In the copper electrolysis production process, copper cathode stripping machine as one of the
core equipment, which directly affects the production efficiency and product quality. With the
copper processing industry's demand for automation, energy saving and environmental protection,
the technological innovation of this equipment is becoming the focus of the industry's attention.
The core function and workflow of the equipment
Copper cathode stripping machine is mainly used in the end link of electrolytic copper production line,
and its core task is to efficiently strip the copper sheet deposited on the cathode plate by electrolysis,
and at the same time protect the cathode plate substrate from damage. The equipment usually contains
the following working modules:
Positioning conveyor system
Through the cooperation of high-precision sensors and robotic arms, it realizes the accurate positioning
and transfer of cathode plates, and ensures the uniform force when separating the copper sheets from
the substrate.
Stripping actuator
Adopting multi-stage hydraulic or pneumatic device, combined with flexible material contact surface
design, to avoid scratches on the surface of the copper sheet during the peeling process, and to ensure
that the finished product rate reaches more than 99%.
Automatic Sorting Module
Integrated visual recognition system, real-time monitoring of the thickness and integrity of the peeled
copper sheet, automatic sorting of qualified products and defective products, reducing the cost of
manual re-inspection.
The whole set of process can be completed within 3-5 minutes for single batch operation, which is 8-10
times more efficient than traditional manual stripping, especially suitable for large-scale copper smelting
projects with an annual output of more than 100,000 tons.
Technological breakthroughs and industry application trends
In recent years, copper cathode stripping machine has made significant technological breakthroughs in the
following areas:
Flexible stripping technology
The R&D team improved the structure of the stripping tool through the principle of bionics and developed a
dynamic system that can adjust the stripping angle. This technology enables the equipment to adapt to copper
layers with different crystallization densities, reducing the raw material loss rate from 0.5% to less than 0.2%.
Digital Twin O&M
Through the deployment of IoT sensors, the equipment can collect more than 20 operational parameters in real
time, such as vibration frequency and hydraulic pressure, and build a three-dimensional digital model to predict
the life of parts. After the application by a large metallurgical enterprise, the equipment failure downtime was
reduced by 65%, and the annual maintenance cost dropped by 40%.
Low-carbon transformation
Adopting permanent magnet synchronous motor to replace the traditional drive system, together with the
regenerative braking energy recovery device, a single piece of equipment can save 120,000 kWh of electricity
annually. Currently, the program has passed the EU CE energy efficiency certification, which has become an
important plus point for overseas project bidding.
According to an industry report, the global electrolytic copper equipment market exceeded $4.8 billion in 2023,
of which the procurement of intelligent stripping machines accounted for 37%. It is expected that by 2026, the
fourth generation equipment with integrated AI quality inspection system will occupy more than 60% of the
market share.
Recommendations for equipment selection and performance optimization
Enterprises need to focus on the following indicators when purchasing copper cathode stripping machines:
Compatibility parameters
The size of the cathode plate of the existing production line should be matched (common specifications: 1m×1.2m
to 1.5m×1.8m), and 15%-20% of the capacity redundancy space should be reserved at the same time.
Energy Economy
Comparing the data of unit energy consumption (kWh/ton) of the equipment, priority is given to the model equipped
with frequency conversion speed control and heat recovery system, and the comprehensive energy-saving benefit
can be increased by more than 25%.
Technical service capability
Focus on the supplier's remote diagnosis response speed, the stability of the supply chain of wearing parts and
customized transformation experience. It is recommended to specify the warranty period of key components (e.g.
hydraulic seals, image sensors) in the procurement contract.
It is worth noting that the actual capacity of the equipment depends not only on mechanical performance, but also
on scientific process management. By optimizing electrolyte temperature control (±1℃ accuracy) and current density
(220-250A/m²), a copper processing company has increased the single-day processing capacity of its stripping machine
by 18%, while reducing the tool wear rate.
Future Direction of Technology Development
With the rise of the copper resource recovery industry, the new generation of equipment is evolving in the direction of
multi-scene adaptation:
Recycled Copper Treatment Specialized Machine
Aiming at the high impurity content of waste copper material, develop titanium alloy stripping tools with stronger corrosion
resistance and enhance the online analysis function of metal composition.
Modularized design
Adopting detachable structure to support quick replacement of functional modules for stripping, sorting, packing, etc. to
meet the demand of small-lot and multi-variety production.
Hydrogen Drive System
Some experimental models have begun to test the hydrogen fuel cell power supply solution, aiming to achieve zero carbon
emissions in the production process, and the technology is expected to enter the commercialization stage in the next 3-5 years.