What do you mean by scrap? Many metals can be reused with a much lower environmental cost than smelting the metal from ores.

Casting rather than machining can aparenty reduce scrap, but what is the overal balance

What do you mean by scrap? Many metals can be reused with a much lower environmental cost than smelting the metal from ores.

Casting rather than machining can aparenty reduce scrap, but what is the overal balance

Hi Roger, in this case I am talking about large metal components such as dies, roll mill rollers or mining / tunnelling equipment, crushers etc. These components are often multi-tonne parts that are replaced when worn out as opposed to being reclaimed.
I am hoping to use this platform to reach out to a network of professionals which can provide some more detailed examples in the context of these manufacturing processes and industries, such as mining, recycling, waste, metal manufacturing, paper, plastics, transport etc.

Anything come to mind?

Cheers,

Alex

In my experience many of these large components will be replaced when worn out to minimize downtime. They may then be sent for repair or rebuild if possible. Sometimes building up a worn surface by metal spraying/welding and then regrinding is possible, in other cases it may be difficult to reach the required specification so melting down as scrap is the sensible option. For example:

www.precisionrolls.com/

I have no connection with them, it was just the first one that came up when I searched.

The metal industries are in general very good at recycling scrap and have done so for decades. Consumer electronics and white goods are a bigger problem, as are Lithium based batteries and composite wind turbine blades.