Shredder features larger rotor
EWS 60/210: Herbold’s new single-shaft shredder is appropriate for shredding baled, bulky or hard-to-process plastics, including film, agricultural film, mixed plastics and die drool. Both wet and dry materials can be fed into the machine using a forklift or by means of an optional conveyor. Featuring a 63-inch-by-78-inch feed opening, the machine can handle as much as 3 tons per hour.
What’s new? The shredder, the newest addition to Herbold’s EWS line. The new machine’s 23.5-inch-diameter rotor is 33 percent larger than existing units. And, at 82.5 inches wide, the rotor is about 2 feet wider than rotors found in other units. The machine can be supplied with dual motors that together generate 295 horsepower (hp)—topping the power of other machines in the series by more than 100 hp.
Benefits: Robust operation. To fortify the shredder against contamination, Herbold has supplied it with a well-protected rotor with bolted armor plating. An integrated clutch protects the rotor and other key components from debris. Additionally, the shredder has been designed in a manner that allows easy access to all parts that require routine maintenance.
Herbold Meckesheim USA, North Smithfield, Rhode Island, 401-597-5500, www.herboldusa.com
Dumping system facilitates drum handling
Tip-Tite drum-dumping system: This system from Flexicon can be used by recyclers to unload fiberboard drums containing a variety of bulk materials, such as resin chunks, regrind, additives and concentrates. The system automatically activates roller conveyors that move the drums to a series of three automated stations: a drum conditioner, drum dumper and a pusher. The drum conditioner presses the sides of drums to loosen material that might have settled or agglomerated; the dumper opens and empties drums into downstream equipment; and the pusher forces empty drums onto a conveyor for removal.
What’s new? The system, which Flexicon introduced in July.
Benefits: Ease of handling for drums weighing as much as 750 pounds. The system eliminates the possibility of spilling drums and the labor costs, potential injuries and dust associated with manual drum dumping.
Flexicon Corp., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 610-814-2400, www.flexicon.com
BHS vision system pairs with cobot to sort recyclables
AQC-C: This sorting system for recyclables from Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) brings together the company’s Max-AI VIS, or visual identification system, with from one to four collaborative robots (cobots) from ABB Inc., Auburn Hills, Michigan. Max-AI VIS’ camera-based machine vision and artificial intelligence capture information about product characteristics as they pass by; each cobot can be programmed to identify and select items based on as many as three material types or colors.
What’s new? The combination of a vision system with a cobot. The AQC-C is based on BHS’ earlier AQC systems, now known as AQC-1 and AQC-2, which use robots.
Benefits: Scalability, greater flexibility and more efficient use of space compared with other sorting systems that use conventional robots. Because it uses cobots, the AQC-C requires no protective structures, so it takes up much less space than BHS’ other robot-based sorting systems. This means it’s lighter, smaller and easier to install. The cobots also provide flexibility: Each can be programmed independently and can make as many as 40 picks per minute.
Bulk Handling Systems, Eugene, Oregon, 541-485-0999, www.bulkhandlingsystems.com
AMP expands its Cortex line with dual-robot system
AMP Cortex DRS: AMP Robotics’ new automation system for recycling uses two high-performance robots that together can sort, pick and place as many as 160 objects per minute. The robots use artificial intelligence and a vision system to discriminate among objects based on a variety of characteristics, including color, shape, size and texture; this allows them to separate polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example, from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or even Coke bottles from Pepsi bottles.
What’s new? The dual-robot system. Based on a single-robot system, the two-robot AMP Cortex came out in late spring.
Benefits: High-precision sorting. In addition, the robots are accurate, robust, durable and quick.
AMP Robotics Corp., Louisville, Colorado, 888-402-1686, www.amprobotics.com
Optical sorter features new ergonomic design
MACH Hyspec: Machinex’s optical sorter can sort different types of plastics, fiber, wood and metal products.
What’s new? An ergonomic design. New features include an access ladder on the outside of the sorter and the addition of a mechanism to easily retract the air tunnel. Also added is a built-in platform with a working space measuring about 6.8 feet high, nearly 2 feet wide and between 3.9 feet and 10.5 feet long, depending on the exact optical sorter. In addition, the new MACH Hyspec features a full-size door allowing access into the ejection hood, as well as an internal guardrail system that ensures the safety of the worker. With the sorter’s upgrades, workers easily can move the lighting system and the ejection nozzles to facilitate maintenance and cleaning.
