Product Spotlight

On-site aerobic digestion with ORCA

Disposing food waste at the source prevents on-site decomposition, reducing odour and the presence of pests like flies, rodents and cockroaches. This is the idea behind the ORCA, which mimics the natural digestion process using microorganisms to transform food waste into an environmentally safe liquid.

iugis, an internationally managed service technology company, introduced the technology to the Australian market over two years ago, after six-years of operations in Canada and the United States.

The ORCA aerobic digestion process uses natural microbes, which are automatically sprayed into the unit, oxygen and naturally occurring heat to digest food waste down to a liquid. Once the material reaches liquid form, the ORCA passes it through an in-built filter and discharges it from the unit.

Additionally, the metabolisation and digestion rate is accelerated by continuous feeding, meaning operators don’t have to wait until the end of a cycle and material can be fed into the machine 24 hours a day.

Unlike traditional dehydration systems, the ORCA uses minimal energy, needing just single-phase power to operate. The ORCA is available in four sizes ranging from seven to 45-kilogram processing capacity per hour.

In addition to landfill diversion and reduced energy use, the ORCA allows businesses to diminish emissions through a reduced reliance on kerbside waste collections.

Don’t waste your waste: WasteMaster

WasteMaster is a world-leading environmental technology by Green Eco Technologies – an Australian owned company. The WasteMaster is locally built in Melbourne, engineered to solve the bulk food waste burden and dramatically decrease waste transportation costs.

WasteMaster is a safe, efficient and environmentally beneficial onsite solution that reduces weight and bulk of organic waste by up to 80 per cent. It converts and re-purposes organics into a reusable resource which can be used as clean fuel for power generation through anaerobic digestion or as a solid fuel source. It can also be used for animal fodder or as a soil improver.

There is no requirements to add or discharge water, microorganisms or any other additives. Simply connect to three-phase power.

It is estimated that approximately 3.2 tonnes of landfill gas emissions are prevented for every two tonnes of food waste converted and diverted from landfill sites. The WasteMaster conversion process diverts putrescible food waste from landfill, being flushed into the sewer system or incinerated, helping to reduce the global burden of greenhouse gas emissions.

Whether food waste is from food manufacture or processing, food preparation for meals, cooked food from the kitchen or table waste leftovers, the WasteMaster system cleanly and efficiently converts the waste into a smaller, usable by-product.

Atritor Turbo Separator: Wastech Engineering

The Atritor Turbo Separator was developed to separate products from their packaging, releasing them for recycling or disposal.

Available through Australian distributor Wastech Engineering, the Turbo Separator enables up to 99 per cent of dry or liquid products to be separated from their packaging with minimal contamination. This allows the contents to be used for compost, anaerobic digestion or animal feedstock.

The Turbo Separator can be manufactured in a range of throughputs up to 20 tonnes per hour.

Additionally, the process is so efficient that it leaves packaging relatively intact and clean to facilitate downstream recycling. According to Wastech, when compared to other methods of packaging separation, the Turbo Separator achieves higher separation efficiencies with lower power consumption, resulting in reduced operating costs.

The Turbo Separator is ideal for separating out of specification, out-of-date and mislabelled products from a variety of packaging, including cans, plastic bottles and boxes. The diverse range of applications includes the separation of paper from gypsum in plasterboard, general foodstuffs from their packaging and liquids from their containers.

It is available complete with in-feed and out-feed conveyors and liquid transfer pumps. The Turbo Separator, with its durable construction and adjustable paddles, enables the separation of a wide variety of products.

Each Turbo Separator installation can be configured to suit multiple applications and a variable shaft speed enables enhanced separation efficiency. The machine is available in mild steel and stainless steel to suit the application.

Mastershred Kreios L Series tackles adhesives

Mastershred, an industry leader in the design and supply of off-the-shelf and customised security destruction and waste reduction solutions, has turned its attention to one of the industry’s biggest challenges.

The company, which specialises in shredders, granulators and crushers, has developed a conveyor-fed twin-shaft shredder. The shredder is designed to meet the demands of the label printing industry and waste operators, covering those who have a requirement to shred bulky items with adhesive coatings for waste reduction or security destruction.

The destruction of these materials has historically proved difficult. This is due to the fact that the adhesive from the label waste matrix has a tendency to block and impede the performance and movement of the shafts and ancillary components.

