Choosing the Right Granulators and Shredders for Industrial Applications

The terms granulator and shredder are very familiar in the recycling industry. These terms are often used interchangeably. Now you may think what is the main difference between shredding and granulating? Which equipment do I need exactly? You can read this post to find answers to your questions.

What is the Basic Difference between a Shredder and a Granulator?

Be it a shredder or a granulator – either are important for any plastic manufacturing or recycling facility. These machines are used for size reduction processes, and come with a big price tag. A wrong investment will slow down your production, and affect your finances. Hence, it is very important to know the basic difference between these equipment.

• Particle Size: The basic difference between the two equipment is the end result. The final size of the particle varies in both these equipment. A shredder reduces the scrap metal to about 20-100mm in a single step process. However, a granulator reduces the material to 6-12mm in multiple stage processes. Also, all the resultant particles are of the same size.
• Feeding Process: A granulator is basically operated at high speed, which makes them ideal for low-density materials. However, shredders are operated at low speed, thus making them ideal for high-density materials like rubber, metals and metal alloys, etc. The feeder is suited for shredding the material in a primary stage, whereas granulators are preferred for shredding materials, which have undergone one round of shredding.

How to Select a Proper Shredder and Granulator for Your Application?

While selecting a granulator or a shredder, you need to answer the following questions by yourself. The answers will make your selection easier.

• What are the materials I am trying to shred or reduce?
  Although both these materials are designed to reduce a wide range of materials, it is important to acknowledge your business requirements. For example, if you are into paper recycling business, you might be looking for an industrial paper shredder. Another thing to remember is your future expansion plans. Are you planning to add metal shredding to your capabilities? Keep this in mind while making the decision.
• What size of cuts are needed?
  This will entirely depend on how you wish to handle the reduced matter. For example, if you wish to transport the shredded part to the nearby recycling center, then you should opt for a shredder that reduces material to small pieces of equal size. Similarly, if you wish to reduce metal to extremely small sizes, you should go for a granulator.
• How much reduction needs to be performed in an hour?
  There is a multitude of granulators and shredders available in diverse specifications. They are categorized into two types: high-speed machines and low-speed machines.
• High-speed machines are equipped with high RPM electric motors, which generate high heat and dust. These machines are ideal when heavy items need to be reduced, or when particle sizes should be small.
• Small speed machines don’t produce high heat, and produce less heat. These machines are not ideal for extra fine reductions.

All the above-mentioned tips will help you in the selection process. As discussed earlier, granulators or shredders require large investments, which may be difficult for small firms. In such case, they can always opt for good quality used granulators and shredder for a reliable source. Are you looking for a reliable source in the US? JM Industrial is a well-known provider and distributor of used process equipment from industry-leading brands.