scrap baler suits which scrap? Any bulky, loose or irregular ferrous stream that you need to cut, compact or densify for handling, transport or melting. Roter’s range covers three machine families: the RR5 / RR6 baler for flexible, high-volume duty, the RR550 / RR715 shear baler for heavy, long or irregular steel, and the RA Series automatic baler for continuous in-plant flows. The right one depends on your material, feed method and flow. If you are already comparing suppliers, start with our guide on how to choose a scrap baler supplier.

Key takeaways

• Start from the material and the flow, not the model name. Form, size, feed method and tonnes per hour decide the machine.
• RA Series: continuous feeding and integration in industrial plants; turnings, tin cans, mixed and light scrap; up to 90 bales per hour.
• RR5 / RR6: flexible baler for scrap yards, end-of-life vehicles and mixed streams; 8 to 14 t/h of scrap metal, 15 to 20 t/h of vehicle scrap; no foundation needed.
• RR550 / RR715 shear baler: cuts and compacts heavy, long or irregular steel such as structural sections and demolition scrap.
• Not on this list? Roter builds special-purpose machines. Describe the material, volume and site, and ask.

Not sure which family fits your scrap? Talk to a Roter engineer and describe the material and site.

What can a scrap baler process? The short answer

Roter’s application pages support the following streams:

• Production scrap and offcuts from industrial and steel plants
• Bulky ferrous scrap and heavy structural steel
• Mixed industrial scrap
• Depolluted car shells from end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing
• Demolition scrap
• Steel turnings, tin cans and light mixed scrap
• Special waste that needs controlled processing and volume reduction

The three Roter machine families in one table

For the commercial overview of the range, see the scrap metal baler range. The RR5 / RR6 run on diesel (55 or 75 kW) or 75 kW electric; the shear balers are listed as diesel only. Electric drive on the shear balers:

Selection table: from scrap stream to recommended machine

Use this as a first filter. Every row is drawn from Roter’s application and product pages.

Send us your scrap type and volume. Tell Roter what you process, in what tonnes per day and where, and an engineer will propose a baler configuration and a tailored quote. Request a machine recommendation.

Six types of steel scrap shown around a baler symbol: bale, turnings, car shell, beams, offcuts and plate

Industrial and steel plants: continuous scrap handling

If you run a steel plant, this is your section. Your scrap is usually your own: production scrap, offcuts, bulky ferrous pieces and mixed industrial streams, produced in a continuous, scheduled flow. The aims are practical. Cut the volume, simplify internal logistics, improve storage and handling safety, keep output stable and fit the machine into the plant workflow.

RA Series for continuous flows. Roter positions the RA Series for industrial and steel plants with continuous scrap flows. It is built for continuous feeding and integration, produces up to 90 bales per hour, and offers cutting force from 70 to 140 t on electric drive of 18.5 to 45 kW. Bale sizes range from 220 x 220 mm to 400 x 300 mm, which suits turnings, tin cans and light mixed scrap. The RA Series is the natural fit when the machine sits in the line and runs all shift.

RR5 / RR6 for flexible duty. Where scrap arrives in batches, in mixed forms, or from several points on site, the RR5 / RR6 gives you a flexible, high-capacity option. It delivers 8 to 14 t/h of scrap metal with a 200 t lid force and an 880 x 650 mm bale, and needs no foundation. That shortens civil works, a real point for plants with limited space.

Shear baler for heavy pieces. When production scrap includes bulky or long sections, a shear baler cuts and compacts in one step. The RR550 and RR715.6 shear up to 550 or 715 t, with a minimum cut length of 150 mm.

Bale for Mills. The RR and shear balers offer a “Bale for Mills” programme alongside “Dense Bale”. Use it to match the bale to your charging method. The density your furnace needs is a process question: [PLACEHOLDER – confirm with the customer’s process engineers].

What to specify: peak tonnes per shift, material form, feed method (crane, grab, conveyor or hopper), target bale size, available footprint and power. More detail is on the industrial and steel plant applications page.

Scrap yards and recycling facilities: mixed and bulky ferrous

Scrap yards handle mixed, bulky and heavy ferrous scrap, plus non-ferrous scrap where applicable and light scrap that needs compacting for logistics. The RR5 / RR6 and the RR550 / 715 shear baler cover most of this ground. The RA Series suits yards with structured, continuous flows. Denser bales reduce the number of loads, as explained in our note on bale density and freight cost. Compare options on the recycling yard applications page, and see baler or shear baler if the cutting function is the open question.

What to specify: loader or crane feed, daily tonnage, the mix of light and heavy pieces, and truck loading limits.

Auto dismantlers and ELV: whole car shells

For depolluted car shells, the RR5 / RR6 works as a car baler at 15 to 20 t/h, with no foundation in any configuration. It can be fixed or trailer-mounted, and one operator runs it. That suits dismantlers with limited space or more than one site.

Trailer-mounted car baler loaded with a depolluted car shell by a grab handler at an ELV dismantler yard

What to specify: fixed or trailer-mounted, power source, vehicle volume per day. Details are on the car baler for end-of-life vehicles page, the automotive and ELV applications page, the ELV baling guide and the note on baling without foundations.