However, the Mastershred Kreios L Series overcomes these issues with the application of a unique speciality Teflon coating on the shafts and cutters within the chamber and a hydraulic ram to assist the process.

In standard configuration, the Mastershred Kreios L 6360/L 84100 is fed using a variable speed conveyor to deliver the label waste matrix to the hopper. The standard configuration outfeed is fed directly into a Bulka bag which

is suspended on the underside of the shredder frame. Nevertheless, with Mastershred’s ability to customise its range of machines there are various options available to meet operators’ specific in-feed and out-feed requirements, including Teflon-coated screw feed conveyors.

To learn more click here.

*An earlier version of this story referred to the product name incorrectly.  

JCB delivers its first-ever electric excavator

JCB in late 2019 made history after unveiling its first-ever electric excavator – the quietest digger in its range and offering zero emissions.

The machine sees the replacement of a diesel engine with an efficient, 48-volt electrical driveline with the latest generation automotive battery cells.

As part of its shift towards lower emissions, the zero-emission JCB 19C-1 E-TEC will allow the waste sector to maximise productivity in emissions-sensitive inner city environments.

A huge advantage is external noise. At 7dBA lower, the machine is five times quieter than its traditional diesel-powered counterpart.

Importantly, performance is not compromised on digging, with a fully charged electric machine capable of putting in a full shift in normal operation.

The machine also supports maximum uptime with no daily checks of coolant and engine levels required. On that front, the high efficiency of the advanced electric-hydraulic combination means considerably lower cooling requirements. A small hydraulic cooler with a thermostatic electric fan and no engine radiator works to contribute to longer battery life and lower noise levels.

Initially, the mini excavator will be available with the ROPS/TOPS and FOGS certified canopy. As the electric excavator is based on the premium specification 19C-1, the excavator comes with proportional rocker switches for auxiliary functions and boom offset swing.

Its key features include a standard load-sensing hydraulic system delivering powerful digging performance. A convenient on-board charger with 230-volt input allows for six-hour recharging capability.

Carlson LandfillGrade Machine Guidance: Position Partners

Machine guidance technology can have a significant impact on your bottom line, with the ability to drastically increase productivity and safety, while reducing fuel usage and machine wear, writes Andrew Granger, Position Partners Machine Guidance Product Manager. 

Carlson’s LandfillGrade solution was specifically designed for landfill operations. Unlike other solutions that are adapted from civil earthmoving applications, Carlson’s product caters for the machinery, materials and desired reporting that are unique to landfill sites.

With real time knowledge of material placement, operators can work efficiently to the survey design to increase density across cells and optimise compaction.

Accurate daily, weekly and monthly reporting tools to analyse material placement give managers more visibility across operations, to make informed decisions and manage more effectively.

Other benefits of the Carlson solution include:

  • Eliminating overfill for outer design slopes
  • Accurate recording of actual material placement
  • Safety enhancements through avoidance zones for gas wells and hazardous material placement
  • Keep on track of density with calculations of scale house weight and import
  • Forward and reverse compaction monitoring
  • Collect and stake points
  • Connect machines to the office via Tokara remote access network
  • Monitor machines in real time, from the office, with Carlson Command
  • Historical playback for machines and material placement

With branches in every state and territory of Australia, Position Partners also offers comprehensive support, training and data management services to give customers the back up and expertise required to get the most from machine guidance technology.

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Genox PE Film Washing Lines: Applied Machinery

Applied Machinery’s PE/PP plastic washing system facilitates high-performance recovery of difficult-to-recycle plastic films.

The PE/PP Film system is designed for washing plastic films with contamination levels exceeding 80 per cent. The process works to minimise the recycling waste flow rate and evaporation losses.

The process begins with pre-shredding and pre-washing, which removes a large portion of abrasive material, such as sand and grit to protect the rest of the system. Underwater force-washing paddles in the washing tanks then work to maximise washing efficiency.

Next, a high-speed washing system optimised according to specific material type liberates and separates contamination from film flakes. This is followed by mechanical (centrifugal and squeezing) systems that control the moisture content of the finished product. At less than five per cent moisture, the material output is suitable for high-quality pelletising.

The system features a film press, float-sink washing tank, centrifugal dryer, inclined friction washer and pre-washer. Intelligent system automation ensures all component actions are sequenced and monitored.

