A Guide to the Different Types of Industrial Shredder Blades
Recycling helps save millions of dollars, with the potential to save even more. All of the recyclable material in the U.S. waste cycle could generate $7 billion if recycled.
When you run an industrial shredder, you are making a real difference to the environment. When it comes to recycling, though, every ounce of energy counts. The less environmental impact the better.
This is why industrial shredders need to operate as efficiently as possible. Choosing the correct type of shredder blade for your machine can have a big impact on how efficiently your machine operates.
That’s why today, we want to bring you a guide to the different types of industrial shredder blades.
Shredders and their impact on recycling
Recycling depends on breaking down materials into smaller parts that are easier to recycle. Shredders take bulky materials, from tires to paper, and cut them into manageable sizes.
Industrial shredders typically break down plastic, scrap, tires, wood, and other types of waste. When most people talk about a home office, they mean a shredder, but industrial shredders are also fairly common.
The resulting shredded material is often repurposed into another material or used in various manufacturing processes. You'll find recycled material turned into everything from plastic bags to mulch, all thanks to shredders.
It's important to note that not all "shredders" can shred anything. The term industrial shredder refers to grinders, chippers, hammermills, pelletizers and plain old shredders. Some shredders crush, some shred, some compact, and some are somewhere in between.
Shredders are available in various configurations of high torque, low torque, high and low speed machines, all designed to maximize efficiency and minimize accidents.
paper shredder
Let's start with the obvious shredder. Shredders are used to help dispose of waste paper and destroy sensitive documents. In the recycling world, we divide shredders into three different categories, each with its own blade type.
Industrial shredders:
large capacity shredding
Handle large volumes of paper and sensitive documents
Heavy-duty blades designed to withstand extreme chopping
Strip shredders:
for small batch applications
light blade
Paper is typically cut into strips 1/2 inch to 1/16 inch per inch
Cross-cut shredder:
Dual-blade shredder for shredding paper into small strips (1/2 inch or smaller)
Can cut square or rectangular sections
Can cut sections as large as 1/32"
blades similar to strip shredders
The type of shredder you choose depends on what and how much you're shredding. If you're just shredding a small amount of paper, there's no reason to invest in an industrial shredder and replacement blades.
Plastic shredders are used almost exclusively in the recycling business. Unlike paper shredders, plastic shredders come in a variety of different types.
Grinder:
crushed material
Small blades designed to create extremely small pieces of material
Chipper:
cut the material into small pieces
Small blades designed to create thin slices of material - think wood chippers
Granulator:
similar to grinders and chippers
cut the material into small pieces
hammer mill
for crushing materials
As the name suggests, the blade is more akin to a "hammer"
The plastic shredder is versatile and can shred rubber and asphalt in addition to plastic. Some plastic shredders can also shred wood.
tire shredder
Tire shredders are unique in that they are specifically designed to turn used tires into landfill mulch, asphalt, fuel, and other products. While some plastic shredders can handle rubber, only tire shredders can handle tires.
Professional Shredder:
custom design
tear the tire into small pieces
Take advantage of high torque
Strong blade
Cut Shredder:
low speed
Dual-axis mechanism that helps tear tires
blade is knife shaped
Chipper:
high speed
Like a grinder, the blade is knife-shaped
Grinder:
high speed and low speed applications
The blades are usually plates or drums that can tear the tire through abrasion
Granulator:
Comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and mechanisms
Knife-shaped blade for cutting tires into thin slices
All tire shredders use extremely strong and durable blades. The blades are usually heavy to help withstand the high torque a tire shredder needs to break down the tire.
Choose the blade that best suits your needs
Choosing the best blade for your needs depends on the type of shredder you have. In fact, your choice of blades is entirely limited by the shredder. Shredder blades will not work in a tire shredder and vice versa.
Make sure you're using the right shredder for the job, and blade choice comes down to it. Just remember to buy replacement blades when servicing your shredder.
Dull blades not only stop production, but also reduce the energy efficiency of your shredder. Having a spare set of blades keeps your business running as smoothly as possible.