Industrial demolition: heavy, irregular steel

Demolition scrap is bulky, irregular and fed by loader in dusty, harsh conditions. This is shear baler territory. The RR550 and RR715.6 combine cutting and compaction at 3.5 cuts per minute, with a minimum cut length of 150 mm and an 880 x 650 mm bale. The RR5 / RR6 remains an option where flexibility matters more than cutting force.

Heavy shear baler cutting and compacting structural steel from demolition, fed by a wheel loader with grapple

What to specify: largest section size, loader reach, dust and noise limits, and diesel or electric drive. See industrial demolition applications and shear balers for demolition steel.

Light scrap, steel turnings, tin cans and industrial offcuts

The Products page names the RA Series for “scrap metals, steel turnings, mixed scrap, tin cans”. It makes bales from 220 x 220 mm to 400 x 300 mm at up to 90 bales per hour, with capacity of 1 to 6 t/h on the FE row of the data table. The RA140.2H shows 350 kg/cm2 pressure on the material.

What to specify: oil or coolant content in turnings, required bale size, hourly flow and conveyor integration. The RA Series guide covers the detail.

Non-ferrous and aluminium

Roter states that its machines handle ferrous and non-ferrous scrap. Beyond that, we do not name materials. Which non-ferrous materials the RR and RA machines can bale, at what rates, and what the second capacity row in the RA data table means. Cables, copper and WEEE.

Special waste and non-standard streams

Special waste means mixed streams that need controlled processing, bulky material that needs volume reduction, and safe handling. All three machine families can apply, depending on the stream. Roter also builds special-purpose machines for complex materials. Read about baling non-standard scrap or the special waste management page.

What if your material is not on this list?

Roter’s other fields of use page covers bespoke balers for various industrial applications and industrial metal machinery recycling. Describe the material, volume and site. Roter’s page promises a response within 48 working hours:

Five questions that choose your configuration

1. How is material fed? Loader, crane, grab, conveyor or hopper.

2. What bale do you need? Size and density for transport or for the mill.

3. How much space and civil work is available? Foundations, footprint, power.

4. How much automation do you need? Manual, radio-controlled or continuous.

5. What are the safety and operator workflow constraints? Dust, noise, access, lock-out.

Answer these five and you have the core of an enquiry. For a full tender document, use the RFQ checklist in our supplier selection guide, linked at the top of this article.

Frequently asked questions

1. What can a scrap baler process?

A scrap baler compacts bulky or loose scrap. Roter’s pages support production scrap and offcuts, bulky ferrous and structural steel, mixed industrial scrap, depolluted car shells, demolition scrap, steel turnings, tin cans, light scrap and special waste. Roter states that its machines handle ferrous and non-ferrous scrap. See the selection table above.

2. Which baler is best for a steel plant or foundry?

For continuous in-plant flows, the RA Series automatic baler is the natural choice. The RR5 / RR6 suits batch or mixed streams, and a shear baler suits bulky or long pieces. For foundry arisings, the right model depends on material form and furnace needs.

3. What is the difference between a baler and a shear baler, and when do I need the cutting function?

A baler compresses scrap into bales. A shear baler also cuts, so bulky or long material such as structural steel is sized and compacted in one machine. Roter’s shear balers cut at 3.5 cuts per minute with a minimum cut length of 150 mm. If your scrap is light or already short, you may not need the shear.

4. What type of baler do I need for end-of-life vehicles, and does it need foundations?

The RR5 / RR6 works as a car baler for depolluted car shells at 15 to 20 t/h. It needs no foundation in any configuration, can be fixed or trailer-mounted and is run by one operator.

5. Can a baler handle demolition scrap and heavy structural steel?

Yes. Roter’s RR550 and RR715.6 shear balers, with 550 t or 715 t of shear force, are the machines linked to bulky ferrous demolition scrap and heavy structural steel. They are loader-fed. Tell Roter the largest section size you expect.

6. Can a baler process turnings, tin cans or light scrap?

Yes. The Roter RA Series is named for steel turnings, tin cans and mixed scrap. It makes bales from 220 x 220 mm to 400 x 300 mm at up to 90 bales per hour, with capacity of 1 to 6 t/h on the FE row of the data table.

7. Can one machine handle both ferrous and non-ferrous scrap?

Roter describes its machines as handling ferrous and non-ferrous scrap. Which non-ferrous materials, at what rates and on which model. Send your material and volume for a specific answer.

8. Can a baler be customised for unusual materials or my site?

Yes. Roter configures machines to each site and builds special-purpose machines for complex materials. Describe your material, volume and site layout through the quote form.

9. How do I choose the right configuration?

Answer five questions: how material is fed, what bale you need, how much space and civil work is available, how much automation you need, and what safety constraints apply. For comparing suppliers, use the RFQ checklist in our supplier selection guide.

Request a quote or talk to a Roter engineer

Send Roter your scrap type, tonnes per day and site details, and you will get a recommended configuration and a tailored quote.