The correct combination, sizing and equipment configuration of the equipment results in a reliable, efficient plastic recycling system producing high-quality materials ideal for sale.

The system is suitable for agricultural films, films recovered from MSW or MRFs, films recovered from landfills, post-industrial or post-consumer films and large raffia bags.

JCB delivers its first-ever electric excavator

JCB in late 2019 made history after unveiling its first-ever electric excavator – the quietest digger in its range and offering zero emissions.

The machine sees the replacement of a diesel engine with an efficient, 48-volt electrical driveline with the latest generation automotive battery cells.

As part of its shift towards lower emissions, the zero-emission JCB 19C-1 E-TEC will allow the waste sector to maximise productivity in emissions-sensitive inner city environments.

A huge advantage is external noise. At 7dBA lower, the machine is five times quieter than its traditional diesel-powered counterpart.

Importantly, performance is not compromised on digging, with a fully charged electric machine capable of putting in a full shift in normal operation.

The machine also supports maximum uptime with no daily checks of coolant and engine levels required. On that front, the high efficiency of the advanced electric-hydraulic combination means considerably lower cooling requirements. A small hydraulic cooler with a thermostatic electric fan and no engine radiator works to contribute to longer battery life and lower noise levels.

Initially, the mini excavator will be available with the ROPS/TOPS and FOGS certified canopy. As the electric excavator is based on the premium specification 19C-1, the excavator comes with proportional rocker switches for auxiliary functions and boom offset swing.

Its key features include a standard load-sensing hydraulic system delivering powerful digging performance. A convenient on-board charger with 230-volt input allows for six-hour recharging capability.

The Dominator Depackaging Machine: ELB Equipment

The Dominator Depackaging Machine is designed to separate food and liquid from outer packaging, and allows the reuse of waste material that would otherwise be sent to landfill at high cost. Developed after a bag of food accidentally fell into a pellet press conditioner, the machine can handle food waste, plastic bottles, tetra pak, tin cans, plasterboard, sachets and pharmaceutical and bakery waste.

Expired or rejected food and faulty packaging can all be processed by the machine and used for anaerobic digestion, added to animal feed or in compost facilities as a wet additive. The machine can also depackage municipal waste for later waste-to-energy application. Municipal waste is loaded into an intake hopper where it begins the conditioning process. The waste is then augured to the Dominator and pumped into a holding tank, before being used to generate renewable energy.

The Dominator uses a motor to drive a solid steel shaft lined with paddles. Using mechanical and centrifugal forces, material is depackaged and forced through a mesh screen leaving two separated waste streams for further processing.

The Dominator is available in two different models, with an arrangement of different sizes depending on throughput and space requirements. Both models have a potential throughput of up to 25 cubic metres an hour. The machine is available in mild or stainless steel, with motors ranging from 15 to 75 kilowatts. Different screen sizes can be achieved depending on finished product requirements. Effluent injection points can also be added to the barrel to assist with wet waste. The Dominator is an effective, easy-to-use solution for separating packaging.

For more information click here.

MAC 111/2 baler

The MAC 111/2 baler is characterised by its long-lasting, robust and easy maintenance capabilities.

Following the success of the MAC 2 range, the MAC 111 is now available with updated features and extended channel sections for higher compaction.

Available through Australian distributor CEMAC technologies, the baler has been designed to treat large quantities of material in a short space of time, including paper, PET, metals and refuse-derived fuel.

Using 15-millimetre Hardox 450 steel, bolted as opposed to welded for easy changeover, total protection of the internal parts of the baler is achieved, increasing the lifetime of the machine.

Using REXROTH variable flow pumps and high efficient IE3 electrical drives, Macpresse also further improved the hydraulic block for better wear resistance and counter pressure control.

The trolley runs on eight high strength bearing side rollers with enlarged diameters. The ram features hinged front guards to stop wire blockages.

In terms of compacting ability, the compacting cylinder provides a thrust of 170 tonnes at 320 bar, completing a full forward/baling/return cycle in 12 seconds with material.

Additionally, a movable tying unit connected to a hydraulic cylinder can be used during the cutting and twisting phase of the wires, proving to be particularly useful for difficult-to-bale materials. The machine can be optionally equipped with a POLY-TIE wire tying system.

SSE Europa also offers a Siemens TP1200 operating panel and software for real-time diagnostics.

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