The difference between rolling and sliding motion is a good basis for the separation of particles. The principle has already been applied in various shape separators. In this paper, experiments on a new rotating cone separator are presented, which is especially designed to process recycled materials. A simulation model is used to first characterise materials in terms of shape and friction and then predict their separation on the rotating cone. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.