Shred-Tech’s Justin Johns tells Waste Management Review about the rigorous in-house testing that goes into developing its broad range of shredders.
Shred-Tech Corporation, a leader in the design and manufacturing of shredding and recycling systems, is continuing to collaborate closely with its customers.
Whether it’s stainless steel machinery for corrosive shredding applications or 800-tonne-an-hour mineral sand shredders, the company’s 1200-square-metre testing site in Canada sees its products undergo rigorous in-house testing and trial and error. Shred-Tech has manufacturing and sales facilities located throughout the world.
At present, the company now has more than 6000 shredding and recycling systems installed worldwide and has been recognised globally for its commitment to engineering, innovation and quality. All Shred-Tech shredding systems can be configured with application specific knife design, cutting chamber size, horsepower, feed and discharge rates to suit the customer’s requirements.
According to Justin Johns, Sales Manager at Shred-Tech Asia, the company is continually involved in the design with customers to ensure shredder knives and chamber designs can meet customer expectations and desired outcomes.
“We’ve developed proprietary processes in knife design to overcome product specifications,” Justin explains.
“Customers often approach Shred-Tech with a problem that many competitors haven’t been able to solve. With our broadly skilled in-house engineering team, we are able to work closely with the sales department and the customer to find a viable solution.”
One example of the company’s diverse products is the ST-100, a two-shaft shredder ideal for primary reduction in waste streams ranging from consumer goods, wood, e-waste, high volume newsprint, cardboard and tyres.
The ST-100 offers cutting chamber sizes of 1145 millimetres by 815 millimetres and 1540 millimetres by 815 millimetres, enabling it to handle a wide range of products as well as bulky wastes. The company’s engineers designed each knife profile and configuration to suit the application for maximum throughput and optimum shred size. “We’ve had issues in the past with shredded stampings for automobiles with this machine and have used a specific makeup of metals and treatments in the blades,” Justin says.
From a reduced electric or hydraulic drive, the ST-100 is available with an extensive range of gear. The electric model is available with a single or dual 30, 50 or 75-horsepower motor. The hydraulic model is equipped with high torque, low speed multi-cam radial piston motors.
When it comes to the control panel, the panel has been designed and fabricated by Shred-Tech technicians. It features Siemans controls including touchscreen and programmable logic controllers, enabling easy integration to any existing or new plant. Data logging and remote access capabilities helps to ensure the equipment maximises uptime. “The unique design of the machined hex shafts maximises knife placement options and allows for simple knife removal and machine maintenance,” Justin says.
The hex shaft is more durable than a keyed shaft, particularly important in high load applications.
“The hex shaft drive system coupled with knife design and gear selection offers the highest knife-tip cutting force of any comparable shredder in the Australian market,” Justin says.
A number of design refinements have gone into easing the durability of the ST-100, including a new cast steel body design, in combination with bulkhead walls and labyrinth barriers at either end of the cutting chamber for seal and bearing protection. Quick disassembly of the cutting chamber allows for bearing and seal replacement without the need for gearbox disassembly.