Conair's new single

Conair Group has introduced the GP Series of shredders for plastic recyclers who need to reduce hard scrap that is too large for a granulator, but who don't need the high throughput or cost of a larger shredding machine.

"Conair's new GP, or general-purpose, shredders are for processors who need a compact, cost-effective but powerful shredder for small to moderate throughputs of purgings, pipe and profile scrap, or sheet scrap. We've designed it from the ground up to be an ‘entry-level' shredder, combining durable, reliable performance with low-maintenance features that have, until now, only been available on our much larger shredding equipment," says Dave Miller, Conair's general manager, size reduction.

The new GP Series is comprised of two models, with the GP 924 featuring a 24-inch cutting chamber and the larger GP 935 equipped with a 35-inch chamber. Within each chamber, scrap is reduced by a single 8.7-inch (220 mm) diameter steel rotor that cuts against a fixed blade knife, both of which are drop-forged from 4140 high-alloy steel. Rotors are equipped with four-sided, indexable cutting knives (23 or 35, depending on the model) that can be unbolted and rotated to provide fresh cutting edges between sharpenings. The fixed-blade knife, or anvil, also offers dual cutting edges, so it can be unbolted and flipped 180 degrees to provide extended service before sharpening is required. Reduced scrap flows through a filter screen into a hopper area at the bottom of the machine.

Power to the single-shaft rotor is provided by a 25- or 40-horsepower AC motor coupled through a large belt drive to an oversized, heavy-duty gearbox. These drivetrains, housed in the base of the shredder, produce high cutting torque at relatively low rotor RPM to reduce even thick scrap with limited noise.

Standard GP Series shredders offer a large, open-top infeed hopper. At the bottom of the hopper, a horizontal hydraulic ram drives scrap into the cutting chamber. The ram feed is configured for low maintenance with top and side scrapers that clean and shield the ram face, preventing shredded material from entering and interfering with the ram mechanism.

Ram direction and speed, as well as overall shredder operation, are controlled through a programmable logic controller, accessed through a colour touchscreen HMI and a master power switch. The HMI offers access to a series of configurable shredding programs as well as onboard alarms that alert operators to changing operational conditions. The GP Series shredders also include complete electromechanical safeties that disable shredder operation during maintenance access until all equipment access points are properly closed and secured.

For processors with unique size-reduction requirements, Miller says that GP Series shredders offer a wide variety of configuration and equipment options.

Website: conairgroup.com