ALTEK - Products - Dross Processing Presses

Products / Dross Processing Presses

ALTEK invented the dross press in the early 1990s and at that time had a relationship with a UK company called J M McIntyre, who distributed the ALTEK dross press product.

Following this, the TARDIS press was launched by J.McIntyre and the two systems, from the same birthplace, became available in the market. ALTEK acquired the TARDIS business in July 2009, and both the ALTEK and former TARDIS technical teams have been working hard on integrating the two technologies to provide their customers with the very latest dross press technology, incorporating the best features from both systems coupled with the experience gained from over 350 installations all over the world on all types of furnaces, alloys, dross types etc..

The TARDIS II is the result of this combination of technologies and provides a First Class system for the processing of hot aluminium dross.

With its patented press head technology, cooling system, fume extraction systems and other special technical features, TARDIS II rapidly cools and presses the dross, preserving valuable aluminium which would otherwise be lost to oxidation (1% per minute is general view of aluminium loss rate).

TARDIS II makes for a cleaner and safer workplace. Integrated fume filtration ensures complete environmental protection.

There are a number of different TARDIS II models to suit every application, including back dross and salt slag. Some of these are listed below. Or if you would like us to quote you for a particular product, please complete and email the appraisal form.

Main Features

Maximizes aluminium recovery - rapid cooling reduces oxidation
Built to stringent International standards in both Europe and the USA
Fully Automatic control – (no buttons to press to initiate cycle)
Ultra reliable
Excellent service and spares availability
Environmentally clean - integrated fume filtration (OPTIONAL)
Low operating costs - rapid payback
Low maintenance costs - less downtime
Range of different footprints
Easy to operate - many safety features

Salt Slag Presses

ALTEK have developed a specialised salt slag press to extract as much aluminium out of slag as possible. Salt slag differs from aluminium dross due to it having a lower aluminium content and a higher temperature when taken out of the furnace. ALTEK's salt slag press is designed and programmed to match these differing needs so as to maximise aluminium extraction, and therefore saving you money and increasing aluminium recovery. More information can be found: here

Maximizing your returns of aluminium from very hot salt slag can be difficult due to its low aluminium content and high temperature. As the temperature of the slag can be in excess of 1200°C when it is transferred from the Tilting Type Rotary Furnace (TTRF) into the salt slag pan, continued thermiting will lower the return as aluminium is burnt . ALTEK have now developed a Salt Slag Press and several of these have been successfully in operation since the September 2010. This press is designed with a specialized and patented 'air cooled' press head which rapidly cools the slag in conjunction with the large mass specialized RHINO CAST cast steel slag bin and seals the surface of the slag in the bin so as to stop any Oxygen ingress that would support continued thermiting. As a consequence it lowers the temperature of the salt slag to around 350 to 400°C, to improve aluminium extraction but also stops all fuming and smoke within minutes of the pressing operation starting. The salt slag pans are also designed to be very thermo-conductive to aid the process of cooling the slag . The pressed salt slag, with now very low aluminium content, can be stored more effectively and can then be sent off to be chemically processed.

Hydraulic System

The latest generation press features a very reliable and new design of hydraulic system, easy to maintain, built to stringent European and US standards and confirming to all international standards.

Electrical Control

The electrical control system has undergone a considerable upgrade to provide a fully automatic press operation (operator does not need to dismount the fork lift truck to initiate the press cycle).

The operator and engineers interface are very user friendly, allowing for easy fault finding and maintenance and press operation.

Press Structure

The dross press body is significantly stronger than any of the previous ALTEK or TARDIS dross press models. Made from a strong steel structure to provide longevity of operation in the tough working environment of the cast house.

Improved Press Head Design

The new press will utilise the ALTEK patented ribbed press head design, removing the necessity for rocking press head and the complexity of the mechanisms required to do this.

The efficient pressure distribution allows for rapid cooling between the cool head and dross pan to maximise plating of the aluminium within the dross skull and also maximise aluminium drain through the multiple drain holes in the pan bottom.

Door Design

The new door design allows for fully automatic operation of the press and provides a wide opening for dross pan placement by operators from their fork lift truck.

The new door design allows for a range of door opening possibilities to suit different customer requirements.

Please view video of this below

Integrated Fume Treatment system.

Significant improvements have been made to the design of the patented fume treatment system to remove operational and maintenance issues associated with the previous design of this system fitted to the old TARDIS units.

Press Head Cooling System

The patented press head cooling system has undergone several levels of improvement to increase the effiency, reliability and effectiveness of the press head cooling system. The head cooling is now independant from the fume filtration system and coupled with the ALTEK patented ribbed head design to provide improved cooling.