Founded well before recycling was a concept, Italy’s Metal Group has grown to be one the leading players in the recovery and re-use of scrap metal. The Group’s presence in Europe, North and South America and Asia comprises seven companies between them operating 15 plants devoted to the collection and storing of some 3500 m.t pm of scrap metals and raw materials, and a foundry for the manufacture of semi-finished, ferrous alloys and cast iron products such as manhole covers.

The scrap, which is principally ferrous and stainless steel, is treated to remove contaminants before being processed to separate its constituents. The recovered copper, brass, zinc, zamac, nickel, nickel alloys, silver, monel, titanium and aluminum is  re-distributed to steel mills, foundries and other businesses in Europe and world-wide. The company’s GERITALL DUE plant, in the city of Montichiari near Brescia, specialises in the processing of stainless steel turnings and calibrated, shredded stainless steel from steel mills. For versatility, the plant relies on a 240 HP, VOLVO L120 wheeled loader equipped with a 3 cu.m bucket to shift the mountains of scrap metal for separation and recycling. The loader’s 23.5-25 tyres are fully protected from piercing and cuts by a full set of Erlau FELS DURO X14 tyre protection chains.

FELS DURO X14 TPC is one of several examples of Erlau’s Ring-Link system. A mesh of 14mm connecting rings with hardened, profiled link surfaces provides high wear resistance for medium-sized truck and loader tyres operating in the more demanding open-cast  mines, hard rock quarries, scrap-handling, steelwoks and on underground duties. Just as GERITALL DUE’s remit is to extend the useful life of scrap metals, so Erlau TPC extends the working life of tyres by as much as ten times; improving plant availability, aiding productivity and dramatically reducing the cost per loaded tonne. As well as protecting tyres in scrap metal handling, ERLAU TPCs have applications in the related steel making industry.

Pot Carrier tyres are fully protected by Erlau FELS JUMBO Plus X16 TPCs or FELS IMPERIAL X 19  TPCs as are the tyres of wheeled loaders shifting slag from the dump to the waste recovery facility where the residual steel and spent limestone are separated for re-use. (The burnt limestone dust can be used to make building blocks and the recovered steel is sent to the LD shop for re-smelting.) Slag is unlike any other material. Not only is the cooling slag highly abrasive but loaders have to stand and manoeuvre over extremely hot surfaces.

The close self-cleaning mesh of Erlau FELS JUMBO X16 and FELS IMPERIAL X 19  TPCs wrap around the entire tyre, absorbing the heat, preventing side-wall damage, eliminating abrasion and, most importantly, keeping the carriers and loaders on the job. The inventor of the TPC, Erlau recently celebrated 70 years of Tyre Protection with 65% of the world TPC market.