Page 59 - HUB-4 Magazine Issue 77
P. 59

 Recycling Focus
     But as innovation has accelerated, modern-day shredding equipment has helped to eradicate this perceived objection – proving it is cost-effective, easy to maintain, and with high uptime.
Shredding large and small domestic appliances helps break down the ‘waste’ into its component parts, so that the various ferrous and non-ferrous metals, precious material, and plastic can be liberated. Downstream separation equipment is then better able to segregate these clean, high-value material streams with ease, for onward recycling and remanufacturing. The result is a more commercially and environmentally robust operation.
Ultimately, failure to look beyond the traditional, more cumbersome pieces of equipment means that ever-smarter sorting, grading, separation, and size-reduction technologies are being dismissed.
What should operators be looking out for?
The industrial shredding landscape is forever moving at pace, and it can be difficult for operators to know what model and features they truly need for their business.
One thing to bear in mind, whether a seasoned shredder operator or new to the concept entirely, is that low speed and high torque are vital for optimised metal processing.
These innovations mean the shredding machinery is purposefully engineered to get through the material with the same throughputs as a higher speed equivalent, but with less downtime. As a result, the equipment is not having to work as hard to tackle the tough applications – creating less wear and reducing the risk of machine damage, not to mention unexpected breakdowns.
While robust four shaft shredding equipment – with a screen to regulate output particle homogeneity – is often the ‘go to’ choice when processing metal applications, UNTHA has different machines which suit operators’ varying applications and volumes.
From our RS series – that has been around for over 50 years – to the newer single-shaft XR and ZR technologies, our continued commitment to machine innovation has evolved to further change the face of what’s possible.
This means that with the right shredding kit in place, it is possible to enhance the efficiency, sophistication and potential revenue yield of metal recycling lines, through the improvement of metal recyclate quality.
Ideally, the machine should be high torque and slow speed, for reduced dust, low wear, increased uptime, and added efficiency. Typically, such technology can be found in compact models for light e-waste such as computing hard drives, through to much larger alternatives for heavier duty applications.
Looking ahead to the future of metal recycling
While industrial shredding won’t always be required to support the metal recycling process, by harnessing such innovative technology, operators cannot only make their operations more efficient, but they can also liberate the valuable materials that were previously ‘locked inside’ certain waste streams.
And for those who want to reap maximum environmental and bottom-line benefits, it is worth examining how such equipment could contribute to driving further progress forward throughout the industry.
 www.hub-4.com Nov/December 22 - Issue 77
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