Single-stage shredding
Among the most difficult aspects of managing a modern recycling company are frequent changes in regulations, the dynamic situation on the secondary raw materials market, and rising disposal costs. As the example of EkoPartner Recykling from Lubin shows, meeting these challenges can be easier with the UNTHA XR3000C mobil-e single-shaft slow-speed shredder.
EkoPartner Recykling is one of five companies belonging to the Econ Group. It was founded in 2010 and specializes mainly in the recovery and processing of various types of waste. It also provides waste collection services using its own transport fleet. The high efficiency of the plant in Lubin, compliance with applicable regulations, and, finally, high flexibility in responding to market needs would not be possible without continuous investment. In 2021, the company had only three garbage trucks, while currently their number exceeds 30. The equipment fleet has also been significantly expanded. An example of this is the articulated loaders: in 2019, the facility used three rented units, and now it has six of its own machines of this type, which are much larger. In addition, they are supported by a reloading robot, a reloading excavator that operates without an operator, which is unique in Poland. Much attention has also been paid to expanding the infrastructure and modernizing waste processing technology. One of the key investments in this area was the purchase of a UNTHA XR3000C mobil-e single-shaft slow-speed shredder. What was the reason for the need to equip the plant with such a machine? “In our profession, the quality of material processing has great potential, and the UNTHA shredder makes it easy to achieve our goals,” explains Dawid Ziemiński, Plant and Logistics Director at EkoPartner Recykling.
Every purchase planned by the Lubin-based company is made with great care. The choice of shredder was preceded by demanding tests of machines from several manufacturers. "We have to process different materials on a daily basis, so we expect such a machine not only to be highly efficient, but also versatile, so that it can handle the widest possible range of waste. The operator tested them with the most difficult fractions and was instructed not to spare any of the machines, i.e., to load them as if they were typical waste. In the end, it turned out that only UNTHA passed all the tests. Other machines simply stopped halfway through the job—the rotor got stuck. The test shredder from UNTHA, was equipped with a “C” cutting system and was ordered for the plant in this configuration, adds Dawid Ziemiński.
For the Plant and Logistics Director at EkoPartner Recykling, it is not only the machine that is important, but also the after-sales service provided by UNTHA Polska. "Many factory service departments boast that they are able to perform various tasks remotely, but in practice their scope is very limited. The situation is completely different with UNTHA, which can even change machine settings remotely. It is also worth noting that the service takes a sensible approach to replacing various parts, carefully analyzing whether a given component really needs to be replaced with a new one or whether it is enough to clean it, for example. Each time, it looks for solutions to keep the operating costs of the machine as low as possible for us. I really appreciate this approach, as well as the ease of contact with UNTHA – we can always rely on quick advice through direct contact with a competent mechanic," concludes Dawid Ziemiński.
The UNTHA XR3000 mobil-e is an electric machine connected to the mains via a secure Powerlock quick-release coupling. It features the UNTHA Eco Power Drive direct drive system, which is powered by two water-cooled synchronous motors (no slip, higher efficiency, and lower heat loss compared to asynchronous units) with an output of 132 kW each. This solution guarantees very low energy consumption, high durability, and low maintenance costs. Compared to similar machines equipped with a combustion engine, the savings in operating costs can be as high as 75%. The rotor speed is infinitely variable and, in the case of a “C” type cutting system, is a maximum of 64 rpm.
The machine delivered to the EkoPartner Recycling plant has a tracked vehicle chassis, which makes it easy to position it precisely in relation to the material to be processed or to move it to another location within the plant. For this purpose, it has been equipped with a small petrol generator that powers the hydraulic system. The drive system is controlled by an ergonomic remote control, so the operator can stand at a safe distance from the machine and comfortably observe its surroundings from all sides. This mode also allows the working chamber flap to be opened and the height of the discharge conveyor to be adjusted, which is helpful when avoiding obstacles or driving the shredder onto a low-loader trailer. During operation, the remote control allows virtually all machine functions to be controlled, including starting and stopping. It can therefore be supervised by the loader operator, eliminating the need to involve an additional person to operate the shredder.
Images for download (Reproduction for press purposes is free of charge; photo credit: UNTHA shredding technology GmbH) https://untha.canto.de/b/LILCG
Image 1+2: XR3000C mobil-e – an extra-large hopper is optionally available for increased filling capacity and use with larger feeding machines.
Image 3: Paweł Piętowski, Sales Manager, UNTHA Polska, and Dawid Ziemiński, Plant and Logistics Director at EkoPartner Recykling
Image 4: The XR3000C mobil-e is also available with an optional overband magnet on the discharge conveyor to remove ferrous materials and ensure a homogeneous output
Image 5: The C-cutting system has been developed for single-stage shredding and fractions ranging from 35 to 130 mm
