SHREDDING SOLUTION

Productivity is the key to success at Miller Compressing Co. of Milwaukee, Wis. The 104-year-old recycler of both ferrous and nonferrous scrap processes some 1,500 tons of material per day with its Newell 98104 shredder, and it needed a rotor in that machine that could meet the challenge.

The 98-104 Six Arm Spider Rotor from Riverside Products of Moline, Ill., has risen to the task and gone beyond expectation, according to Bob MacDonald, purchasing manager for non-scrap at Miller Compressing. MacDonald says the spider rotor has delivered highly efficient production—processing more than 150 tons per hour. "Getting that tonnage per hour is pretty unusual in this size shredder," MacDonald says.

He also has high praise for the rotor’s physical makeup. "The strength and integrity of the casting is very good," he says.

In addition to productivity, MacDonald is also impressed with the helmet cap design of the rotor. "The way the caps are mounted tends to protect the spiders, extending spider life," he says. This feature is among MacDonald’s favorites, as it protects the rotor from solids and other unshreddables, which extends the life of the rotor itself. "We generally get more than a million tons on a rotor," MacDonald says. "We’re happy with the life."

As purchasing manager, MacDonald is responsible for all capital equipment, from shredders to pencils, so he knows no piece of equipment can be problem-free, particularly not in an environment as demanding as shredding. However, he is quick to point out that when problems do occur, the team at Riverside Products is quick to respond and come up with a timely solution. "I can’t say we’ve never had a problem," MacDonald says. "But problems have been few and they’ve been handled."

In addition to responding quickly to the more run-of-the-mill mechanical maintenance problems, MacDonald says the team at Riverside excels at responding to more intangible issues that crop up when running shredding systems and is able to come up with solid, workable and creative solutions. "They’re good people to work with, people of their word," says MacDonald.