Shredder, grinder, or granulator, how to choose? (1)

Most often, the terms grinder, shredder, and granulator are used interchangeably. So what is the difference?  

It basically depends on two factors; 1) what is the material you need to reduce and 2) what kind (size) of end product do you require?  These two factors will determine whether your money is best invested in a shredder, a grinder, or a granulator.  The only way to make this determination is to analyze the material you need to reduce.  

Let's start with the material…  Is it plastic, paper, rubber, PVC, MSW, C&D, medical waste, or something else?  Next, determine what you want to do with it.  Do you need it reduced to larger pieces, say 2” in size or do you need it reduced to something smaller; lets say – 3/8” or smaller.  Those are the primary questions you will need to answer to determine the machine you will need.  However; with a few simple guidelines, you should be able to determine it from the following:

Shredder

So, you think you may need a “shredder” – but what does shredding actually do.  Shredding is normally carried out in a machine that is “low speed and high torque”.  A shredder is designed to take large components and shred them down to random, smaller components – normally in the range of 1” – 2” and larger.  Most often, a shredder is selected if you want to do any of the following:

• Reduce a product down for compacting of space in haul off applications to a landfill.

• Reduction of items such as tires to larger chips for fuel, drain fill, etc…

• The reduction of paper or confidential documents to pieces unrecognizable in regard to their former condition.

• Reduction of plastics for washing

• Destruction of product of liability issues

• Or the preparation of the product for another application.

The above is not all inclusive of course, but it does comprise the most common applications for shredding.