Benefits: Easier maintenance and cleaning. Machinex says the new design has cut in half the required cleaning and maintenance time.
Machinex Technologies Inc., High Point, North Carolina, 877-362-3281, www.machinexrecycling.com
Centrifugal sifter quickly sorts materials by size
MunSifter: This new centrifugal sifter from Munson Machinery can be used by plastics recyclers to sift foreign material from on-spec particles following shredding and washing. Fed by an auger, material moves toward a stationary horizontal screen cylinder; small particles pass through the screen, while oversize materials spiral through the cylinder and into a discharge port. Screens are available with a variety of sizes of apertures.
What’s new? The sifter, which came out in the spring.
Benefits: Fast sorting of materials by size. Also, the stainless-steel sifter is designed for easy maintenance and cleaning.
Munson Machinery Co. Inc., Utica, New York, 315-797-0090, www.munsonmachinery.com
System compacts EPS using heat and pressure
Styro-Constrictor: Brohn Tech’s trailer-hauled densifier and compactor on wheels breaks up expanded polystyrene (EPS), then compresses it using heat and pressure to reduce its volume by 90 percent. A motor drive from Kohler Co., New York, powers the system, which heats the plastic using heat recycled from the exhaust. The machine is shown with Brohn Tech founder Brien Ohnemus.
What’s new? The system, which debuted in the spring.
Benefits: Convenience. The energy-efficient Styro- Constrictor is an entire recycling operation on wheels, requiring no utilities. It can be used at a single site or moved to any location, including hospitals, schools and other facilities, where large quantities of EPS are used. By densifying EPS where it is located, recyclers can avoid the cost of moving large quantities of foamed materials.
Brohn Tech LLC, Ursa, Illinois, 314-699-4798, www.brohntechllc.com
Recycling system efficiently processes PET bottles
SCP: This line from China’s BoReTech transforms bales of PET bottles into flakes that meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for food-contact applications or that can be used to produce microfiber. It encompasses 16 modules, including debaling, optical sorting, manual sorting, wet grinding, friction washing, flotation separation, drying, quality analysis and packing. Two configurations, for processing 6,613 pounds per hour and 13,227 pounds per hour, are available.
What’s new? The system.
Benefits: Efficiency. The SCP line uses less than 400 gallons of water and about 250 kilowatts of electricity to produce 1 ton of clean flakes.
Zhejiang BoReTech Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd., Pinghu City, China, 86-573-8512-0186, www.bo-re-tech.com
Modular container dumping system helps with maintenance
Reliant series: Container dumpers in Ensign Equipment’s Reliant series can be used in recycling facilities to dump scrap to feed shredders or conveyors. Three models are available, with lifting capacities of up to 2,500 pounds and bucket widths of 48 inches, 50 inches and 52 inches.
What’s new? Modularity. Each bucket and frame can be separated, making maintenance easier.
Benefits: Versatility. Reliant dumpers come in different configurations to accommodate gaylords, drums and bales of material. They can feed hoppers, conveyors and other processing equipment. Designed to be safe and customizable, each dumper is built with high-quality components from Parker Hannifin and Allen-Bradley for reliable performance.
Ensign Equipment Inc., Holland, Michigan, 616-738-9000, www.ensigneq.com
Metso preshredders offer bidirectional shredding
M&J K series: This series of preshredders from Metso features bidirectional shredding and can run synchronously or asynchronously. The machines’ open cutting table is designed so hard debris falls through, which reduces the risk of wear to the blades. In the U.S., distributor eFactor3 supplies the machines.
What’s new? This series, which debuted in May. The first two models are the M&J K160-2HS and the M&J K210-2HS. The K160 has a cutting area that measures 61 inches by 63 inches; the K210’s cutting area is 81 inches by 63 inches. Capacities for the machines top out at 39 tons per hour for the K160 and 50 tons per hour for the K210.
Benefits: Flexibility. These twin-shafted machines have multiple shredding settings to accommodate a large variety of materials. Their easy-access design makes maintenance faster and cuts costs. These machines are a good match for large film and PET recycling facilities because of their ability to break bales without the need to manually cut and remove the wires. The wide range of knife geometries combined with the machines’ bidirectional capabilities help minimize bridging and reduce the risk of material wrapping around shafts.
eFactor3 LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina, 877-801-3232, www.efactor3.com
Explore the Fall 2019 Plastics Recycling Issue
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