Sensor-sorted shredded stainless concentrate from auto shredder residue. Value driven by nickel and chromium; further XRF-sorted by series.

ISRI Grade Name: Zurik

ISRI Description and Specification

Zurik is the sensor-sorted stainless steel and mixed non-ferrous concentrate recovered from automobile shredder residue through advanced induction sorting, XRF (X-ray fluorescence), or laser-spectrometry sensor systems, after magnetic separation of carbon steel. Zorba (the mixed non-ferrous shredder fraction) is the input to sensor sorting — the sensor sorters identify stainless steel pieces by their alloy signature (high chrome, variable nickel, no aluminium/copper XRF signal) and eject them from the main aluminium-dominated Zorba stream. The resulting Zurik fraction contains predominantly stainless steel (200, 300, and 400 series fragments), along with other non-ferrous pieces that the sensor sorting system co-recovers. ISRI grades Zurik by estimated non-ferrous/stainless content (e.g., “Zurik 90” ≈ 90% non-ferrous/stainless, “Zurik 95” for cleaner lots). The specification requires Zurik to be magnetically cleaned of free carbon steel, free of hazardous materials, and dry.

Value and Processing

Zurik’s commercial value is driven by the nickel and chromium content of the stainless steel fraction, with additional credit for any copper or nickel alloy pieces co-sorted into the lot. Zurik processors typically further sort the material by grade (200 vs. 300 vs. 400 series, XRF verification) and consolidate into larger single-grade lots for stainless melt shops. The growth of automotive shredding capacity globally — and the increasing penetration of stainless in modern vehicles (exhaust systems, structural clips, trim) — is driving growing Zurik supply, which is being partially absorbed by sensor-sorting investment at major scrap processing facilities.

Who Uses Zurik Scrap

Stainless steel mini-mills and secondary stainless smelters are the primary consumers of Zurik, using it as a lower-cost scrap component in their stainless melt mix alongside cleaner segregated grades (Sabot, Pekoe). Non-ferrous secondary smelters who can separate and credit the copper and aluminium content from the stainless matrix also buy Zurik as a multi-metal recovery opportunity. In India, the development of vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the National Automobile Scrappage Policy is expected to create growing domestic Zurik supply over the next decade, reducing dependence on imported sensor-sorted stainless scrap.