Industrial shredder for plastic films

Our economy cannot function without plastic, but its disposal is an issue that private industries, nations, and consumers can no longer afford to sweep under the rug. Or into the waters of rivers and seas. Indeed, the state of ocean pollution requires a strong reaction on a global scale. This is one of the great challenges of our time: industrial shredders represent a fundamental link in the chain of change that will lead us to a cleaner planet.

Plastic is a versatile and economical material, but if not correctly managed during the disposal phase, it represents one of the greatest dangers to the environment. The solution presented in this article is designed and optimized for the shredding of waste produced from two of the most common types of plastic on the market: Polyethylene and Polypropylene.

Polyethylene, indicated by the abbreviation PE, is used to produce: plastic bags (now banned in many countries), toys, detergent and food bottles, caps, piping, and electrical cable coatings. Polypropylene, whose abbreviation is PP, is more resistant and waterproof. It is widely used in the manufacture of furniture such as chairs and tables, as well as pots and CD/DVD cases.

These two plastic materials, however, are as versatile as they are difficult to dispose of. The correct disposal of Polyethylene and Polypropylene is essential to avoid phenomena that have taken on massive proportions, such as the polluting presence of plastic in the seas. The latter, in fact, puts fauna and flora at risk like no other cause in history.

Factories, shops, offices, and private homes produce tons of waste materials attributable to these two types of plastic, which are stored in increasingly larger areas. These materials constitute a very serious problem: how to collect them effectively without dispersing them into the environment?

The transition from a linear economy to a circular economy is fundamental to protecting the environment from the consequences of human activities. SatrindTech industrial shredders are a vital tool for managing the life cycle of plastic so that it is not dispersed into the environment in an uncontrolled manner.

SatrindTech has provided its consultancy and machinery to a company located in Poland, which deals with waste recovery services and packaging recycling. From the supply of collection containers to material management via pressing, through to the relative bureaucracy, our Polish partners manage an important part of the plastic waste life cycle in their territory, reintroducing it into the production process and avoiding waste.

With the aim of shredding plastic films in Polyethylene and Polypropylene, we have installed a model 2R 15/250/HT shredder with high torque of 180 kW (250 HP) at our partner’s facility. The blade set consists of a 5-1 hook series with a thickness of 75 mm.

The shredding body is equipped with two hydraulic power units of 110 kW (150 HP) and 75 kW (100 HP) respectively. These power two hydraulic motors at different speeds, serving the fast and slow shafts.

The supply is completed by: a loading hopper of the usual truncated-conical shape, a support frame with a cat ladder and walkway, and an electrical control panel. The installation involves loading the material into the hopper via a feed conveyor. Another conveyor is placed under the shredder for the evacuation of the shredded material.

In the case of this customized shredding solution, installation, start-up, and testing were carried out on-site by our technical assistance service. SatrindTech shredding solutions are increasingly in demand in Europe and the rest of the world, not only for the power of our shredders but also for the expertise of our technical staff.